My sophomore year at Kansas State University (the Princeton of the Plains – Go Cats!), I enrolled in a fundamentals of acting class. A girl I liked had enrolled and I thought it would be an easy elective. The girl dumped me after one date and the class was much harder than I expected. Looking back, though, it was one of the most important classes I took at KSU.
In college, it is easy to dismiss your electives and focus on the obvious classes that you are sure will help your future career as a sports broadcaster. However, there are a few classes you should not overlook. These classes may push you outside of your comfort zone, but the benefits will have a lasting impact on your sportscasting career.
3 Essential Electives for Sportscasters
Here are three not so obvious classes that will help you become a better sports broadcaster.
- Fundamentals of Acting
This was a game-changer for me because it taught me how to read scripts. You will be reading a TON of scripts throughout your sportscasting career. Acting class is where you will learn how to make your delivery sound spontaneous. -
Speech
Many students approach this class with dread and loathing, however this is a must-take class if you want to be a sports talk show host. You will learn how to research your opinions and formulate persuasive arguments. You’ll also develop the confidence necessary to sell your opinions. - Debate
Another must-take class for aspiring sports talk hosts. Again, you’ll learn how to formulate and execute persuasive arguments. It’s fabulous preparation for debating hot sports topics with your future co-hosts and callers to your show.
I was often guilty of choosing electives that I thought would be easy. Fundamentals of Golf during my final semester was a blast. Between the easy electives, though, be sure to also choose some that are going to help you build a better career.