SPORTS

WRITING
 SPORTS PAGE
The sports page has the
greatest appeal to a large number
of readers. Because of this keen
interest, school papers devote
more space to sports than to any
other single area of activity.
 The Nature of Sports News

1. Basically the same as general

news and also requires
accuracy, organization, brevity
and good writing. The 5Ws
and the H of a news lead may
also be found in a sports lead.
 The Nature of Sports News

2. Primarily describes action.

It is usually centered
around a conflict.
3. Uses a special vocabulary
(sports jargon) which the
reader is expected to know.
 The Nature of Sports News
4. Uses a more colorful,
vigorous style. Although, he
has a greater freedom, the
sports writer should not be
carried away by over
exuberance.
 Kinds of Sports Articles
1. The Advance Story – helps to create
interest, to develop unity, and to
generate enthusiasm through the
inside facts; furnishes the reader with
plenty of data – line-ups, the strong
and weak points of the contenders,
the performance records of the
teams/individuals, tradition and
history, systems of play, other feature
angles
 Kinds of Sports Articles
2. The report of the event
3. The analytical story – accompanies
the straight report and carries the
review of the game – the strategies,
the key player/s, the outstanding
performer
4. The “off-the-court” story – involves
conflicts among sportsmen,
particularly the officials, as well as
other sidelights
 Kinds of Sports Articles
5. The “follow-up” story – is a summary of
activities of a team during a week or
season. It sometimes gives an opportunity
to preview public reaction if the sport is
very important.
6. Sports article – does not report a definite
news event; general in character and
expository in form; summarizes past
records and performances of a team,
explains new rules, publicizes athletic
condition; sketches the career of a
promising player
 Kinds of Sports Articles
7. Sports feature – is more of a
personality sketch of an athlete or
coach, his superstitions, hobbies,
experiences off the athletic field, or it
may deal with the events in the
gymnasium
8. Sports Column – consists of
miscellaneous facts about prominent
athletes written in an informal easy-
to-read style; a pleasing blend of facts
and personal opinions
 Structure of a Sports Story
 Follow the inverted pyramid pattern
and the basics of news writing.
 For the headline, use the jargon for

the specified sports.

 Include scores, best players and plays,

quotations of the key players and

winning coaches including the
significance of the game.
 Body of the Sports Story
1. Key play and outstanding performer
2. Quotations from players, trainers,
coaches
3. Play-by-play account
4. Personalities
5. Background of players
6. Importance of the event
7. Summary of results and statistics
Example
SJS Volleybelles wallop
USA Lady Spikers
ILOILO CITY – With a formidable service ace,
team captain Alexa Margaret Melchor of St.
Joseph School(SJS) gave a down-the-line finish
to the University of San Agustin Lady Spikers, 3-
1 in the Private Schools Athletics Association
Meet (PRISAA) secondary-girls today.
Despite a shaky start, mostly rattle of the
star players on some easy balls, the girls
managed to finish the first set 26-24.
Example
“I have to lead my team, for they are not
that confident at first. However, in the second
set, there are several lapses that we cannot
endure. We still have a slow start,” narrated
Melchor after their loss in the second set.
At the start of the third set, four straight
errors in the second balls gave SJS an easy
edge. The girls coupled this with unwavering
momentum closing the set,25-16.
Example
Coach Gebb Santos of SJS instructed
the team to enjoy the game, but they be
cautious on the drops and kills at the net.
Meanwhile, the coach of the opposing
team made use of its bench players to try
new combinations, yet unable to control the
game.
The gloomy skies at the Iloilo Sports
Complex became the witness as the USA
Spikers made a final bow in the court.
#
Qualities of a Good Sports Writer
In addition to the qualities of the general
news writer, the sports writer should
possess:
1. SPORTSMANSHIP
he should write about the game without
impartiality and permit the better team
to win in the story as well as in the
game. He should sustain even unpopular
decisions of the officials. He may analyze
the cause of the defeat of the team but
the analysis should not be an alibi.
Qualities of a Good Sports Writer
2. ACCURACY
He should have the ability to report
accurately a fast contest.
3. INTEREST IN SPORTS
He should have a style of writing
that includes familiarity with sports
terms. Slang is not acceptable but sports
terms add liveliness and vividness to the
account. However, it should not include
overly technical terms.
 GATHERING INFORMATION
BEFORE THE GAME
A reporter constantly gathers
materials, building contacts with people and
picking up background that may help.
PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE GAME
1. Read the rules.
2. Know key people.
3. Get the names in full and check the
spelling. Don’t depend on memory. Get a
game program or list of names before the
event starts.
 GATHERING INFORMATION
BEFORE THE GAME
4. Attend sports events and practice
sessions. Learn more about the game
from the coach’s instructions.
5. Make notes on things that count. Jot
down a fact, a quote, an anecdote or an
idea that may
help someday in writing a story.
6. Read various newspapers and compare
how sports writers cover a particular
game.
 GATHERING INFORMATION
DURING THE GAME
During the game, the reporter observes
and records accurately.
1. Organize your materials – a clipboard
and plenty of papers, notebook or
stenographer’s pad for note-taking.
2. Be there well ahead of the event.
3. Secure a good working place. Work
close to the action.
4. Note interesting events before the
game.
 GATHERING INFORMATION
5. Develop a system of note-taking. Learn to use
abbreviations and other short cuts
6. Make notes as complete as possible.
7. Observe:
a. important plays
b. the unexpected or unusual
c. personal standouts on things other than
point scoring
d. touches of humor or the light things
8. Collaborate with the other reporter/s.
9. Don’t get too involved as a cheering
spectator.
 GATHERING INFORMATION
AFTER THE GAME
Post-game information usually gives an
inside story.
1. Seek out the coach, outstanding players as
well as less important participants.
2. Get quotes.
3. Check facts, especially scores, with the
scorebooks
4. Gather more information from: special
statistics, newspaper stories, game movies,
box scores, standings
 SPORTS JARGON
Identify what sports do these words belong:
1. High school snipers
2. Deceptive curve
3. Run the century
4. Outfielder
5. full-court press
6. Toss
7. Leaped on a fumble
8. Barrage of long shots
9. Sprinting ace
10. Connected for two points
 SPORTS JARGON
Identify what sports do these words belong:
1. checkmate
2. “pugay”
3. Kill at the net
4. Corner kick
5. Cleared the bar
6. goal-line
7. Designated hitter
8. Service area
9. man-to-man defense
10. Sink a long one
 SPORTS JARGON
General Usage
edge out the opposition
heavy end of the score
romp to victory
invade the home stronghold
a line of new faces
fast-travelling team
netted the needed tally
in the final stanza
score/s
 SPORTS JARGON
BASKETBALL
invade the hardwood camp
cross the ten-second line
didn’t touch the metal hoop
shot the technical
whirlwind second quarter
backcourt
jump ball
goaltending
field goal
 SPORTS JARGON
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
centerfielder
first baseman
pitchout
home plate
line drive
sacrifice fly
shortstop
home run
strike
 SPORTS JARGON
FOOTBALL
pick up a yardage
brilliant backfield strategy
somersault
engage a punting duel
booted on a perfect pigskin
heading
on goal
goalie
penalty kick
handball
 SPORTS JARGON
VOLLEYBALL
server
backliner
wallop
over reaching
net ball
outside the antenna
lineball
invading
second referee
outside hitter
 SPORTS JARGON
HOMEWORK
In a one-half lengthwise, provide ten sports
lingo for the following sports:
A. taekwondo
B. chess
C. sepak takraw
D. badminton
E. track and field