SPORTS WRITING

GETTING INTO THE GAME

ALVIN F. PATAL
Secondary School Teacher, Quezon NHS
Sports Section Critic/Adviser, The Coconut
Editor
Writer
Speaker
GUESS WHO
How well you know some Sports-sonalities?
 ALYSSA VALDEZ
VOLLEYBALL

• PLAYS FOR THE CREAMLINE COOL

SMASHERS
• FIRST FEMALE VOLLEYBALL ATHLETE
TO WIN FOUR AWARDS IN ONE UAAP
SEASON AS BEST SCORER, BEST
SERVER, SEASON’S MVP AND FINALS
MVP – SEASON 76
 MICHAEL PHELPS
SWIMMING

• MOST DECORATED OLYMPIAN

OF ALL TIME
• HAULED 28 MEDALS IN THE
OLYMPICS
 MICHAEL JORDAN
BASKETBALL

• 6-TIME NBA CHAMPION

• (1991-1993, 1996-1998)
• 6-TIME FINALS MVP
• 5-TIME NBA MVP
• 14-TIME NBA ALL-STAR
• THE G.O.A.T.
 KOBE PARAS
BASKETBALL

• PLAYED COLLEGE
BASKETBALL IN UCLA,
CREIGHTON AND NOW IN
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE.
• PLAYS FOR GILAS
PILIPINAS
 ROGER FEDERER
TENNIS

• HELD WORLD NO. 1 SEED

IN THE ASSOCIATION OF
TENNIS PROFESSIONALS
• WON 19 GRAND SLAM
SINGLE TITLES
 LA TENORIO
BASKETBALL

• 2-TIME PBA CHAMPION

• 2-TIME FINALS MVP
• 7-TIME PBA ALL-STAR
 LIN DAN
BADMINTON

• TWO-TIME OLYMPIC
CHAMPION
• FIVE-TIME WORLD
CHAMPION
• SIX-TIME ALL ENGLAND
CHAMPION
 KOBE BRYANT
BASKETBALL

• 5-TIME NBA CHAMPION

• 2-TIME NBA FINALS MVP
• 18-TIME NBA ALL-STAR
• 11-TIME ALL-NBA FIRST
TEAM
 HIDILYN DIAZ
WEIGHTLIFTING

• YOUNGEST COMPETITOR
DURING THE 2008
• SILVER MEDALIST IN THE
2016 RIO DE JANEIRO
OLYMPICS
 KAWHI LEONARD
BASKETBALL

• NBA CHAMPION IN 2014

• NBA FINALS MVP
• 2-TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER
OF THE YEAR
 USAIN BOLT
ATHLETICS

• GREATEST SPRINTER OF
ALL TIME.
HUGOT OR NOT?

1. Ang mga sports writers ay ang mapaglaro o

mahilig paglaruan.
HUGOT OR NOT?

2. Ang mga sports writers ay stick-to-one.

HUGOT OR NOT?

3. Ang mga sports writers ay mga lagi na lang nag-

aadjust.
HUGOT OR NOT?

4. Ang sports writing ay parang pagmomove-on,

mahirap sa una, sa huli makakasanayan mo na.
HUGOT OR NOT?

5. Ang mga sports writers ay sanay maghintay.

TRUE OR FALSE
1. Sports articles guide readers in knowing what happened in
the game.
2. One won’t be able to write sports articles if he/she can’t
play the game.
3. An eye for the plays and players is a key to good sports
writing.
4. You have to be a die-hard sports fan before you write an
article.
5. A sports writer should know the rules and regulations of
the game.
TRUE OR FALSE
1. Sports articles guide readers in knowing what happened in
the game. - TRUE
2. One won’t be able to write sports articles if he/she can’t
play the game. – FALSE
3. An eye for the plays and players is a key to good sports
writing. - TRUE
4. You have to be a die-hard sports fan before you write an
article. - FALSE
5. A sports writer should know the rules and regulations of
the game. - TRUE
SPORTS WRITING
• Sports reporting is news writing. The sports story has
the structure of an action story but with greater
freedom of style in writing.

• Sports writing is considered a specialized field;

therefore, the sports writer is expected to possess
certain qualities not so common among beat reporters.

• The game in print.

 THE QUESTION
Paano manalo?

• HEADLINE – a unique headline

• LEAD – a strong lead
• PLAYS – key plays put into words
• WRITING – write clearly and concisely
• NO STORY-TELLING – sports writing is a journalistic
article, not a narrative essay
 THE QUESTION
Paano manalo?

