Activity network allows Raiders fans to follow live action on the web

During the second week of the fall sports season, Sidney Public Schools Technology Facilitator Matt McKay came across a webcast featuring a football game between the Alliance Bulldogs and the Aurora Huskies.

"Maybe we should be doing that," he thought. In just three week's time his thoughts had turned to reality, when McKay and a small group of volunteers streamed live the varsity football game between McCook and Sidney from Weymouth Field on Sept. 27.

With a heavy rainfall being blown sideways by a near freezing wind, it may have seemed like an inopportune time to begin an outdoor broadcast. In fact, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Because the inclement weather had reduced the normally overflowing crowd, Raiders fans still had an opportunity to follow their team through the streaming broadcast. But they didn't have to get soaked to the bone in the process.

"That's really what it's all about," said McKay. "I know some whose grandparents just can't get out on nights like that, but now they can still follow their grandkids."

Since the McCook football game, McKay and his volunteers have streamed home and away gridiron contests, volleyball games, boys and girls varsity basketball games and most recently a seven-hour long webcast of the Bridgeport-Sidney Wrestling Invite live from the Cabela's Athletic Facility.

For those who can't attend the girls and boys varsity basketball games, they will be able to catch the entire remaining schedule, home and away, via the Raiders Activities Network. Come spring, the Sidney Invitational Track Meet on Mar. 29, will be broadcast live.

The product now available is more advanced than the one from Aurora that first gave McKay the idea. While one camera angle and no announcers covered the Alliance/Aurora football contest, McKay envisioned a better product. Eventually he began with audio and video switches and three cameras which followed a period of self education.

To date McKay guesses he has invested about 300 hours into the project.

"I didn't realize I'd love it this much," he said.

After the football season ended he applied for a $5,000 grant to ESU13. Though his grant was only recently approved, school Superindendent Jay Ehler had already given McKay the go ahead to get what he needed. The money helped the progam acquire tricasters - a portable live production system that allows for network television to be produced from anywhere and be delivered to anywhere.

"We're the only school in Nebraska with a tricaster," McKay said.

The new equipment also helped reduce the setup time required before a broadcast. Whereas before preparation took around two hours, it now takes only about 45 minutes.

But the beneficiaries aren't just local. Raiders alumni and family from around the country and even the world can and have logged into the broadcasts. Raiders games have so far been seen in Argentina, Alaska and California.

The easiest way to find the broadcasts are to log onto the school's website at sidneyraiders.org. Under the "Athletics" drop-down menu click on "Raiders Sports Broadcasts." They are also available via YouTube.

While streaming live sports has an obvious benefit to the community, there is also an educational aspect to Raiders TV. The volunteer students are exposed to a wide range of high tech and computer equipment that will broaden their knowledge in an increasingly technical world. While Raiders TV is now an entirely volunteer effort, next year McKay plans to offer a formal class.

The live streaming began with a small number of hand picked volunteer students from Sidney High School. Joseph Tomsick, Jacob Evertson, Jacob Peterson and Gunner Coffey manned camera's in all kinds of inclement weather during football season. While the students followed the action, McKay acted as Technical Director and teachers Roger Galloway and Erik Kohl handled the play-by-play and color duties.

Since football season McKay has recruited more students including Sara VonSeggern, Calder Rosdail, Brendan Holly, Tyler Miller and Kendra Wade. Like the basketball players they cover, each of the volunteers has a role.

"I thought I would have to learn so much that it might take weeks for me to be able to do what was asked of me," said VonSeggern. "Mr. McKay taught me during the baskeball games and it's really pretty easy once you get used to it."

VonSeggern, as the Technical Director, is responsible for which camera position is seen by the viewing public. She not only follows three different camera positions, she also pays attention to what the announcers are saying. During the wrestling match, for example, as the announcers changed their focus from one mat to another VonSeggern was quick to change the online view to the focus of their conversation.

The Camera Operators that provide VonSeggern with her options are Tomsick, Evertson and Peterson. Announcing the action are McKay, Rosdail and Holly. Miller is the Box Operator - responsible for getting the scoreboard overlay on the screen. As the manager of the girls volleyball and basketball teams, Wade has experience filming the action.

"Since I've played basketball before Mr. McKay asked me to get involved," said Rosdail. "It's a bit strange at first but you get used to it pretty fast. Really the best thing about it for me is the people that are doing it with us. It's just a great bunch of people."

While Raiders TV is still in its infancy, plans for expansion of its content are already being considered. Once the class begins next year, McKay hopes he will have a larger pool of qualified students to participate.

"This is a lot of fun so I think the class could become popular," said Wade. "This is a great experience for me so I'm pretty sure I'll be taking the class."

The popularity of the class could become an important factor in how much the activities network will be able to expand.

"Hopefully at least 15 kids will take the class," McKay said. "What I'd really like to have is say 24 students which we could break down into four different crews."

Since it takes six people to cover an event, a larger group of participants could allow an increase in the number of events the program could cover. Next year McKay plans to cover activities from kindergarten on up including plays and band concerts, in addition to athletics.