SPORTS

NEWS
WRITING
Prepared by: Prof. Fil Viduya
Sports Writing
? is one of the most interesting aspects
of the noble profession which is the
journalism. Sports stories appeal to
all types of readers and the athletic
events always appear in every
newspaper. (Ramirez, 1989)
The Nature of Sports News:
1. Basically, the same as general news and
also requires accuracy, organization,
brevity, and good writing. The 5 Ws and
the H of the news lead may also toward
in the sports news lead.
2. It describes primarily action, it centers
around conflict.
3. Uses a specific vocabulary which
the reader is expected to be
familiar.
4. It uses a more colorful, vigorous
style.
The writer must get the following
facts for his in-depth sports story:

? The score or outcome – Who won? Should it

end in a riot or called off on account of heavy
rain?
? Significance of the outcome – Was the
championship at stake? Do team standings
change?
? Spectacular plays tell about the last minute
tumble, the three-point shot that won the game on
the basket from mid-court.

? Game on the basket from mid-course. - How did

the weights compare? Where the visitors better
trained? Where were the losers weak?
? Weather conditions of at outdoor – windy,
sunshine, heat, cold or rainy may be important.

? Crowd and celebration don’t forget the spectators

- was it a record crowd? How did spectators

? Individual stars - Who were the stars and did they

star? Was the pitcher steady or the right half-back
extraordinarily speedy?
Kinds of Sports Articles
? Advance Story – helps to create interest, to develop
unity and to generate enthusiasm thru the inside facts.

? The report of the events

? The Analytical Story - accompanies the straight report

and carries a review of the game – the strategies, the
key player, the outstanding performer.
? The Off-the Court Story – involves conflicts among
sportsmen, particular the officials, as well as other is
delights.

? The Follow-up Sports Story – is a summary of the

activities of a team during a week season.

? Sports article does not report a definite news event,

it is general in character and expository in form.
Parts of Sports Story
? Just like any news story, a sports story has two parts – lead and
body.

❑LEAD – maybe a summary form or a novelty. Under

the summary form, it carries the 5 Ws and H.
- as to novelty, this is used when treatment of the
story is featurized or it centers on the human-interest
touch. Maybe summarized or analyzed.
Writing the Sports Lead:
? Sports may use conventional summary lead, however, the
presence of striking material may lend itself to a feature
lead.

1. Special significance of the game

2. Cause of victory or defeat, also analytical lead
3. Names of outstanding players or player
4. Names of competing teams
5. Name of each
6. Description of the crowd, such as like size usual behavior
7. A moment of intense interest
Gathering and Writing Sports Story:
1. Before the game
a. Read the rules
b. Know the people
c. Get the names in full and check the spelling
d. Attend sports events and practice sessions
e. Make notes on things that count.
f. Read various newspapers and compare how sports
writers cover a particular game.
2. During the game
a. Organize your materials
b. Be there well ahead of the event
c. Secure a good working place
d. Note interesting events before the game
e. Develop a system of note-taking
f. Make notes as complete as possible
g. Observe –
- important plays
- the unexpected or unusual
- personal standouts other that points scoring
- touches of humor or the light things
h. Collaborate with the reporter of rival papers
3. After the game
a. Seek out the coach, outstanding players as well as less
important participants
b. Use quotations
c. Check facts, specially scores
d. Gather more information from:
- special statistics
- newspaper stories
- got scores
- standing
Steps in Writing Sports News:
1. Relax and write simple and naturally
2. Write a summary
3. List the facts according to their descending
importance
4. Dig out the lead facts; print the best “W” forward
5. Write several ideas for leads
6. Write the story according to the sequence in step 3
7. Review for clarity, coherence, accuracy, thoroughness,
etc.
8. Type copy according to the specified format of your
staff
Pointers on how to write your
sports story:
1. Write your story as soon as you have
gathered the facts
2. Play up dominant points
3. Be accurate
4. Mention authority or source of news in order
to strengthen the reader’s confidence in the
accuracy of the story and to protect the
paper from libelous suits
Citing authority is necessary when:
1. It concerns opinions rather than facts
2. It is about a controversial issue
3. It announces a new regulation
4. Present facts with bias
5. Names should be given in full when first mentioned
6. Write one-idea, mostly one-sentence paragraph
7. Prefer the active to the passive
 Below are the facts of an award-winning sports news
written by a high school basketball writer:
a. Baguio City High School Yellows defeated the Baguio Optical Athletic Club
Blacks, 74-41
b. Kind of game and the venue – Exhibition game held at the Teachers’ Camp
basketball court yesterday afternoon
c. Rey Sable scored 6 points in the last minute after the Black defense broke down
d. Blacks at one point led as much as 4 points, 25-21
e. But the combined efforts of Sable and Fred Valdez pressured the Blacks to commit
a series of errors
f. Yellow Snatched the lead, 31-25, after Sable powered in 6 points and added by
Valdez by scoring another 4 points
g. Greg de Leon poured in 18 points, 12 in the second half, but he was neutralized by
the double teaming of Robert Villanueva and Janus Catbagan
h. Black gourd Jack Torres fouled out in the last minute of play when he could not
stop the productive Sable
Study closely how the student sportswriter
did his homework:
Lead The fast-breaking Baguio City High School
Yellow edged Baguio Optical Athletic Club
Blacks, 47-41, in an exhibition game held at the
Teacher’s Camp Basketball court this afternoon.

