Broadcast Ops Playbook

Game Day Isn't the Problem

Game day isn't the problem. Your pre-event process is. Every broadcast teacher has lived it: 30 minutes before tip-off, a student texting "where do I go?", gear that wasn't checked, scoreboard ops figuring out the software live. After the broadcast, you think, "We just need to practice more." But practice isn't the fix. Preparation is. And game-day chaos almost never starts on game day. In this episode, Taylor and Nathan walk through the four-step pre-event framework: define "ready" for each role, give call time a purpose, put a student in charge of check-in, and run a post-event debrief. Free Pre-Event Prep Template → striv.education/game-day [http://striv.education/game-day]

Gear Without Systems Always Disappoints

You've been approved for the new broadcast equipment. Cameras, a switcher, and wireless transmitters. Students were excited. For about two days. Then nobody knew how to set it up, nobody knew what connected to what, and you had $5,000 of gear with the same chaos as before. Just more cables. This episode is for any teacher who has ever bought equipment that ended up sitting in a closet. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why over 60% of teachers in our community said crew communication was the single biggest game-changer (not cameras, not switchers) • The gear trap: how admin and teachers both get it wrong when they think equipment equals improvement • The 5-level broadcast progression from one camera to a full production studio • Why jumping from one camera to two is the most expensive jump you'll make • The "use it or lose it" budget problem and how it leads to premature purchases • 5 steps to start small and scale the right way KEY QUOTE: "Gear amplifies whatever you already have. If you have systems, gear makes them better. If you have chaos, gear makes the chaos more expensive." RESOURCES: • Next Level Broadcast Equipment Guide (free download): striv.education/levels [http://striv.education/levels] • Future Ready Educators Community: futurereadyeducators.com [http://futurereadyeducators.com] CONNECT: • Striv Education: striv.education [http://striv.education] • Future Ready Educators Community: futurereadyeducators.com [http://futurereadyeducators.com]

Why This Was Our Least Stressful State Tournament

44 games. 2 weeks. 100+ students. And somehow… our smoothest state tournament yet. In this episode, we break down the systems that made it possible—from pre-production planning to role-based training and real-time adjustments. If your broadcast feels chaotic, this episode will show you how to fix it.

Accountability Without Babysitting

You defined the roles. Students know their jobs. But the stream drops, a camera dies, or a sponsor ad gets missed and you fix it before anyone notices. Every time you step in, you teach your students they don't need to figure it out. You will. This episode is for any teacher stuck in the rescue cycle — fixing things mid-broadcast because it's faster than letting students feel the weight of the mistake. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why rescuing your students actually holds your program back * The three myths that keep teachers stuck as the operating system * How Jordan Burns let a student sit across from a real sponsor after a missed ad spot * How Trey Perry's students ran an entire month of broadcasts without him * The 4-level escalation path: Peer → Different Role → Student Leader → Teacher (last resort) * Standards vs. rules — and why "just do your best" doesn't cut it * How post-broadcast reflections create a loop of continuous improvement KEY QUOTE: "Every time you fix it, you teach students that you'll always fix it." RESOURCES: * Free Accountability Escalation Chart: striv.education/accountability [http://striv.education/accountability] * Join Future Ready Educators: futurereadyeducators.com [http://futurereadyeducators.com] CONNECT: * Striv Education: striv.education [http://striv.education] * YouTube: youtube.com/@striveducation [http://youtube.com/@striveducation] NEXT EPISODE: You've got the roles. You've got the accountability system. But what about the actual gear? Episode 6 is the one you've been waiting for and there's a reason it took us five episodes to get here. Systems first. Gear second.

Clear Roles Beats Good Intentions

Your students showed up. They want to help. But game day still feels like chaos because "everyone pitch in" means nobody owns anything specific. This episode is for any teacher who's ever set up the equipment, answered "what should I do?" four times, and wondered why willing students still can't run the show. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why helpful students without clear roles create a different kind of chaos * The 3 beliefs that keep broadcast programs stuck in "teacher does everything" mode * Nathan's Freshman → JV → Varsity framework for building student roles over time * How to identify your 3-5 core broadcast roles (with a downloadable PDF) * What "good" looks like for each role — and why a role without standards is just a label * Why assigning roles before the event (not during pregame) changes everything KEY QUOTE: "When there's no name to a task, nobody's going to own it. And when nobody owns it, either nobody does it, or you do." RESOURCES: * Download the Roles PDF: striv.education/roles [https://striv.education/roles] * Broadcast Scorecard: striv.education/broadcastingedu [https://striv.education/broadcastingedu] CONNECT: * Striv Education: striv.education [https://striv.education] * Future Ready Educators Community: futurereadyeducators.com [https://futurereadyeducators.com] NEXT EPISODE: You've got roles. Students know what they own. But how do you hold them accountable without turning into a babysitter? Episode 5 tackles accountability systems that don't require you standing over everyone's shoulder.