Skip to main content

Talk the track

Try athletics commentary and describe live sport while building confidence and communication skills.

Back to Activities

You’ll need

  • Commentary prompt cards.
  • Simple script starter sheet (optional)
  • Clipboards and pens.

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here.  Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.  

Planning and setting up the activity

  • Find out about an athletics session or event to observe (this could be a sports day, club session, or an event run in Scouts). 
  • Get permission to observe the event – make sure that everyone understands the intent. 
  • Identify a safe viewing position where the group can clearly see the track or field events. 
  • Prepare simple commentary prompts to help young people get started:
  • What is happening right now? 
  • What skills are they using? 
  • What changes do you notice during the event? 
  • How are athletes encouraging each other?  

Running the activity  

  1. Introduce the activity and explain that the group will be acting as sports commentators, describing what they see in real time or just after an event.
  2. Model a short example of commentary, keeping it simple and descriptive (e.g. “They’re lining up for the 100m sprint. Everyone looks focused…”). 
  3. Split Explorers into pairs or small groups. Each group takes turns commenting on different events or sections.
  4. Encourage them to focus on clear description first, then add excitement, opinion, or encouragement. Ask them key questions, such as: 
    1. What is happening right now?  
    2. What skills are they using? 
    3. What changes do you notice during the event? 
    4. How are athletes encouraging each other? 

  1. Rotate roles so everyone has a chance to speak, listen, and observe. 

  1. Finish by bringing the group together to share their favourite commentary moments and reflect on how it felt to speak in real time. 

Reflection

Commentating helps people notice details they might normally miss. Talk about what it felt like to speak while events were happening, how it felt to listen to others, and what made commentary clear or engaging. Ask Explorers how communication changes how we experience sport. 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

  • To make it easier… find some video footage of a major athletics event, and give teams time to prepare ahead of time and practice what they’re going to say.  
  • To make it harder... challenge Explorers to commentate live for longer periods, include technical detail about technique, pacing and tactics.   

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.