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
ASSIGNMENT:
CHEAT SHEET
● 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:
■ A roster
■ A brief outline of the rules
■ The timeline of a match or
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!