SPORTS WRITING

REGIONAL TRAINING OF TRAINERS

on
CAMPUS JOURNALISM

SPORTS WRITING
APPLE JOHN A. SATORRE
Tacurong City Division
In what sport do we use the
word “spike”?
In what team does the name
“GREEN ARCHERS” belong?
Who got the silver medal in
weightlifting during the
Olympics Game?
True or False:

The sports writer may also be

a cheering spectator.
A contest of speed through
running by teams of four.
Each member runs 100.
Who is known as
“The Filipino Flash”?
True or false:

It is important that the sports

writer masters the language of
sports.
25-22; 29-27; 25-20:
These are scores in
____________.
 IN THIS SESSION:

• Sports lingo
• Sports Idioms
• Sporty leads
• Writing the Body
• How to end
 SPORTS WRITING
• Considered as a specialized form of
writing
• Sports + Writing
• Spend lots of time in research and
preparation
• Must gain trust of readers
• Write accurately and entertainingly with
great speed and under difficult situation
 SPORTS STORY

• Has the structure of an action story, but

with greater freedom of style in writing.
 10 BASIC RULES OF SPORTS
1. Know the rules of the game
2. Special vocabulary (Sports terms or Sports lingo)
3. Facts (get all your facts)
4. Jot down an outline
5. Make a good lead (most important paragraph)
6. Use punchy verbs or strong verbsd l
7. Quotations from players, coach, officials and
spectators
8. Include key plays (best plays)
9. News Writing (summarize or people your stories)
10. Revision or editingead
District 2 defeated District 4. The
score was 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 19-
25, 16-14. The game was played
yesterday afternoon. It was played
at the gym of the District 5. District
5 is host to this year’s Collaboration
Volleyball Tournament. By
defeating District 4, the winning
team made it to the knockout
semifinals. The winners will next
face the defending champions
from District 9.
SPORTS LINGO
 SPORTS LINGO
• Set of terminologies that could determine
the quality of the story to be written
• Some stories are CLOSE CONTESTS
• Some stories are identified as BLOW OUT
EVENTS
• Each separate set has its own set of
vocabulary that can best describe action
 THE VERBS AND
ADJECTIVES IN SPORTS
REPORTING
 THE VERBS AND ADJECTIVES IN SPORTS
REPORTING
• Strong, active, specific verbs depicting
the action, the drama and the
excitement unfolding the match
• No flat set of verbs
• Rule of thumb: use adjectives in
MODERATION
• NO REPETITION all throughout the article!
 THE VERBS IN SPORTS
REPORTING

DEFEATED
 THE VERBS ON SPORTS REPORTING
• Defeated
(For CLOSE games)
(For BLOW OUT matches)
Nipped
Demolished
Edged
Battered
Scratched past
Crushed
Survived
Dominated
Squeaked past
Bombarded
Shaded
Pulverized
• To defeat a • To remain the
champion champion
• Dethroned • Retained
• Snatched/ the crown
grabbed • Kept the
the crown crown
• Captured
the title
 THE VERBS ON SPORTS REPORTING
• Tinalo
(For CLOSE games)
Nalusutan (For BLOW OUT
matches)
Naligtasan
Dinurog
Naipitik
Binomba
Kinapos
Niyanig
Naungusan
Inilampaso
Pinabagsak
 SPORTS VERB

PRODUCED
•PRODUCED •added
•Generated •broke out of
a (series)
•Erupted slump
•Contributed •drilled a 36-
•exploded footer as
for time expired
•committed •buried
•produced
•gumawa •nagdagdag
•nagpasabog •bumawi
•nag-ambag •isinalpak ang
isang tira
•nagpasiklab sabay ng
•natawagan, pagtatapos
tinawagan ng laro
•ipinasok
 POOR
PERFORMANCE
 SPORTS ADJECTIVES
• poor •Pathetic
performance
•Unimaginable
• Atrocious
• Anemic •Never got into
• Frigid, ice cold
a rhythm
• Woeful •shot the ball
• Horrid horrendously
 SPORTS ADJECTIVES
• poor •walang tibay
performance
• malamyang •nakakaawa
laro •hindi
• palpak mawarian
• mahina, kapos •hindi nagawa
• malamig •sumablay
• nakakapanghi
na
 SPORTS ADJECTIVES

