SPORTS WRITING
SPORTS WRITING
SPORTS WRITING
RULE # 1: SUNDIN ANG SVO FORMAT (SUBJECT VERB OBJECT) FILIPINO MAN O ENGLISH MEDIUM.
HAL.
RULE # 2 SA ENGLISH, ANG VERB AY ACTIVE VOICE (PRESENT) SA FILIPINO, ANG VERB AY PAST TENSE
LEAD
RULE # 1
LEAD (FIRST PARAGRAPH) ILAGAY NG PASUNOD-SUNOD (BEGINNER OR ADVANCED WRITERS) ANG MGA
SUMUSUNOD NA MAHAHALAGANG DETALYE
4. SCORE
5. TORNEYO O EVENT
7. KAILAN GINANAP
Imus Bombers came away victorious after taking down the host Dasmarinas Spikers in their Game One of
the Best of Three series, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, during the Intertown Volleyball Tournament held at
Ugnayang La Salle Gym yesterday
SUPPORTING LEAD FOR TEAM SPORTS (BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, ETC) - ISULAT KUNG SINO ANG BEST
PLAYER AT ANG KANYANG MGA NAIAMBAG SA LABAN (STATISTICS)
EX: Rochelle Sumilang topscored in their team's huge victory producing 18 points coming from 15
attacks, two blocks and an ace while the Mary Tabanag-Sally Manahan duo also became a problem for
Dasmarinas as they registered a total of 28 markers.
SUPPORTING LEAD FOR INDIVIDUAL SPORTS (BADMINTON, TENNIS, BOXING) - ISULAT ANHG
PINAKAMAHALAGANG NAGAWA NYA SA BUONG LABAN NA SA TINGIN MO AY NAGING DAHILAN KUNG
BAKIT SYA NANALO. MAAARING ITO AY GALING DOON SA NILAGAY MO SA LEAD KUNG PAANO NATALO
ANG KALABAN. DAGDAGAN NA LAMANG O IJUSTIFY SA PAMAMAGITAN NG SPECIFIC DETAILS
EX: RUMATSADA SA IKATLONG ROUND SI BALUYOT TAMPOK ANG TATLONG KNOCK DOWNS BUNSOD
UPANG MANGHINA ANG KATUNGGALI AT HINDI NAMAKABAWI SA MGA SUNOD PANG ROUNDS.
KUNG MAY INTERVIEW O QUOTE MULA SA PLAYER O COACH NG NANALO, ILAGAY ITO DITO. KUNG WALA
DIRETSO NA SA MGA HIGHLIGHTS NG BAWAT SET, ROUND OR QUARTER
HAL. "HINDI PA NAKAKARECOVER SI THIRDY SA COVID-19 MENTALLY KAYA MEDYO HINDI PA LUMALABAS
ANG KANYANG TUNAY NA LARO. KILALA NATIN KUNG PAANO MAGLARO SI THIRDY," ANI COACH RYAN
GREGORIO.
11TH PARAGRAPH BEST SCORER OR PLAYER (KUNG TEAM SPORTS) AT ANG KANYANG NAIAMBAG O
NAIBIGAY NA SCORE (STATISTICS)
EXAMPLE: Dasma ace spiker Pascual wounded with 20 points coming from 15 attacks, three denials and
two service aces but barely got help from her teammates to succumb to the visiting Imus.
Battered
Mangled
Clobbered
Powdered
Walloped
Pulverized
Shaded
Eked out
Nipped
Edged out
DEFEATED A CHAMPION
Dethroned
Overthrew
Overturned
Toppled
Snatched the crown
Grabbed the crown
Bagged the title
Blanked
Whiteswashed
Although similar in form and structure, we can easily differentiate sports writing to the traditional news
writing:
Sports writing is more playful when relating the scenes, whereas news writing, which sticks to the basics
of writing.
Sports Writing has a structure of an action story but with greater freedom of style in writing. It is
considered a specialized field. Sports writing uses the sports lingo, a specialized group of words to be
used only to sports articles. The role of Quotes from players, coaches, and personalities involved.