Supporting Rey Sable scored 6 points in the last

Lead minute after the Black’s defense broke
down and carried his team to victory.

Detail It was an exciting game all the way with

both teams tying it up in 19-19 in the first
half.
Play-by-play At one point in the game, the Blacks Detail
led as much as 4 points, 25-21 only
after a little after the combined
efforts of Sable and Fred Valdez
rendering them helpless.

More-play-by- It was then that Sable poured in 6 Play

Detail points and Valdez 4 points and then
Yellow led, 31-25.

More-play-by- Greg de Leon pouring in 18 points

Play Detail 12 of them in the second half
could not do well to score after he
was double-teamed by Robert
Villanueva and Janus Catbagan. Black guard
Johnny Torres fouled out in the las 5 minutes of
play when he could not stop the barrage
of points by rampaging Stable.
 Compare the above sports news written by a high
school writer with the story below, a news about school
sports competition but written by a veteran

? Title OCHS St. Joseph bets gain quarterfinals

? Lead Paragraph Quezon City High School rallied to beat (what, how)
University of Perpetual Help Laguna 7-25, 25-20, 25-21 in
the Shakey’s Girl Volleyball Invitational
League at the Ateneo Blue Eagles Gym

? Supporting Lead Fresh from the recent Naga Palarong Paragraph

Pambansa, the trio of Mary Rose (detailing the Canbanag,
Girlie Quemada and Mikaela how lead) Morada combined for 16
kills and 4 blocks by Jennelyn Belan, jessica Curats
and Sarah Jane Gonzales of UPHL.
? Transition and With the QCHS is now solo leader in
Interpretation of Bracket B with a 3-0 slate and is the Effect of the Win
of assured by a berth in the
quarterfinals.

? Transition and the In other matches, St. Joseph Result

of other game College beat up Integrated School
in straight sets 25-17, 15-9
Diliman Preparatory School dealt
Imus Institute its second loss 25- 17, 25-15.

? Result of other game University of Perpetual Help Molino

defeated Grace Christian School in
25-14, 21-25, 25-7.
? Detail In Bracket D, University of the East, the reigning UAAP
champion, is likewise assured of a
junior division berth with 4-0 slate having won its
match against Mater Ecclesiae 25-13, 25-5

? Detail Hope Christian Academy hopes to win on

Thursday when they play Prenza National High School to sweep Bracket A
into the quarter finals

? Detail The Shakey’s Girl Volleyball Invitational League

is supported by Dunkin Donuts, Toby’s Sports Mikasa, the
Official Volleyball Association, and
Air Philippines

? Detail Six matches are scheduled tomorrow at the Ateneo

Gym.
Compare these two local sports stories with the sports
news on the NBA as written by a AFP Sports reporter

? Title Miami shows New Jersey the

door, advances to East Finals

? Lead (what, how) MIAMI – Dwayne Wade This

lead includes intercepted a pass for Vince the effect of the
Carter as time expired, and win
Miami held on for a 106-1-5
win over New Jersey and
reached the National Basketball
Asociation semifinals for the
record straight year.
? Supporting Antoine Walker scored 23 points and
Lead Wade overcame a slow start to add 21
for the second seeded held on Tuesday,
who eliminated the third seeded Nets in five
golf’s and await the winner of the Detroit Cleveland
Services.

? More details Walker and backup center Alonzo

Maiming picked up the sleek for Wade
and Shaquille O’Neal who again was
limited by four troubles and scored 17 points.

? As additional “We are back and playing at a high level” details, the
writer O’Neal said “O Neal X” men are playing used quotation
well. In the next round we just want to play
whenever is the best team.
? Background A year ago, Miami lost in seven games with
more Detroit as Wade tried to play thru a details
painful rib injury

? More Details Wade has taken same terrific

troubles in this year’s play offs
glad is relatively healthy and will
have at least a week off before the next
series.

? Details by using “We got to rest a little but then bring it another direct
on” Wade said. “It is nice feeling knowing question you’re the
first team (in the series) and can watch everyone
else try to get it.”

? Resuming with After erasing a double-digit first half the play-by-play

deficit, the heat never trailed in the details fourth
quarter, taking the lead for good at 98-96 on a
breakaway dunk by Wade with 4:37 to play
? Detail He made six-of-10 slots in the second half after a one- of-nine start.

Jason Williams scored 12 points, Mourning added 11 and Gary

Payton, 10 for the heat, who shot 56 percent (442-of-57) to overcome 25-of-
29 foul shooting

? Detail Jefferson also scored 33 points, Jason Kidd added 20 and

Lamong Murray 14 for the Nets, who sot 54 precent (40-of-74)

? Background of New Jersey lost the four games after winning NJ games
game one in Miami

? Detail play- Behind Carter, the Nets jumped a 33-27 on a by-play

jumper by Kidd with 10:15 left in the second.

“We attacked the basket and were aggressive, but a loss is a loss.
We’re going home,” Carter said.