EASY
VICTORY
• Easy victory
•barely
•won with broke a
ease
sweat
•dominate
d/domina •blitzed
nce •coasted
•soared to victory
•EASY VICTORY
•walang hirap •halos hindi
•dinomina pinagpawisan
•umangat, •binigla, hindi
puma- tinantanan
ilanglang,
umalimbuyog
 BASKETBALL

• evened up matters with a 70-59

• 8-2 slate
• point guard
• hauling rebounds
• topscoredwith 28 big points
• bannered the team
• beat the buzzer
• seize the lead
• failed to score
• are on a roll with back to back victories
• stretch the lead to three
• grabbed four rebounds
• -fired 19 points
• dished out four assists
 TENNIS
• third-set
• Tie breaker
• hit a running baseline forehand winner
• grand slam final four debut
• meeting of the hardest hitters
• Smash cut
• Straight set
 BASEBALL
-pitched a five hitter
-pitched a seven shutout innings
-a two-run
-go-ahead shot
-fifth-inning pitch
Sports lingo for :
Basketball team: dribbler, cager,
Volleyball team: netters, spikers, volleybelles
Swimming team: aquabelles, tankers
 SPORTS IDIOMS
• Fired a record-setting/shattering (then
followed by stats)
• Pummeled (the team) to seize the
advantage/lead/crown
• Showcased their great scoring blitz
• Displayed his brilliant ball-handling skills
• Further sank their opponents’ hope
• It seems they have lost their usual
poise/aplomb/composure/confidence
 SPORTS IDIOMS
• Live up to their top billing
• Up against a crack field
• Set the stage for a rout
• Turned its fortune around
• Achieved another milestone
• Pulled off a gigantic/huge/biggest upset
• Roared back to life/Stepped up their
attack
• Grope for form/Lapsed into a series of
errors
 SPORTS IDIOMS
• Catapulted to the semifinals/finals/next
round
• Found his range/touch/rhythm
• Prove steadier down the stretch
• Saddled with foul trouble
• Pounced on (team) early meltdown
• Last-ditch rally fizzled out
• Started out flat but came to life
• Added another feather in its cap
 SPORTS IDIOMS
• FILIPINO
• Nagtala ng bagong rekord (record
breaking feat)
• Sumungkit ng panibagong karangalan
(record breaking)
• Iniuwi ang korona (lahat ng sports)
• Winalis ang karibal (Chess, football or
any game that ends in a sweep)
 SPORTS IDIOMS
• Tinahak ang matarik na akyatan (Marathon,
cycling race)
• Hindi nagpapigil sa pagatake (any sports)
• Sinikwat ang titulo/kampeonato/huling
puwesto
• Dinomina/Iniuwi/kinopo ang korona (any
sports)
• Nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan
 THE LEAD

• attracts the interest

• face of the story
• it begins the story
 SPORTS NEWS
 Follow the same formula as news - 5 Ws and 1 H
 The inverted pyramid
 Value of beat reporting
 Skills needed…
a. resourcefulness
b. establish network
c. nose for the news
d. build relationship
e. observe professionalism
 KEY POINTS IN SPORTS
NEWS LEAD WRITING:
1. appeal (being catchy)
2. clear focus (on the game result)
3. uses the most dramatic, yet most
specific verb that best describes the
quality of action
4. preference for the active voice to
emphasize the current situation
5. it is practical to describe the
winner’s actions before the loser’s.
 1.THE KEY PLAY
• This is usually used when the best
angle of the sports/event is
through the collective effort of all
the members of the winning
team.(namumukod-tanging laro)
 KEY PLAY LEAD

