1. Types of sports stories:
Writing that captures the action
by Bobby Hawthorne
Types of sports stories:
Pregame or advance
Post-game
Individual sports
Sports briefs
Sports features
In-depth stories
Columns

2. Pregame stories: Two teams’ records Results of previous matchups
Strengths and weaknesses
Expected type of play
Quotes from coaches
Analysis of scoring records vs. common opponents
Date, time, and location

3. Game or post-game stories:
Outstanding characteristics of the game
Basic information: type of contest, name of teams, score, date, location
The “newsmagazine diamond”—a lead, a narrative body, the end
Additional information: how scores were made, unusual plays, types of play, outstanding players, significance of the outcome, opinions of coaches and players

4. Individual sports: How or why the person won or lost
Recent successes or failures
Meaningful quotes

5. Sports briefs: Crisp and concise
Season synopses with examples from specific games

6. Sports features: Focus on people
Personality profiles of coaches, team physicians, trainers, bench-warmers, etc.
Then and now approach
Focus on fans
Lifetime activities or recreational activities
Strive for a balance of different sports

7. The in-depth story:
Topics that cut across individual program lines. For example:
The propensity of parents and booster club officials to go to court if a player was ruled ineligible
How state eligibility standards were adopted
How boys and girls receive the same treatment, but they don’t have the same prestige
The use of smokeless tobacco

8. Sports Illustrated ESPN
The sports column:
To praise, criticize, analyze, or interpret
Not to cheerlead, nit-pick, second-guess or air personal grievances
Should show honesty and fair play
All opinions should be supported with facts
Can be serious or funny; a detailed look at one subject or a collection of short insights
Rick Reilly
Sports Illustrated ESPN

9. Beware: Don’t be a cheerleader
Avoid jargon (“the team switched from a box-and-one to a three/two match up zone”)
Avoid cliches (“a tough loss” “a great win”)
Avoid weak verbs (the team won, not the team is a winner)
Avoid nicknames
Avoid false titles (use “Jane Jones, a co-captain,” not “co-captain Jane Jones”)
Don’t begin the lead with an article (a, an, the), the name of the school or its initials and the name of the team
Give attribution for opinions (“Coach Smith said that he thought they should have won,” not “Coach Smith believes that they should have won”)
Avoid dumb, predictable quotes (“We are looking forward to the season” or “I’m very proud of this team”)