If you have watched a soccer game at home, you have likely heard the commentator shout with excitement when a goal is scored.
Now while these commentators not only do it because it’s natural when being a fan of the game but it’s also done so that people at home feel like they are there too.
However, with all this talking that you will hear from the people at the booth during a game, can soccer players hear the commentators or is it only certain people who get to hear them?
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Can Soccer Players Hear The Commentators?
The soccer players who are playing on the pitch typically won’t hear the commentators as we can at home.
There are some unique cases where some players can hear them.
However, it’s not normal and doesn’t happen regularly.
But for the most part, the commentators will only be heard by those watching the broadcast.
So, e.g., if you are watching a soccer game on Fox Sports where John Strong is commentating, then only those who are tuned in to the game will hear what he is saying.
What Is The Purpose Of Commentators?
Now you might be thinking, why aren’t the commentators played through speakers at the ground.
There are a few reasons why that doesn’t happen.
Firstly when stadiums are full, the noise will be so loud that no spectators or footballers would be able to hear what’s being said.
And secondly, there just isn’t much point, as the commentator is there for our benefit.
So they can tell us who has received or is on the ball, insights on the game, and relay stats of players and form of the sides playing.
Essentially it’s all for our needs, and if anything, if footballers heard what we could hear from our TV’s it would be not very pleasant.
I personally couldn’t imagine playing, to hear my name being shouted out would also be confusing.
Where Are Commentators Located?
Like spectators watching in a stadium, commentators get to watch the game and really what’s going on from within the stadium.
Now at each stadium, there is typically a section where there are booths.
This is where all the commentators will sit and talk as you watch a soccer game on TV.
These booths tend to be quite high up in a stadium, so the view won’t be the best.
In some of the big stadiums like Old Trafford, for example, where the booths are quite high, it can be hard to know who is on the ball.
However, in front of them, they will have monitors to watch the game as we can at home.
When soccer commentators cannot make a game, whether that be because of restrictions or not visiting the country, they will set up their own booth either at home or where the broadcasters are located.
Below is a picture of ITV’s commentators who were unable to go to the EURO 2020 game in the Netherlands, so instead set up their own booth back in the UK.
Who Are The Football Commentators?
Each broadcasting team will have there own commentary team.
You could say it’s more a squad since each broadcaster will have many commentators, which will be put in place for certain games.
In the US, the two main channels for soccer is ESPN and Fox Sports
- ESPN Commentators – Jon Champion, Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman
- Fox Sports Commentators – John Strong and Stuart Holden
Over in the UK, there are four broadcasters that will cover football matches. This includes:
- BBC Commentators – Jonathan Pearce and Steve Wilson
- ITV Commentators – Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley and
- BT Sports Commentators – Darren Fletcher and Steve Mcmanaman/Derek Rae and Glenn Hoddle
- Sky Sports Commentators – Martin Tyler and Gary Neville
What Can Soccer Players Here On The Pitch?
While we are getting back to a point where people are being allowed back into stadiums.
Between 2020 and 2021, due to no fans, players wouldn’t hear much on the pitch.
So because of no spectators, players were playing in unusual and Erie conditions.
Where all they would hear is the ball being fizzed to each other as they pass it around.
They would also hear shouting from players as well the coaches organizing them and giving them instructions.
But since crowds are coming back, what players will hear is chanting from spectators throughout the game.
The higher the divisions the club plays in, the bigger the stadiums and following, meaning many fans will be in stadiums making lots of noises.
So for teams at the top, such as Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, etc., the players will actually find it hard to communicate since the supporters will be so noisy.
Now the other thing that soccer players will hear is a stadium announcer.
This is someone who will make announcements through speakers around a stadium to signal substitutes, the amount of additional time and any other alerts that players and fans need to know.
Commentators Talking To The Players
There aren’t any situations where players can hear a commentator, as this is projected through our TV’s and not through stadium speakers.
However, there have been times over the past couple of years where a commentary team has talked with soccer players.
The idea caught on to talk with soccer players while playing with an MLS All-Star Match in 2018.
Adrian Healey invited Brad Guzan to the broadcast, where he spoke directly with him as he was playing and instructing his team.
Since then, we have seen it done a few times in the MLS, and it has become popular with friendly/One of matches.
As in the UK, it was also done for a match called Soccer Aid in the same year, a game in which celebrities and ex-footballers come together to raise money for charity.
In this game, Clyde Tyldesley talks directly with actor David Harewood who was playing in goal on the night.
Conclusion
For almost all competitive soccer matches, players will not hear a commentator, nor will they communicate with them.
The only times it does happen is for ones off games, where there isn’t anything at stake and therefore
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