• INTERVIEW – talk to athletes and coaches, be a smart interviewer

• RESEARCH – do not come to games without any prior background
about the match
• BE KEEN – focus on what’s happening, don’t get distracted by the
look of a pretty or a handsome journalist
• KNOW THE SPORTS LINGOS AND RULES - this always come in
handy
• BE CAREFUL WITH ADJECTIVES – use adjectives when necessary
and justifiable
 THE POWER OF VERBS
In sports, there’s no defeat yet there is trouncing

CLOSE MATCHES
• Pokes
• Nips
• Edges • Survives
• Upends • Trounces
• Holds off • Escapes
• Sneaks past • Beats
• Shades
 THE POWER OF VERBS
In sports, there’s no defeat yet there is trouncing

CLOSE MATCHES
• Inungusan
• Bumalikwas • Kumalas
• Nagpumiglas • Inisahan
• Bumira • Kumawala
• Umungos • Dinaig
• Gumuhit • Pinutol
 THE POWER OF VERBS
In sports, there’s no defeat yet there is trouncing

LOPSIDED MATCHES
• Crush • Trounce • Whips
• Rip • Rout • Bludgeons
• Ruin • Annihilate • Drubs
• Pummel • Clobber • Thrashes
• Destroy • Thrubs • Wallops
• Wreck • Manhandles
• Devastate • Dismantles
 THE POWER OF VERBS
In sports, there’s no defeat yet there is trouncing

LOPSIDED MATCHES
• Kumana • Lumarga
• Nagpasiklab • Isinalpak
• Humataw • Ginulat
• Umariba • Winasak
• Bumuwelta
• Bumalandra
 THE POWER OF VERBS
In sports, there’s no defeat yet there is trouncing

Those words come in handy but the writer has to

make sure the verbs are appropriate for the game.

NOTE: If the verb is already used in the headline,

never use it again in your lead.
 Headline

Lead

Par. Supporting the lead

Quote from the star player/coach

Play-by-play supporting the lead

STRUCTURE OF A
Play-by-play of the last
quarter SPORTS NEWS
Play-by-play of the
last quarter

Play-by-play
of the third
quarter

Play-by-
play
 Headline

Lead

Par. Supporting the lead

Quote from the star player

NCAA: Lyceum stays
Play-by-play supporting
unscathed after character-
the lead
building win over Arellano
Play-by-play of the
last quarter

Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter

Play-
by-play
 Headline

Lead

LEAD
Par. Supporting the lead

Quote from the star

player/coach

Play-by-play supporting
MANILA, Philippines—If Friday’s
match was any indication, it just
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
showed the newfound character
of Lyceum in the NCAA Season 99
Play-by-play of
the last quarter

men’s basketball tournament.

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter

Play-
by-play (conventional lead)
 Headline

Lead

LEAD
Par. Supporting the lead

Quote from the star

player/coach

Play-by-play supporting
the lead
The Pirates hiked their winning
streak to five after defeating
Play-by-play of the
last quarter

Arellano, 89-77, at San Juan

Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter
Arena on Friday but they needed
Play-
by-play a whole lot of effort to gut it out.
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Paragraph Supporting
Quote from the star
player/coach
the Lead
Play-by-play supporting
For one, coach Gilbert
Malabanan’s wards trailed by as
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
much as 24 and had to force five
extra minutes of overtime to keep
Play-by-play of
the last quarter

their record unblemished against

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter

Play-
by-play a feisty Chiefs team, who were
undefeated after four games.
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Quote from the key player
Quote from the star
player/coach
/ coach
Play-by-play supporting
the lead “I think it shows our character.
Play-by-play of the
last quarter
That’s number one. We didn’t
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
give up until the final buzzer and
Play-by-
play of
that’s the good thing. Everyone,
even if the lead was big, they
the third
quarter

Play-

never quit,” said Malabanan.

by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Quote from the key player
Quote from the star
player/coach
/ coach
Play-by-play supporting
“The confidence raised with my
players in overtime because at
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
first, they were hesitant to shoot
and create with their decision
Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter making but when overtime came,
Play-
by-play they got their rhythm and that’s
the good thing.”
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play supporting the
Quote from the star
player/coach
lead
Play-by-play supporting
the lead
The hesitancy that Malabanan
spoke of put the Pirates in a
Play-by-play of the
last quarter

tough position at the

Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
quarter
intermission as they trailed, 48-
Play-
by-play 29.
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
the lead They, however, flipped the
Play-by-play of the
last quarter
switch in the second half and
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
limited the Chiefs to only nine
Play-by-
play of
the third
points in the third quarter to
quarter

