Livestreaming lets fans see sports

As Pennsylvania restricted spectators at sporting events, Milton found a way for fans to watch fall games, matches, and meets through the use of livestreaming on the internet.

According to Milton Athletic Director Rod Harris, livestreaming is going really well. He added that the livestreaming “allows us to reach a greater fanbase.” He added that the district purchased iPads to film the events.

According to Mr. Harris, every recorded livestream is permanently on the school YouTube channel. So, if anyone wants to go back and watch last week’s game, they can.

The district’s first live stream was a cross country meet, and it was successful, said Mr. Harris. Everything went the way it should have, and the recorders did not have any issues, he added.

Even after the pandemic, Mr. Harris said there are so many positives to livestreaming that the district may continue doing it. Families who cannot make it to their kids’ games can go to YouTube and watch the games, he explained.

The school might even get more fans since anyone can see the livestreams, said Mr. Harris. Someone from across the world could get on YouTube and decide to watch one of the games, he added.

Mr. Harris said there are some downsides to the livestreaming. Cross country and tennis are the hardest sports to do because they have to constantly change the angle and where they are pointing the camera, he added.

At the moment there are different people livestreaming each sport, depending on the time and location of the game, said Mr. Harris. “There are five sports being livestreamed, and maybe 13-15 games in total,” he said.

For every sport, the district is trying to get someone who works for the school or is a team member to record, Mr. Harris said. Since the parents can’t be near the players, they can’t be the ones who livestream, he added.

Middle School Secretary Sarah Kitchen said she has livestreamed every girls soccer game but one. “The most challenging thing about livestreaming would be when it’s windy or on the metal bleachers and the camera moves with the wind or when people walk on the bleachers,” said Ms. Kitchen.