Sports Reporting

and Writing
Batter up!
SPORTS COVERAGE
One of the most important parts of student media

Followed closely by students

Followed closely by community

Can be used by colleges to look at athletes for scholarships and

recruiting
COVERING SPORTS LIKE A PRO:
KNOW the sport

Rules and guidelines

Positions of players

Basic timeline of a match or game

COVERING SPORTS LIKE A PRO:
KNOW the people who involved in the sport

A little about their background

How to spell and pronounce their names

COVERING SPORTS LIKE A PRO:
KNOW the records

Are they coming off of a winning or losing year?

Are there individuals on-deck to break records

KNOW the stats

Individual and/or team

TYPES OF SPORTS STORIES:
Game stories

Summarizes a game or a match

Most predictable sports story you will ever write

USE the inverted pyramid

Lede includes outcome and basics

Nut graf will identify the game’s defining moments

Next, include a quote from player or coach -- Look for the emotional response

End with what is next for the team

TYPES OF SPORTS STORIES:
Preview stories

Previews an upcoming game or match

How do the two teams match up

What makes this game special

Look for the most interesting short-term angle

VERY timely
 ● Pick a partner
● Draw a card
● On that card is the name of a sports
team that we have here at our school
● YOUR ASSIGNMENT
○ To write the cheat sheet for that
sport including:
ASSIGNMENT: ■ A roster
■ A brief outline of the rules
■ The timeline of a match or
CHEAT SHEET game
■ How the scoring works
○ REQUIREMENTS
■ Visually appealing
■ At least 5 bullet points for
your outline of the rules
■ At least 5 bullet points for the
timeline of a match
 Sports Reporting
and Writing
Batter up!