Play-
trim the deficit to eight, 57-49,
before the payoff period.
by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Shows
Quote from the star
player/coach

Play-by-play supporting
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
Mclaude Guadaña capped off
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
the comeback run in regulation
Play-by-
play of
the third
with a steal and a triple to tie the
quarter

Play-
game at 75-all with 14.5 left.
by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
Overtime, however, showed a
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
much different Lyceum team–
Play-by-
play of
the third
one that is highly fueled by
quarter

Play-
trust.
by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
“I just told them that we couldn’t quit,
we should fight until the end. I have
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter trust in everyone… [the] good thing is,
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
all of us were engaged and on one page
Play-by- so we got the win which we really worked
play of
the third
quarter hard for,” said captain Enoch Valdez,
Play-
by-play who finished with a game-high double-
double of 26 points and 14 rebounds.
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter
The Pirates’ defense stifled the Chiefs in
the extra frame, hounding Arellano to
Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
just two points in the rubber period.
quarter

Play-
by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
the lead John Bravo’s time to shine could not
Play-by-play of the
have come in a better time as all of his
last quarter
made triples were sank in overtime,
finishing with 14 markers and nine
Play-by-play of
the last quarter

Play-by-
play of
the third
boards. Guadaña also helped Lyceum
snag the dub with 20 points.
quarter

Play-
by-play
 Headline

Lead
Par. Supporting the lead Play-by-play of the last
Quote from the star
player/coach
quarter
Play-by-play supporting
the lead

Play-by-play of the
last quarter Lorenz Capulong’s double-double effort
Play-by-play of
the last quarter
of 13 points and 12 rebounds was put to
Play-by- waste while Danielle Mallari also had 11
play of
the third
quarter markers in a losing effort.
Play-
by-play
THE HEADLINE
First impressions last.
 HEADLINE WRITING IN SPORTS
Usual headline

Winner (No moniker) – Verb (Should describe the win) – Losing Team

Ateneo repulses La Salle

Gilas annihilates Malaysia
Murray edges Djokovic
 HEADLINE WRITING IN SPORTS
Modified headline

Winner (No moniker) – Verb (Should describe the win) – Losing Team –
Phrase Modifier

Ocampo thwarts Santos in Taekwondo

Dan wallops Wei in Badminton
South Korea stuns Gilas in FIBA Semis
 HEADLINE WRITING IN SPORTS
Story-based headline

Winner (No moniker) – Verb (Should describe the story of the game) – Phrase
Modifier

Bata Reyes pockets gold in pool tilt

Ombrete leads Juniors atop rivals in Baseball
Lobusta, Iñojosa stun couples to extend reign in Dancesport
 THE LEAD
Sweating out the game in words
 DIRECT LEAD IN SPORTS
SUMMARY LEAD

The Cleveland Cavaliers (WHO) fired a record-

setting 25 three pointers as they (HOW) pummeled the
Atlanta Hawks 123-98 (WHAT) to seize a 2-0 lead in the
Eastern Conference playoff series (WHERE) on Wednesday
(WHEN).
 Summary Lead

Selections, trinangkuhan ang opensiba ni Lait,

pinasingasing ang All Stars sa demonstration match

Humilagpos mula sa matamlay sa simula ang Tagaytay Selections

upang ungusan ang game-high 21 puntos ng Tagaytay All Star na si
Emil Lait matapos hawakan ang bentahe sa third set and ipanalo
ang 3-set squeaker sa demonstration game ng RSPC Qualifiers
kahapon.
 Summary Lead
Tom Joel Paliangayan
Selections negate Lait’s explosive game,
trip All Stars in demonstration match (double verbs)

Tagaytay Selections recovered from a lethargic first set, overcoming

the game-high 21 points of Tagaytay All Star’s spitfire Emil Lait as
they turned things around in the third set and claimed the hard-
fought 3-set squeaker in their demonstration game for RSPC
qualifiers yesterday.
 BEST 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.
 Best Player Lead

Stephen carries / tows Golden State to 24-0

Headline rule: Single Name, verb, team

Stephen Curry scored 38 points as the Golden State Warriors

improved to 24 wins with no loss/defeat this season by
outlasting the Boston Celtics 124-119 in double overtime
Friday night.
 Best Player Lead

Stephen, minanduhan ang 24 panalo para sa Golden State

Hinablot ni Stephen Curry ang kanyang game-high record na 38

points upang hatakin ang Golden State para sa 24-0 win-loss
record matapos kalusin ang Boston Celtics 124-119 sa double
overtime kahapon.
 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).
 Key Play Lead

