The document provides guidance on writing sports news stories. It states that sports writing shares many elements with news writing, such as timeliness, conflict, and human interest. It emphasizes that action is key in sports and the writer's role is to describe this action for readers. The document also offers tips on writing leads, the body of the story, using proper terminology and slang, and provides examples of effective sports headlines.

2. SPORTS WRITING IS, BASICALLY, NEWS WRITING, TOO.
Observably all the elements found in news
writing – timeliness or immediacy,
prominence, proximity or nearness,
oddity, conflict, consequence, human
interest, drama, romance or sex,
numbers and others – are also present in
sports writing. All the rules present in
news writing – especially those on
accuracy, brevity and clarity -- virtually
apply to sports writing, too.

3. The latter, however, has a greater
freedom of STYLE.

4. Moreover, the most defined element in
sports writing is conflict as sports
connotes competition, contest, dispute,
struggle or battle for supremacy by
individuals or groups of individuals.
Definitely, conflict is present in sports
competitions.• Opposing forces
generally fight for the crown and exert all
efforts and strategies towards this much-
sought triumph.

5. ACTION, therefore, is present in sports and
it is the duty of the sports writer to bring
or picture this action to the readers who
were unable to directly watch the actual
contest. The sports writer who can
expertly describe the sports action
through words, phrases or sentences is
one successful writer, indeed!• Since
action is foremost in sports, there is
consequently a need for the writer to be
adept at or knowledgeable about verbs
and adjectives. Verbs are action words
and adjectives are words that can aptly

6. At present, there exists much
leeway in sports writing styles.
Merely reading sports stories at
present immediately proves
that most sports stories are
now gearing towards NOVELTY
LEADS. Nevertheless, of
course, sports writers have not
totally forsaken the summary
lead.

7. The leads nowadays
promptly describe the
action through carefully
selected sentences that
instantly deliver the
reader to the sports
scene.

8. THE SUMMARY LEAD
THE LEAD ITSELF• When utilizing the
summary lead (Five Ws and One H), the
writer must not fail to state specifically
who won the game and against whom.• It
is imperative to state the score or
outcome. Where was the contest held?
When?• If the game was not completed
due to weather conditions or other
incidents, say so; but tell the existing
score when it was stopped.

9. THE BODYOF THE STORY
If the lead is written in a
thrilling vein, the body
should be given the same
treatment.•
Give the play-by-play
account of the contest,
taking note of decisive or
interesting plays or any
highlights that occurred

10. Give the best scores of the day as
well as the team or individual
standings after the game, plus the
game’s significance, if any.
Statements that are quite
controversial or significant may
likewise be included in the body of
the story. The weather condition
may be mentioned, too, together
with the crowd’s reactions and
subsequent post-game celebration
scenes.

11. USE OF SLANG LANGUAGE
DISCARD:… a severe blow administered
to the face and another, with the left
hand, to the region of the stomach.•
PREFERRED : … a hard uppercut to
the jaw and a left jab to the belt
line.•
DISCARD: The left-handed pitcher
threw the ball so well that his
opponents were unable to strike it.•
PREFERRED: The southpaw pitched
airtight ball.

12. SPORTS VOC A BUL A RY
(Some frequently used terms
or sports lingo)

13. VOLLEYBALL
-
booming service, net ball,
spikes, change court, wallop,
best attacker/receiver/
server/blocker/digger/setter,
block, two out of three, blocked
his kill, spiker, peppered with 12
hits.–

14. SOCCER FOOTBALL
- goalie, fullback, corner kick, pigskin,
penalty kick, centrada, corner kick–
- SIPA - fancy kick, dead ball, single,
ball on play, double.

15. BASEBALL/SOFTBALL -
diamond, pitcher, short stop,
southpaw, shut out, back stop,
pegged at third, swatters, pitcher’s
mound, hit a homerun, fails to make
the catch, deep center, fielder, strike
out, innings, a double steal of
second and third bases, unearned
runs, reaches first base safely.

