One of the great changes in Ultimate coverage has been the ability of anyone to start a stream, and film a game. On one side, this is fantastic - it allows us to share our favourite sport, and potentially reach a audience who wouldn't otherwise get to see what Ultimate actually looks like.
But on the other side, it's nerve-wracking. A lot of "am I doing this right" or "is this actually working". This is particularly true if you're doing your first stream, but even if you've been doing it a while, you're still wondering if there's things you could do better.
So, here's an article with a lot of tips/tricks I've picked up over the years. The advice is split into three categories (basic, intermediate, advanced), so that you can chose how much feedback to take without overwhelming yourself. If you have any extra things to add, let us know in the comments! This is still a dialogue, and I hope this article at least helps a lot of people consider streaming in the future.
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| Streaming is fun! PC: Sam Mouat |
Basic
Quick tips for those who just want to grab a phone and start streaming!Commentating:
Regularly update viewers on the score (and scorers if you know them).
Be kind, and remember every player on the field has put in many hours of training.
Try to speak clearly, and don't talk over people.
Filming:
Film landscape - you often have to orientate your camera before you start filming (and turn on autorotate).
Include the name of the two teams, the division, and the tournament in the video description.
Filming should be carried out from the halfway position, and/or from an elevated position.
Have fun, you’re getting to watch Ultimate!
Intermediate
Building on the basic tips, here is advice for those who are a bit more comfortable streaming.Commentating:
Be informative, but limit jargon.
Think about your audience, and whether you might be streaming to people that don't know Ultimate.
Admit mistakes, don’t dwell on them. No one wants to hear someone constantly apologising, but they do want correct information.
Think about what the audience may not know - sometimes it's hard to identify players, to see the wind direction, or to look up previous results at a tournament.
Avoid repetition of phrases/information.
Providing just basic information (e.g. score and calls on field) is fine. If you do add more, try to add substance.
Try to generate audience engagement*.
*If you are the audience, engage with the commentator! It makes streaming a lot more fun for all involved.
Filming:
Do not film injuries for extended periods. Once you’ve realised a player is injured, neither you, the player, nor the audience will gain anything from dwelling on it. Film another game or interview some fans instead until things are sorted.
Try to find a tripod to place the phone/camera on, or some method of support (particularly for longer games).
Make sure you're not getting in the way of the players, but also not in a place that people are often going to walk in front of you.
Check wifi/mobile data is consistent before you start filming.
Advanced
Tips designed both for those individuals that want to push their media coverage to the next level, and for small/mid-sized tournament organisers hoping to provide official looking coverage, without breaking the budget.Commentating:
Avoid swearing, especially if streaming to a public page.
Avoid nicknames, use surnames if possible.
Seek to obtain a list of full names before the game commences.
If you have two commentators, choose one commentator to be play-by-play (describe what is happening), one to provide colour/additional detail.
Provide advice to potential commentators before filming. Have a game plan of what you are trying to do before the game starts (just scores, full coverage, etc.), in order to provide a more consistent tone.
Help out fellow commentators between streams. Give them feedback, correct any misstatements in a polite manner, and try to give them opportunities to flourish. You are a team, not competing individuals.
Filming:
Try to tag any relevant pages in your description.
Try not to have one person filming for an overly long time - swap round and give people breaks, or quality will deteriorate.
If you can afford a gimbal, feel free to move between plays to provide closer views of the action.
If you can afford an unlimited data sim card, it allows for more consistent streaming. Otherwise, 1GB per outdoor game may be a rough expected data cost.
Get someone to double check your stream so you can identify any issues.
For even higher level streams, you will get what you pay for by hiring camerapeople who know what they are doing, and paying commentators who do research before games start.
Also, I want to thank the various commentators/film crews I've worked with over the years for helping me develop my points of view on streaming to the point I felt I could develop this list. Particular thanks to the guys at the ShowGame (with whom I helped develop a first set of guidelines for their page) and Mike Palmer (for double checking this article and suggesting some filming improvements).
As a final addendum, if you don't have a page to stream from and are want to reach a public audience, there's an Irish and a UK where I know people are keen to see streams of games.
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