Gardner’s free throw lifts Dragon vs Alab

Kiwi Gardner (displayed poise under pressure, proved his

supremacy, showed his class, displayed a stellar performance as he)
drilled / sank two pressure-packed free throws with two seconds left
to help the Dragons hold off an Alab Pilipinas’ late rally, 79-77, and
end the defending champions’ three game slide against the
Philippine team in the ASEAN Basketball League yesterday.
 Key Play Lead

Gardner, kumana ng dalawang free throws para sagipin ang

Dragons

Nagsalpak / Kumamada si Kiwi Gardner ng dalawang peligrosong /

mabigat / pamatay na free throw may dalawang Segundo na lamang
ang nalalabi para trangkuhan ang pagdiskaril ng Dragons sa huling
rally ng Alab Pilipinas, 79-77, sa ASEAN Basketball League
kahapon.
 BEST RUN LEAD

Never say die University of the East wiped out a 10-point

deficit in the fourth quarter to snatch a 68-66 victory over La
Salle and stay alive in the race for a Final Four in the UAAP
Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta
Coliseum, yesterday.
 Record-setting lead

Outside hitter Miguel Rafael Rongalerios of Grade 9-

SPS bucked the odds as he pumped in personal-high 11 kills
to power the Juniors with a come-from-behind triumph past
veteran Seniors, 23-25, 25-21, 18-15 in the Men’s Volleyball
Finals of the QNHS Intramurals at the Alcala Sports Complex,
July 22.
 Revise, Edit, Polish
Clean up unwanted phrases, flowery lines

Sariaya foils twice-to-beat advantage of Candelaria,

treks rough road to championship

Jonathan Talan’s stellar performance gave a huge boost for Sariaya

as they squeaked past Candelaria in a tight 3-2 match and pocketed
their first championship in the men’s volleyball finals of Unit Meet at
Lusacan, Tiaong yesterday.
 Revise, Edit, Polish
Using figures and stats

Talan sizzles with 25 as Sariaya outlasts Candelaria in 5-setter

thriller

Talan keyed a telling five-to-nothing run in the deciding fifth set,

enabling Sariaya to dislodge a pesky Candelaria side to capture
their maiden championship of the Unit Meet Men’s Volleyball at
Lusacan, Tiaong, Quezon yesterday.
Drill on writing the Headline and Lead

Watch the following videos, choose the

angle to be used, and write a
compelling headline and lead.
 THE BODY
The chunk of the play-by-play
Watch the video of Sportscenter
Philippines.

Analyze how plays are stated into

strong, action-packed verbals.
That is how play-by-plays should look like.

“These are the major highlights, the

turning point, the crucial turnovers, the
defining moment.”

-
Michael Angelo Jugado,
Full-court

Malaya Business Insight

Reading of Exemplars and Articles
Take it from the best
BIG TIPS

• Select the strongest angle.

• Write it in plain, specific details.
• Let the facts tell the story.
• Avoid long list of statistics or score.
• Highlight the most important and put others in a side bar.
THE COMPOSITE SPORTS STORY
2 or more Gamers in 1 News
Same principles are followed in writing a
composite story.

The challenge lies in merging 2 or more

articles into one.

However, as a sports writer, one should find a

way to smoothly combine the action, ideas,
highlights and angle into one coherent article.
 Alcano bludgeons Reyes to nail finals berth;
Espinoza manhandles Alora to cop semis bid

Cue Artist Ronnie Alcano from the Philippines and

Rookie-Jin Maria Espinoza of Mexico stood firm in their
respective 2016 World 9-ball Race-to-9 semifinal and
Taekwondo Women’s Round-of-16 quarterfinal tournaments
as they pulled off a convincing win to secure a finals
and a semifinals spot yesterday.
 SPORTS IDIOMS

• Green Archers tame Bulldogs to stay unscathed

• Jeron Teng stepped up in the fourth quarter to tow De La Salle University
• Teng notched eight of his 23 points in the final canto on 11-of-18 shooting
• opened the second frame on impressive run highlighted by Matthew Aquino’s three-
pointer
• The Bulldogs exploited the Green Archers’ costly turnovers
 SPORTS IDIOMS

• halted Barangay Ginebras four-game winning streak to grab the top

seeding after the elimination round
• who struggled in his offense in the last few games
• poured in 19 points and 10 assists
• who drew 34 points and 14 rebounds from Justine Brownlee
 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

• Nagtala ng bagong record (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
•
THANK YOU!