Qualities of a Sports writer Must know sports: rules, strategy, team, and player's records. Must attend
the games or meets as a reporter, not as a spectator or cheerer. Must know coaches and players as
intimately as possible. Must observe accuracy. Must be able to take notes quickly without losing the
sequence of play. Must be fair and unbiased in reporting, even though he has a favorite team. Must not
make comment without supporting them with facts on which they are based, although sports writers
have more freedom than any other news writers. Must use the specialized language of the particular
sports that he is reporting. Must avoid sports slang and trite expressions which hack writers use today.
He should tell the story in plain, factual terms, that describe the action.
Lead - the frequent questions a lead should answer: Who won? Against whom? By what score? What
event? When? Where?
Headline - The headline of a sports coverage story should tell right away who or which team won over
whom or whose team (and whenever appropriate or applicable, by what score). Appropriate action
words should be used to indicate who won depending on how the event unfolded.
Gin Kings outshoot Hotshots in Christmas day Clasico' Manila 5 stays unbeaten, pummels Antipolo.
TYPES OF LEAD
1. Outstanding player lead - this lead tells the personality or personalities who lead the team to
victory, whether he is the top scorer or the player who made the crucial play to win. It can be
applied to individual or team sport.
Corpus Christi, Texas (AFP) - Filipino star Nonito Donaire stopped Australian-based Armenian
southpaw Vic Darchinyan in the ninth round of a 10-round non- title bout Saturday to boost his
bid to return to boxing's elite.
Nigerian import Bright Akhuetie delivered a game for the ages yesterday as he produced 44
points and 19 rebounds to lead University of Perpetual Help past College of St. Benilde, 77-69,
and gain a share of the lead in the NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
2. Significant playlead -this tells the crucial play or situation wherein a team executed to win. It can
be game-winning basket by a seldom-used player or a crucial block in the final second.
DORTMUND-Substitute Oliver Neuville scored a stoppage time winner as host Germany
moved to the brink of qualifying for the last 16 of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Poland.
Nelbert Omolon scored four of his 12 points in overtime as Sta. Lucia outlasted depleted
Rain or Shine, 95-90, for its second straight win in the eliminations of the KFC Philippine Cup
at the Cuneta Astrodome.
3. Significance of game lead - it narrates or tells the result of the games for the winning team,
whether it's a winning or losing streak. It is also called a Background Info Lead.
WASHINGTON- An unfancied Washington squad captured its first National Basketball Association
playoff series since 1982 by beating Chicago, 94-91 here Friday, booking a second-round date
with powerhouse Miami
The cast list for the 2006 World Cup was finally completed on Wednesday when the remaining
five of the 32 available places were snapped up by Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Trinidad and
Tobago, and the Czech Republic.
4. Novelty lead - like what it suggests, this lead is the most entertaining and playful type of lead. It
may describe the player, the play, or others. This can be made using figures of speech or
whatever the writer chooses.
LAS VEGAS - Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn't about to change what he does best in his last fight.
Both dominant and defensive, Mayweather used all the tricks learned in a 19-year pro career
Saturday night to take a lopsided 12-round decision. over Andre Berto and retain his
welterweight title in what he insists was his final fight.
CHANGSHA-Tab Baldwin won't make it twice against Team Melli-not until today. Gilas
Pilipinas unleashed its most furious arsenal, led by a combined 49 point effort by 2013 Asia's
best Point Guard Jayson Castro and naturalized big man Andray Blatche as they finally
exorcised what has been "The West Asian Curse" by slamming Iran to its knees 87-73 at the
2015 FIBA Asia Championships here.
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 competitions.
Decisive play - this is the most crucial part of the game that gives a certain team the winning margin.
Best Scorers of the day - the scores usually appear in the headlines and in the lead. However, the writer
must not neglect the top scorer of the day.
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. - it is customary for
the hero of the day to have his sentiments recorded for posterity.
If team A defeats team B by 3 or more points: thwart, waylay, stump, outlast, demolish, down, whip,
outplay, humble breeze past, cruise past, ground, rip, tear, overcome, overwhelm, smother, scrape past,
zap, maul, cream, power past, topple, tame, gore, race past, upend, crush, spill, annihilated, subdue,
overpower, trounce, sink, shut down, dump, hold off, elude, spoil rout stop, rally past, repulse, massacre.
If team A defeats team B by a slim margin: edge, eke out, nip, nose out, survive, struggle past.
If team A defeats team B, a favorable team: shock, dethrone, stun, upset, pull rug from, turn the table,
oust.
