INDIANAPOLIS – The National Federation of State High School Associations thinks a sports announcer is, in fact, a “Champion of Character,” not someone who should be riling up the home crowd.

The group – which represents school sports associations – recently issued guidelines for basketball announcers.

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After issuing common sense rules, such as not interrupting a player’s free throw shot, the group issues some more politically correct edicts.

The announcer’s role does not include “cheering the home team on” or otherwise inciting the crowd. Doing so is common at other levels of athletic events.

But high school athletics is different because sports are educationally based.

In a very real sense, the public-address announcer at a high school event is a “Champion of Character”.

He/she can influence the atmosphere of the contest by what is said and how it is said. The announcer who performs professionally promotes good sportsmanship by what he/she says and how he/she acts upon saying it.

Announcers are not allowed to acknowledge a 2 or 3 point goal in an “emphatic” nature, either.

“Remember how the home team announcer would give a rousing intro to the home team to get the crowd whipped up and into the action? Well that is now banned because it might make the opposing team feel bad,” writes Warner Todd Huston at Liberty News.

The “exuberant announcing” is banned by the NFSHSA “because it’s just too darn mean,” he adds.

A growing fad in youth sports circles is “no-score” games.

Athletic Business reported last year:

This summer, a growing number of youth soccer teams in Ontario will be playing games without keeping track of goals scored, at least not officially. And next summer, no scores or standings will be kept for any 12-and-under teams playing in the Ontario Soccer Association.

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“In the case of some of the coaches, their livelihood is on the line based on the performance of 10-year-old children,” says Sam Snow, coaching director at US Youth Soccer, according to the news service.

“They project that stress onto the kids, and it’s all about the score instead of helping the kids learn how to play the game.”