16. -FIELD EVENTS –heaved the shotput, hurled the javelin,
threw the discus, broad jump, pole vault, hop-step-and-
jump, Grecian disc, long jump.–
CYCLING - wheel by wheel, remate, multi-lap, yellow jersey,
lead pack.–
BOXING - round by round, slugfest, flyweight, welterweight,
jab, uppercut, heavyweight, uppercut, ring, knockout
loss, landed a left body blow, lightweight, super-
featherweight, split decision, boxing stable, flurry of
punches.

17. SWIMMING - aquabelle, freestyle, tanker, breaststroke,
naiad, backstroke, diving board.– TAEKWONDO - turning
side kick, jins, heavyweight, finweight, flyweight.–
CHESS - grandmaster, chess board, zugzwang, plus 47 ELO
rating, nine-round tournament, blitzkrieg chess, king,
queen, board one, bishop, knight, opening move, rookor
tower, pawn.– ARCHERY - bowman, drawing back

18. IT GIVES ADVANCE INFORMATION OF THE COMING EVENT. THE
FOLLOWING ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES NEWS.
Historical background of the game or event.
Players and coaches. Physical and mental
qualities of the athletes. Strengths and
weaknesses of each player and team based on
their previous competitions. Noteworthy event
that could be included in the news. Weather that
could affect the game. Expected viewers.
Statement of the coaches and athletes.

19. . It contains important reports like the
following: Outcome. Spectacular parts of
the game. Star player. Weather.
Audience/viewers. comparison of the
strength and weakness of the athletes of
both teams. Significance ofthe Outcome

20. it summarizes the activities of the team. It
also analyzes the recently concluded
game like a player, who was injured and
the psychological aspects of the players,
chaos on the technicality, statistics and
its significance

21. it is based on the data gathered
from authorities or officials of
the game. It could also be a
summary of the different events
and almost simultaneously
played in an athlete meet.

22. Know the rules of the game. Know key
people—coaches, trainers, players and
their weight, height, and position in the
team, experience and others. List down
their names in full and check the
spelling. If possible, attend practice
session. Jot down quote, anecdote and
other event, which can be included in the
sport news. Interview key persons who
are involved in the game.

23. . Beat the venue ahead of time. Look for a good
working place where you can closely witness
the game. Note interesting events before the
game. Observe closely and list down the
following: The most thrilling part of the game.
Unexpected event like a neophyte who performs
excellently. Humorous event. Audience’s
reactions. Celebrities or prominent people who
witness the game. Statement of the players,
coaches and the audience

24. Check the accuracy of the score
from the officials. Interview star
player or coach of the winning
team, coach and athlete of the
losing team can also be
interviewed. Note audience or
viewers’ reactions.

25. Must be sports enthusiast. Must know the
basic rules, strategies and players or
team’s records. Ability to take note
quickly without missing the important
sequence of the play. Must be fair in
reporting even if he has a favorite team
or player. Must observe accuracy in
presenting facts. Has wide knowledge on
sports lingo

26. Write the story immediately after the event. Be
accurate not only with score but also in all other
highlights of the game. Include human interest
like the personal background of the player.
Inject humorous event when needed. Follow the
inverted pyramid structure in presenting the
data. Support data with opinion. Be original.
Use sports lingo but do not overdo it. Be
selective and pick out only from the multitude
of details, the ones that count and can tickle the
interest if the readers.

27. it summarizes or analyzes the event
by giving the significance, the
winner, the hero, the scores, the
place and time or date when the
event happens. It immediately
answers five W’s and one H.
Novelty Lead can also be used in
writing sports news, but the second
paragraph should also answer the
five W’s and one H.

