this will help everyone learn how to write sports writing

1. Sportswriting for
school paper
advisers
By Mike T. Limpag

2. What is sports writing?
At its basic, it’s all about chronicling athletic achievements.
All sportswriters can write news stories, but not all news writers can write
sports stories.
Avoiding Jargon

3. Types of sports stories
1. Match reports
2. Advancers
3. Analysis
4. Updates
5. Features

4. Things to do before writing a story
1. Research.
2. Ask questions.
3. Practice one liners.
4. Practice taking notes.

5. Take notes.
Observe.
Ask questions.
Mentally compose your lead.
Things to do during coverages

6. Notes samples

7. Types of lead
Traditional. (Info laden)
GILAS Pilipinas got complacent after leading by 10 points in the opening
period and the world No.5 team Le Bleus of France punched a 93-84 win at
the start of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena
in Pasay City last night.

8. Types of lead
Highlight. (You chose which aspect of the game, or player, to highlight)
Ex. 1.) LeBron James became just the third man in NBA history to register a
triple double in a Game 7 as he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first title
after winning Game 7, 93-89.
Ex. 2.) Kyrie Irving sank the go-ahead trey to hand the Cleveland Cavaliers
their first NBA crown after taking Game 7, 93-89, over the Golden State
Warriors.

9. Types of lead
Quote.
“Mamba mentality.”
Paying homage to retired NBA great Kobe Bryant, Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving
said that was what he was thinking moments before taking that go-ahead
triple that sealed Cleveland's 93-89 win in Game 7.

10. Types of lead
Narrative. (Complex, needs expertise and deep knowledge)
LONDON--It was raining, ever so slightly, and her Wimbledon fourth-round
match was slipping away, ever so slightly, when Serena Williams stumbled as
she ran to the net, winding up seated on the slick Centre Court grass.
Her opponent, two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, sent a shot
flying past Williams to go up a break at 5-4 in the opening set. (Continued…)

11. Types of lead (Narrative)
Williams was slow to get up. She wasn't injured, but was worried she could be.
Why, she demanded to know from chair umpire Marija Cicak, wasn't the
retractable roof shut? Eventually, after one more game and much discussion,
action was delayed for nearly 30 minutes while the cover was closed.
Whether it was the transformation to an indoor court, the strategy session the
break allowed her to have with coach Patrick Mouratoglou or, as Williams
suggested, simply the chance to calm down, she completely dominated the
rest of the way, taking the last nine games to beat the 13th-seeded
Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-0 on Monday.

12. Writing the body
Should support the lead.
Info and fact-laden. (based on notes during coverage and research pre-
coverage)
Separate paragraphs with quotes.
Do not re-state quotes.
Write your body knowing the end of the story could be there in the body.

13. Let’s try!

16. Tips.
Avoid jargon. (Caroms for rebounds; dishes for assists; norms for averages.)
Use simple terms. Don't use terms, phrases you are not familiar with.
Be consistent in your use of stats, technical terms.
Teams: Plural or singular (American vs. UK English)
Remember an important rule of journalism: You do not know everything.
There is always room for improvement, knowledge.
Tips