The Senior Sluggers bombed the

Junior Batters with six runs in the third
inning to subdue a nerve-wrecking
Junior rally during the THNHS
Intramurals, Sept.14.
 2. THE OUTSTANDING PLAYER
LEAD
• When one or two members of the
team seem to stand out the rest of the
players that caused the team to win
the game. Their heroic deed is the
best angle to start a sports news.
(namumukod-tanging manlalaro)
 SPORTS LEADS
OUTSTANDING PLAYER LEAD
Kevin Durant tied his career
playoff high with 41 point as he
led the Oklahoma City Thunder to
a 111-97 victory over the San
Antonio Spurs on Sunday that tied
the NBA Western Conference
semifinals series at 2-2.
3.Analytical Approach

This is used when the team

employs a very spectacular strategy or
action that brings them to
victory.(paanalisang panimula)
 ANALYTICAL APPROACH
Riding high on sizzling spikes
and tricky placing, the MLQ
netters blasted the Laurel High
Killers in the crucial third set to win
25-23, 25-23, 29-27 in Volleyball
Open Tournament, Torres Gym,
September 21.
 SPORTS LEADS
KEY PLAY LEAD
Joe Johnson (WHO) scored on a
tough fade-away with one second
left to tie the score in regulation and
another jumper in overtime (HOW)
to lead the Brooklyn Nets defeat the
Phoenix Suns (WHAT) in the National
Basketball Association game
(WHERE) Sunday (WHEN).
LEAD
COMPARING
LEADS
CONVENTIONAL LEADS VS.
ACTION, SIGNIFICANCE-
ORIENTED, SPORTY
 COMPARING LEADS
• Conventional News Leads • Action, significance-
oriented, sporty
The San Gregorio Jose Obmerga played
School the role of savior for
Crusaders San Gregorio School as
he buried a hook shot
edged the at the buzzer to lift the
Quezon National Crusaders to a thrilling
High School 65-63 conquest of the
Orators 65-63 Quezon National High
yesterday at the School Orators last
night at the Barangay
Barangay San Gregorio Covered
Covered courts. courts.
Donnie Nietes Filipino Donnie
defeated Erik Nietes knocked
Ramirez in their down Erik
World Boxing Ramirez of
Organization Mexico four times
(WBO) and went on to
minimumweight retain his World
fight in Oaxaca, Boxing
Organization
Mexico (WBO) minimum
yesterday. weight crown in
Oaxaca, Mexico
yesterday.
Jimbo Nagal Jimbo Nagal proved
that height and
defeated heft are of little
Mako Sato value when he
knocked out
last night in Japanese Mako
their fight Sato during their
battle last night at
held at the the Ynares Sports
Ynares Sports Complex in
Antipolo City and
Complex in won the World
Antipolo Boxing Council
Straw weight title.
City.
The Basilan Science The Philippine Science
High School Pirates High School Labuyo
lost to the played perfect soccer
Philippine Science in scoring a 19-0
High School demolition of a totally
Labuyo, 19-0 outclassed Basilan
yesterday at the Science HS Pirates on
PSHS soccer field. It their home field to
was a knockout earn the right to
match. The winner challenge the Ateneo
goes to the Division de Zamboanga
Finals to meet the Caballeros in the
Ateneo de Division Finals.
Zamboanga
Caballeros.
Tinalo ni Dennis • Winalis lahat ni Dennis
Orcullo ang Orcullo ang tinik sa
lahat ng kanyang daan patungo
sa finals ngunit nabigo
kanyang para sa korona nang
nakalaban. yumuko ito kay Taiwanese
Pero natalo Ko Pin, na humakot ng 11
siya kay Ko Pin, sunod na racks tungo sa
15-14 para sa kapana-panabik na 15-14
panalo para masungkit
korona ng ang korona at
Brunswick- makuntento ang Pinoy sa
Thailand 9-Ball runner-up place sa
Open noong Brunswick-Thailand 9-Ball
Linggo ng gabi Open noong Linggo ng
gabi sa Bangkok.
sa Bangkok.
 A. VERB CHOICE