28. *it contains the play-by-play account of the
game like the following: The most crucial
part of the game. Star player. Writer’s
record of the background of athletes and
coaches. Observation of the number and
reactions of the audience or viewers and
the weather condition. Celebrities who
witness the game.
*it usually contains quotes from players
and coaches, statistics and team
standing.
*this is usually used when the best angle
of the sports event is through the
collective effort of all the members of the

29. when one or two of the members of
the team seem to standout of the
rest of the players that caused the
team to win the game, their heroic
deed is the best angle to start a
sports news.

30. THE LEAD ITSELF•
When utilizing the summary lead
(Five Ws and One H), the writer
must not fail to state specifically
who won the game and against
whom.• It is imperative to state the
score or outcome. Where was the
contest held? When?• If the game
was not completed due to weather
conditions or other incidents, say
so; but tell the existing score when
it was stopped.

31. THE BODYOF THE STORY•
If the lead is written in a
thrilling vein, the body
should be given the same
treatment.• Give the play-by-
play account of the contest,
taking note of decisive or
interesting plays or any
highlights that occurred
therein.

32. Give the best scores of the day as
well as the team or individual
standings after the game, plus the
game’s significance, if any.
Statements that are quite
controversial or significant may
likewise be included in the body of
the story. The weather condition
may be mentioned, too, together
with the crowd’s reactions and
subsequent post-game celebration

33. USE OF SLANG LANGUAGE•
DISCARD: … a severe blow
administered to the face and another,
with the left hand, to the region of the
stomach.•
PREFERRED : … a hard uppercut to the
jaw and a left jab to the belt line.•
DISCARD: The left-handed pitcher threw
the ball so well that his opponents
were unable to strike it.•
PREFERRED: The southpaw pitched
airtight ball.

34. SPORTS NO VEL TY LEADS
20. • SAN DIEGO – The St. Louis Cardinals
surrounded Reggie Sanders in the
clubhouse and chanted “MVP! MVP!
MVP!”
• A double black-eye. With that, it’s
understandable why Ateneo coach
Norman Black is feeling blue these days.
• FARMINGTON, Pennsylvania – Phil
Mickelson. Vijay Singh. David Thomas,
Jim Furyk. With four of the top five
money winners on the US PGA Tour, the
84 Luimber Classic has na better field
than most of the post-major tournaments

35. The best is yet to come from the “Beast”. “Coach
told me that we have a very long tournament so
I have to pace myself,” Purefoods Chunkee
import Marquin Chandler said Sunday night.
==========• Marquin Chandler was not merely
a Giant for Purefoods Chunkee last night. He
was a monster. ==========
22. • For a while, as confetti rained down on the
triumphant Far Eastern U Tamaraws, it looked
like coach Bert Flores will be going through the
whole euphoria without experiencing the
biggest thrill of it all – a victory ride from his
players. ==========• The newest faces of
Philippine tennis continued to emerge from the
horizon. ==========• LAS VEGAS – Shane
Mosley was anything but sweet. He was a
winner, though, with his sights set on bigger

36. SPORTS HEADLINES•
. HEADLINES are an equally important part
of a sports news story. While the lead
summarizes the entire news
development, the headline summarizes
the lead itself.
ONE DECK
Pacquiao wins!
P’sinan is champ!
Espino is victor! Patriots, Beermen

37. TWO DECKS Mindanao beach volley
champs GM Barbosa off to Vietnam La
Salle gals eye second crown in UAAP
volleyball Donaire in 12th Elorde awards
THREE DECKS Broken nose steals
milestone glory from Kobe Powerade
vows to win crown Undermanned Azkals
battle Icheon FC
FOUR DECKS M’weather: Maganto,
Pacquiao ‘cheaters’ POC to raise own
funds for Olympic participation

38. TRANSFORMING THE HEADLINE
Dagupan City hosts national
seniors basketball
tournament
Dagupan hosts national
seniors basketball tourney
Dagupan hosts nat’l seniors
cage tourney
Dagupan hosts national
cagefest