This document outlines the structure of a sports article. It discusses that sports reporting follows the structure of an action story. There are three main types of sports stories: advance stories that build enthusiasm for upcoming events, coverage stories that provide on-the-spot reporting, and advance coverage stories that include information about both past and upcoming events. The sports article should follow classic news writing structures, with an attention-grabbing lead that answers the five W's, and a body that discusses team standings, decisive plays, individual stats, quotes, and other relevant details. Sports writers must be knowledgeable about sports rules and lingo to effectively report on events.

1. The Sports Article
Structure
Created by: Gerard F. Tolero

2. The Sports Article-Structure
 Sports reporting is news writing.
 Sports story has the structure of an action
story.
 Is considered a specialized field.
Therefore, the sports writer is expected to
possess certain qualities.
 Three types of sports stories can be
written.
 Advance Story
 Coverage Story
 Advance Coverage Story
What is Sports Writing?

3. Sports writer must…
 Have interest in all sports event.
 Know the rules and regulations of the
event or game he is writing about.
 Have a working knowledge of the
language and jargons of sports writing
usually referred to as sports lingo.
 Avoid clichés (tired, old phrases) that
have seen better days.

4. The Sports Article-Structure
Advance
Story
Coverage
Story
Advance
Coverage
Story
Is sometimes called dope
or prognostication, builds
up enthusiasm for coming
events. It may be one of
the three types:
 Straight news story
 Background story
 Prediction story

5. The Sports Article-Structure
Advance Story
Coverage
Story
Advance
Coverage
Story
Is an on-the-spot coverage
of an actual game or event.

6. The Sports Article-Structure
Advance Story
Coverage
Story
Advance
Coverage
Story
Includes the information of
a coming event as the first
part of the story and the
information on the past
event as the last part of the
story.

7. The Sports Article-Structure
Writing the Sports Story
The Lead
-is the attention-getter, the news in a nutshell.
The Classic “Five W’s”
1. Who won?
2. Against whom?
3. By what score?
4. Where?
5. When? Example:
The Torres High School Quintet (1) poured 10 baskets in
the last three minutes to edge out the Osmenians (2) 65-63
(3) at the opponent’s homeground (4) yesterday afternoon
(5).

8. The Sports Article-Structure
1. The key play lead
2. The outstanding player lead
The lead can also dramatize other elements like:
The Soliman High School sluggers bombed the
Lakandula batters with six runs in the third inning to
subdue a nerve-fuzzling Lakandula rally, 14-12 as they
clinched the invitation game here, in connection with the
celebration of the Foundation Day of Lakandula High
School.
Romeo Reyes of Roxas High School, after almost
four hours of battle over the chessboard, copped the most
coveted YMCA trophy after outwitting Manila High
School chesser William Santos in 27 moves of Sicilian
defense.

9. The Sports Article-Structure
3. Analytical approach lead
Riding high on sizzling spikes and tricky placing,
the MLQ netters blasted the Laurel High Killers in the
crucial third set to win 15-10, 11-5, 15-7 in a mini-district
meet, Sept. 21 at the Torres High School Oval to celebrate
the First Filipino Thanksgiving Day.
The Body
1. Team and/or individual standing- if the event is part of
a series of games, the story must report how the teams or
players stand in relation to their competitors.
2. Decisive play- this is the most crucial part of the game
that gives a certain team the winning margin.

10. The Sports Article-Structure
3. Best scores for the day- the scores usually appear in the
headline and in the lead. However, the writer must not
neglect the top scorer of the day.
4. Play-by-play- due to limited space, play-by-play has to
be condensed. In top boxing events, a separate round by
round account is provided, describing the progress of the
fight in detail.
5. Quotation- it is customary for the hero of the day to have
his sentiments recorded for posterity.

11. The Sports Article-Structure
Suggested Pointers
1. The score or outcome
 Who won? That of course is the point of the story.
Even if game should end in a tie, with a riot, or be
called off on account of a rain, the outcome is still
important.
3. Highlights of the game
 Find the turning point of the game. Describe the
spectacular plays. Tells about the last-minute fumble
or the last three-second basket from midcourt if it
were a basketball game.
2. The significance of the outcome
 Was a championship at sake? Do the standings of
the teams change? Who gets the cup? Is the grudge
wiped out?

12. The Sports Article-Structure
4. Comparison of the Teams
 Which was the better team? Was the defending
champion out jumped on the rebound? Who did
better from the foul line? In what department were
the losers weak?
5. Individual Stars
 While present-day sports stories on teamwork have
greatly discouraged individual stars and so-called
grandstand players, there are still instances where
some players stand out from the rest. Who are they?
What did they do to become the heroes of the game?
6. Weather Conditions
 Mud, sunshine, heat, cold or wind may have a
bearing in the game

13. The Sports Article-Structure
7. Crowd and Celebration
 Do not forget the spectators. Was it a record crowd?
How did the spectators behave? Were they
particularly hostile to the referee?