Wireless microphones offer
‘big-time’ sound at games
Written: Oct 16, 2009
  By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
It looks a lot like a Bluetooth.
It’s compact as a beeper.
But it is loud.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the wireless microphone.
It’s high school football’s newest friend.
WPIAL schools have added this technology to the Friday night football experience over the last several years.
However, it’s taken until 2009 to reach multiple facilities in Lawrence County.
“It gives it that big time college- or NFL-type atmosphere,” Wilmington High athletic director Scott Brush said.
A referee using a wireless microphone during games is nothing new to the Greyhounds football team or its fans. Wilmington installed the equipment seven years ago when its football stadium was built.
“It’s appreciated,” Brush said, “because you’re able to hear the call. Sometimes it’s hard to see the official’s hand motions, so the wireless works great.”
Neshannock and Shenango followed in Wilmington’s footsteps when both schools added the technology to its stadiums this season.
The five other county schools currently do not use wireless microphones, but none of them ruled out the possibility in the near future.
“We could if we had to,” New Castle athletic director Sam Flora said. “But it’s never been an issue.”
National Football League referees first used wireless microphones in 1975 in order to clarify complex rulings to the game’s attendees.
That, WPIAL referee Steve Fee said, is the greatest benefit to high school football fans.
Fee used the wireless microphone at Neshannock’s first home game this season. He also will sport the equipment tomorrow night at Shenango.
But Fee, like many referees, has run into problems without the microphone. He cited last week’s game between New Brighton and Freedom as a prime example.
New Brighton attempted an onside kick that went only 8 yards, but the ball was touched by a Freedom player and recovered by New Brighton.
Freedom fans, who did not see the deflection, screamed at the referees to reverse the call.
“They don’t have the Jumbotron to see the play over again,” Fee said. “With the microphone, you can indicate that the receivers touched the ball first which enables the kicking team to recover.”
The microphone and explanation still doesn’t do one thing.
“It doesn’t stop anyone from yelling at us,” Fee said, “but it does add some value to penalty enforcements.”
Fee said the only problem he’s experienced is battery shortage. At Wilmington, Brush remedies the situation by carrying a handful of batteries in his pocket on the sidelines.
It takes a referee anywhere from two to four batteries to get through a game, Brush said.
The transition from no mike to miked up has been an easy one for Fee, who said he usually talks himself through a penalty call, microphone or no microphone.
“It seems like when you’re telling yourself what to do, it’s easier not to make any errors or point in the wrong direction,” he said. “It was a pretty simple switch.”
And what about the future?
“I think these schools that are doing facility updates are going to mimic themselves after what they see at the collegiate and professional levels,” Fee said.
Or as Union athletic director Bob Natale said, “I guess eventually we’ll do it if everyone else does it.”
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