Sportswriting or sports

journalism are terms used

to define the craft of
professionals in fields in
which writers, editors and
photojournalists use words
or images to tell a story
about sports.
Sportswriting is a field where
the use of picture words does
not only enhance the story, but
helps make it become a sports
story.
THE
JOB
ENABLES YOU TO BE CLOSE
TO SPORTS STARS AND
CELEBRITIES
GIVES YOU CHANCE TO BE
THE FIRST WHERE THE
ACTION IS
 IT WILL LEAD YOU
TO DIFFERENT PLACES
 SKILLS
REQUIRED
 MUST HAVE GOOD
COMMAND OF THE
LANGUAGE THAT YOU
ARE GOING TO USE
 KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE SPORTS
e.g. in football there are terms such as red card,
hat-trick. For a reader to have a clearer view on
your story, you must explain these terms to them.
In basketball, there are terms such as 4.5-meter
line, from the stripe, at the perimeter, from the
rainbow territory, grandslam.
 WHAT SETS
SPORTSWRITING
APART
A SPORTS STORY
IS LIVELIER
 THE WRITER HAS MORE
FREEDOM TO EXPRESS HIS
OPINION IN THE ARTICLE
In sports, a writer can freely praise or
criticize a certain individual depending on
his performance
THE CHALLENGE
How to present the story
in a manner that it is
something new to the
readers. How to let your
readers feel as if they
were in the game.
INTERVIEW. This is a vital tool a
journalist could ever have, the
power to ask questions. As
journalists, one must be clever
enough in asking questions.
Be analytical in writing your
story and be clever in
conducting interviews.
Remember that at times you
can get a good lead of your
story through answers you get
from an interview.
 Inspired by the presence of his
parents who watched him play in a
competitive tournament for the first
time, Juan de la Cruz also had a very
energetic game, scoring 25 points on
top of 10 rebounds to power The
Freeman to a 100-68 rout of Banat
News during their basketball exhibition
match at the MGB Coliseum.
Pumped up by the sight of his girlfriend
who cheered for him to the top of her lungs
at the sidelines, Juan de la Cruz also came
up with a spectacular performance,
unleashing powerful spikes and cunning
drop shots to lift The Freeman to a clinical
three-set victory over Banat News in their
volleyball showdown at the MGB Sports
Complex.
Give your story a little bit of
drama and a different twist to
make it more interesting
especially to those who have
already watched and knew the
outcome of the game you are
writing about. Relate it like
a feature story.
After a hard day's training,
Filipino boxing star Manny
Pacquiao took his wife Jinkee
along the shoreline near the
South Road Properties where
they walked hand in hand
while enjoying the cool sea
breeze under the backdrop of
the setting sun.
It was raining outside. So as inside the
Cebu Coliseum. Not droplets of water but
debris as angry Cebuano fans pelted the
playing court with empty mineral water
bottles and other things they could get in
disgust after the host Cebu Gems lost to
the visiting Negros Slashers, 100-97, in
their nerve-wracking championship match
for the coveted MBA title at the Cebu
Coliseum.
CATCHY HEADLINES
• Janitor's son sweeps way to athletics victory
• Fisherman's daughter nets gold in gymnastics event
• Market vendor's son is fastest man
in Freeman Olympics
HOW TO MAKE LEAD
OF A SPORTS STORY
TYPES OF LEAD
• DIRECT LEAD
• SHORT BUT DECISIVE
• FEATURIZED OR DRAMATIC
The 'Fight of the Century' didn't have any
element of a classic match.

In a relatively boring showdown that keep

viewers yawning most of the time, Floyd
Mayweather, Jr. literally danced his way to a
unanimous decision victory over Manny
Pacquiao in their 12-round bout that was
heavily criticized for its lack of action last May 3
at the sprawling MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas, Nevada.
It was breakthrough win that every Filipino
should be proud of.

They were made to labor hard for extra five

minutes but it was all worth it as Gilas Pilipinas
pulled off a history 81-79 triumph over the
favored Senegal in an awe-inspiring
performance at the FIBA World Cup in Seville,
Spain that put the Philippines back in the
basketball world map.
As in any news story, you also
start with a lead that tells of the
five W's and the H. But in
sportswriting, the writer can
present any variations of lead
depending on his or her
appreciation of the game.
To complete your story, you first
explain the lead in he next two or
three paragraphs then go
chronological in the presentation
of what transpired during
the game.
Remember: Put quotes in the
story. It adds credibility, it adds
credence to an article
Keep in mind that in writing your
lead, it must be plain and simple.
CREATIVE. You must have a creative mind.
Creative in the sense that your are relating to
your readers what transpired during a certain
event. Describe the event as a whole and dig up
even up to the smallest details of the story you
are pursuing.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
GOOD RECORD-KEEPER. Record-keeping is very
vital in sportswriting. You must list up every
results, the date, and where it happened because
they could be of big help in your future articles.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
MATHEMATICALLY INCLINED. We must always
remember that in sportswriting, we are also
dealing with numerical figures. Examples,
boxscores, time frame, specially in basketball and
running events.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
RESEARCH-ORIENTED. Make sure
you have a complete background
of what you are writing.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
MUST HAVE GOOD INTERVIEWING
SKILLS .Interviews add spice to your stories. That
make your story more accurate and credible so
it is important to insert excerpts of interviews
from a certain player or whoever are the
prominent figures in the event you are
covering.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
MUST HAVE GOOD MEMORY. We are oftentimes
dealing with future events. We must also keep
in our mind what are we going to write in this
particular day.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
A GOOD READER. A good reader.
You can never be a good writer if
you are not a good reader.

OTHER FACTORS TO BE
A GOOD SPORTSWRITER
 REMEMBER: Sportswriters must be
sensitive to the feelings of the athletes and
always show respect to them.
 It will take some practice to do all the
things I’ve shared to you the right and
appropriate manner, but the best way to
learn how to write sports stories is to
read. Unless you read, you can never go
any further in whatever writing career
you plan to have.

POINTS TO PONDER
THE END