Do I need a degree to become a sports broadcaster?

Not always. A broadcasting, journalism or communications degree helps with skills, equipment and connections, but employers hire based on your tape and experience. Live reps and a strong demo reel matter most.

How do I practise play-by-play at home?

Mute a game on TV, wear headphones and call it out loud, then listen back to the recording. On Booth you can do the same thing with real listeners, and the call is recorded and emailed to you.

What equipment do I need to start?

A phone or laptop, headphones and the game on a screen are enough to start. A better microphone helps, but it isn't required.

Can I make money calling games online?

Yes. Creators earn from YouTube, Twitch and podcasts, and on Booth listeners can tip you mid-call (you keep 100%) or subscribe to you monthly (you keep 90%).

How do I get my first broadcasting job?

Build tape, start where games are (school, college, junior and local teams), look for internships and small-market jobs, and keep calling games so your reel keeps improving.

BOOTH™

How to become a sports broadcaster (and get live reps tonight)

By Matt Baccarani, founder of Booth. Updated November 12, 2026.

To become a sports broadcaster, you need three things: a lot of live reps, a demo reel of your best calls, and experience wherever games are being played, from student radio and school webcasts to local leagues and online. A broadcasting or journalism degree helps, but nobody hires a play-by-play voice without hearing tape. The people who get good are the people who call a lot of games.

Call a game on Booth: it's free

1. Pick your lane

Play-by-play: you describe the action as it happens: who has it, where, what happened, the score and the time.
Colour or analyst: you explain why it happened, usually alongside a play-by-play partner.
Host or studio: you run pre-game, halftime and post-game shows, interviews and highlights.
Sideline or reporter: you bring news, injuries and interviews from the field.
Creator: you build your own audience on YouTube, TikTok, a podcast, a Twitch watch-along or Booth.
Most people try more than one. Play-by-play is the hardest to get reps for, so it pays to start early.

2. Learn the craft

Study broadcasters you like. Listen for how they set the scene, when they stay quiet, and how they handle big moments.
Mute the TV and call games out loud. Record yourself and listen back: it's uncomfortable, and it's where most improvement comes from.
Prepare like a pro. Build a spotting board or prep sheet with names, numbers, storylines and stats before every game.
Use names, not numbers, and vary your calls so your listeners don't hear the same phrase every play.
Give the score and time often. Someone always just tuned in.

3. Get live reps with a real audience

Practising alone helps, but calling to people who are actually listening is different: you have to stay sharp for a whole game, recover from mistakes and keep it interesting.

Look for student radio or TV, your school's athletics webcasts, local and youth leagues that stream games, and community radio.

Or call a game tonight on Booth. It's free and there's no application: pick a game from the schedule (or create your own school or rec game), put headphones on and go live. Listeners hear you in sync with the game on their own TV, chat with you live, and every call is recorded and emailed to you, so every game becomes tape.

4. Build a demo reel

Lead with your best call. People decide in the first 30 seconds.
Keep it short: a few minutes of your strongest moments, showing big plays, routine plays and how you handle a close finish.
Have a longer, unedited segment ready too, like a full quarter, period or inning. Some employers want to hear how you sound when nothing exciting is happening.
Clean audio matters. Use headphones so your mic doesn't pick up the TV, and record somewhere quiet.
Update it as you improve. Your reel from six months ago is not your best work.

5. Get training

Broadcasting, journalism and sports media programs give you equipment, instructors and access to games.

Free and low-cost resources help too: the NFHS Learning Center has a free play-by-play announcing course, and Play-by-Play U is a newsletter from a working college play-by-play voice with practical prep advice.

Ask working broadcasters for feedback on your tape. Most remember being in your spot.

6. Start small and network

Most careers start in smaller markets: high school and college games, junior and minor-league teams, small-market radio and athletic department webcasts.
Internships at stations, teams and networks are often how the first paid job happens.
Keep calling between opportunities. A steady stream of new tape and a growing audience both help you stand out.

Questions

Do I need a degree to become a sports broadcaster?: Not always. A broadcasting, journalism or communications degree helps with skills, equipment and connections, but employers hire based on your tape and experience. Live reps and a strong demo reel matter most.
How do I practise play-by-play at home?: Mute a game on TV, wear headphones and call it out loud, then listen back to the recording. On Booth you can do the same thing with real listeners, and the call is recorded and emailed to you.
What equipment do I need to start?: A phone or laptop, headphones and the game on a screen are enough to start. A better microphone helps, but it isn't required.
Can I make money calling games online?: Yes. Creators earn from YouTube, Twitch and podcasts, and on Booth listeners can tip you mid-call (you keep 100%) or subscribe to you monthly (you keep 90%).
How do I get my first broadcasting job?: Build tape, start where games are (school, college, junior and local teams), look for internships and small-market jobs, and keep calling games so your reel keeps improving.