NEWS SPORTS NEWS

1. SHORT 1. LONG
2. COLORFUL
3. MORE SPECIFIC
4. 1 STRONG VERB
FOR EVERY 3
SENTENCES
 B. VERB TENSE

NEWS SPORTS NEWS

1. Simple past 1. Simple past

 C. SENTENCE
CONSTRUCTION &
LENGTH
NEWS SPORTS NEWS
• 7 – 20 WORDS • 7 – 42 WORDS depending
on how much you want
to share

• The 4-time pound for

• Manny said… pound boxing king said..

• Simple sentence • Complex sentence

 D. USE OF MODIFIERS

• NEWS • SPORTS NEWS

• 1. Keep it • 1. When you’re

simple sure, use all you
• 2. Reduce know
 E. VOICE OF DRAMA

• NEWS • SPORTS NEWS

• 1. No drama • 1. dramatic
• Sports writing is
• 2. Voice of
VISUAL…describe
neutrality the action clearly
and efficiently as
possible
 DON’T APPLAUD
• You’re a journalist, not a fan. So don’t
applaud.
• Ex. “Good job guys for making it to the
top!”
• Some journalists also forget that they
are not a fan and are prone to make
some congratulatory remarks at the
end of their stories.
 SAMPLE BUILD UP OF A
SPORTS LEAD:
Bernard Samson
buried a three-pointer
at the buzzer to lift the
Yellow Troggs past the
Blue Dolphins 75-72.
Better:

Bernard Samson had never

hit a game-winning shot in his
six-year basketball career – until
Sunday night.
Samson drained an
awkward 3-pointer as time
expired to lift the Yellow Troggs
past the Blue Dolphins 75-72.
 His buzzer beater
capped Samson's already
impressive performance
as the lumbering Troggs’
reserve forward scored a
career-high 33 points to
snap the tournament’s
best win streak.
•Exercises:

Write a clear and

catchy lead using all
the details.
District 2 defeated District 4. The
score was 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-
19, 16-14. The game was played
yesterday afternoon. It was played
at the gym of the District 5. District
5 is host to this year’s Collaboration
Volleyball Tournament. By
defeating District 4, the winning
team made it to the knockout
semifinals. The winners will next
face the defending champions
from District 9.
 PARTS OF A SPORTS
ARTICLE
• 1. LEAD – usually gives the
summary of the game or event.
• 2. BODY – provides the readers
other data of the game.
• 3. CONCLUSION – may contain
significance or of the victory of
the team or athlete.
 K-O-K-A-N-G

•K – kinsa ( Who)
•U – unsa ( What)
•K- kanus-a ( When)
•A- asa (Where)
•N- nganu ( Why)
•G – giunsa (How)
 SPORTS ARTICLE
To be more colorful, interesting and exciting for the readers, thrive
on the following:
1. Data on the significance of the game,
2. Backgrounds and records of players or athletes,
3. Coaches and their stints and records,
4. Countries that set records of the games,
5. Weather conditions,
6. Behavior of the audience,
7. Highlights of the game,
8. Star players and athletes and their records,
9. Statements and quotations of coaches and athletes,
10. Strengths and weaknesses of teams and athletes,
11. Hosts countries and venues of the games,
12. Strategies used by coaches, players and teams to win the
games.
 SPORTS WRITING FORMATS
1. Who, What, How, Why
2. Explains how and why then insert where and when
3. Significance of the game
4. Quote from winning team
5. Highlights of the game
6. Quote from the losing team
7. Describe the losing side
8. Statistics of the best player of the winning team
9. Statistics of the best player of the losing team
10. Insert your play by play descriptions
THE SECRET?
 IN EVERYTHING YOU
DO…

Always
Put Love