Sports Writing

Sports Writing vs News Writing

Both use similar types of leads: feature angle or news peg Both look for the most interest-compelling facts. Both writers write the body of the story, add an acceptable lead, and then present the predominant facts in order of their importance.

Sports Writing vs New Writing

Writing about sports is more colorful, less formal than news writing Sports writing is faster paced and more lively

Tips for doing it well

Know the sport well
Rules Strategy Team Records Player Records

Spend time talking to coaches and players before game days

What parts of the game is the team working on?

Attend games:
Its not enough to get info second hand from coaches, players, spectators

Tips for doing it well

Sports stories are about people The relationships off the field lead to results on the field Work on detecting the strengths and weaknesses of the team or players

Tips for doing it well

Understand that playing and winning are not the only stories: look for stories of perseverance

Tips for doing it well

Sports stories should ask WHY Read professional stories to get an idea of what works

Tips for doing it well

Accuracy is crucial Observe the game and take notes Be fair and unbiased even though you have a favorite team or player Avoid the use of WE Support all opinions with facts or with quotes from sources

Tips for doing it well

The writer has the responsibility of interpreting difficult plays and decisions for fans who are too excited to notice exactly what happens. It is not enough to report only the results of the game. The game off the field, i.e. the strategy and atmosphere, is as important as the one on it.

Writing Tips
Use the specialized language of the sport if the average reader would understand it Dont be too technical Avoid clichs like the plague Just because the coach says, We have to play as a team, or Were going all the way to states, doesnt mean you have to use it. Tell the story in plain terms, with specific details, and let the facts tell the story Avoid long lists of statistics or score: highlight the most important and put others in a sidebar Double check accuracy

Types of Stories: Advance

Gives insight into the upcoming game, providing as many specifics as possible May focus on a specific aspect of the upcoming game: how will the team replace an injured star? Built on strong quotes, description and anecdotes Requires coaches and reporter to think ahead

Types of Stories: Trend

Does not rehash plays from each game Highlights trends in the course of a teams play since the last issue Answers the question: Whats gone on over the last month and WHY? More analysis and focus on individual players

Types of Stories: Advance Trend

Adds information on the upcoming game to the trend story, including how last months games influence it

Types of Stories: Advance Trend

Include information on the upcoming event as the first part of the story Devote more space to the upcoming event Condense into the available space as many of the highlights of the past events as possible

Sports News Stories

Sports have also become big business, especially at the college/professional level Look for stories about college recruiting, sports funding, fan behavior, use of performance enhancing drugs

Game Stories
Seldom used in monthly student newspapers unless a late deadline on a significant game Excellent option for posting on line Not a rehash of play-by-play action Focus on interesting and gamechanging moments first Weave in postgame quotes from players and coaches

Game Story Reporting

Look for an angle or focus How significant is the event? What are the probable lineups? What are the records of the teams or individual competitors?

Game Story Reporting

Analyze comparative scoring records Tradition and rivalry: how do the teams stand in won/lost figures? Weather conditions: did weather affect the outcome? What systems of play or strategies are used by teams or individuals?

Game Story Reporting

Condition of players, both physical and mental Individual angles, such as star players Other specifics, such as crowd antics (the Zoo) new uniforms, appearance or condition of the playing field

Sports Features
These are the stories behind or beyond the game Based on human interest and/or oddity The Post ran a lengthy feature on the fate of Barbero and how the efforts to save him advanced veterinary medicine

Sports Features
Athlete profiles Seasonal activities Girls playing on boys teams Athletes paying for personal trainers Students who coach teams with younger kids Informative features on unusual sports and the students who play them

Things to avoid
Quotes that sound like they could be about any sport Quotes that allow coaches to belittle athletes in your paper Boring leads. Which story would you rather read? LEAD ONE: There are high expectations for this years competition cheerleading squad after a great season last year, finishing second in districts.

Or LEAD TWO?
Its a sea of school-spirited blue and white, broken occasionally by pink: blue shorts, white shoes, blue mats and white-wrapped wrists. Vera Bradley purses lie scattered around the perimeter of the room, between sports bags and plastic bags of ice. Its two weeks before the Valley District cheerleading competition and 26 girls are casually bending their bodies in half before yet another practice. Theyve been preparing since mid-August, working to get the stunts, and the timing, and the synchronization exactly right, and competition keeps creeping closer.