If team A, favorable team, is eliminated early in the competition: get door, get early axe, exit, boot out,
eliminate, sent packing.
If team A wins championship: clinch..., snags..., grabs..., snares..., cops..., claims..., wrest.... steal...
If team A defeats team B by a large margin: thwart, waylay, stump, outlast, demolish, down, whip,
outplay, cruise past, ground, rip, tear, overcome, overwhelm, smother, scrape past, zap, maul, cream,
power past, topple, tame, gore, race past, upend, crush, spill, annihilate, subdue, overpower, trounce,
sink, shut down, dump, hold off, elude, spoil, rout, rally past, repulse, massacre
If team A defeats team B by a slim margin: edge, eke out, nip, nose out, survive, struggle past
If team A defeats team B, a favorable team: shock, dethrone, stun, upset, pull rug from, turn the table
oust
TIPS
Check for spelling, subject-verb agreement, correct use of verb tense, grammar, unity, and
coherence.
Never use articles in the lead (a, an, the)
Use a lead which gets the reader's attention.
Try to make it answer as many of the 5 W's and an H as possible. Put the final score high in the
story.
Never wait to reveal the final score in the middle or the final paragraph.
When writing, try to use the active voice (instead of, "The shot was made by Bryant," we say
"Bryant made the shot.)
Make sure to put the most important information on top, and the least important at the bottom.
As well, have no more than one though per sentence.
Aim for clarity than flowery language.
Do not editorialize. Keep it balanced. Get both sides.
Don't be too overcritical, but don't be a wallflower.
In team sports, a team is an "it", not a "they".
Make sure you have reported the score correctly and precisely as the final buzzer sounds.
A lead of more than 25 words can be made shorter and snappier. Be concise.
Never compare a sporting event to a war or disaster, even as quotes.
When talking about your high school team or college team, don't refer them as "we" or "our
team".
You might be covering a game from the school's angle, but you must remain objective.
Avoid beginning a sentence, particularly a lead, with "there are" or 'there is". Know the basics
and rules of the sports you are covering.
Know to look up to rules you don't know.
Be original and develop your writing style.
Keep your writing style early and expand your style as you mature as a writer and as a person.
When you read a game story, look at HOW it is written as well as the contents.
Make mental notes (or even real notes) on how the reporter uses transition, quotes, and
attribution.
Have a rulebook of any game you are covering in handy.
Avoid holiday and question leads.
For prep games, call each coach before a game. Gather a few quotes for an advanced story. Try
to get an understanding for the team's strategy heading into the game (but don't share it with
others.)
Keep an eye on the game clock. A game may run long, goes to overtime or starts late. Also, go to
the venue early, for some sports end quickly than expected. Know what time the story is due.
Highlight a few key turning points and stats and develop the story
Get specific, meaningful quotes. Use the summary-quote approach (paraphrase-quote) to get
more into the story.
Get high scorers and other superlatives. Look for extremes. Keep your observation powers
churning. But drop these interesting tidbits into an otherwise predictable scenario.
Always have a notebook of sports terms so you will not get confused on what term you will be
using.
Always enjoy what you are doing
WHEN INTERVIEWING
Park Taejoon restored South Korea’s pride on the opening day of the taekwondo competition at the Paris
Olympics 2024.
Taekwondo is South Korea’s national martial art, and the country suffered a humiliation in Tokyo, where
it failed to win a single gold medal for the first time since the sport became a medal event in 2000.
Park set the record straight by routing his opponent in a brutal final for the gold medal.
Korea’s Taejoon Park celebrates after winning a men’s 58kg Taekwondo final match against Azerbaijan’s
Gashim Magomedov during the Paris Olympics 2024, at the Grand Palais, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in
Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Park Taejoon restored South Korea’s pride on the opening day of the taekwondo competition at the Paris
Olympics 2024.
Taekwondo is South Korea’s national martial art, and the country suffered a humiliation in Tokyo, where
it failed to win a single gold medal for the first time since the sport became a medal event in 2000.
Park set the record straight by routing his opponent in a brutal final for the gold medal.
In the men’s 58 kilos class, Park demolished Gashim Magomedov of Azerbaijan, who soldiered on but
retired injured.
After contact with his opponent’s leg in the opening round, Magomedov crashed to the canvas, clutching
his left leg in pain. He was attended to by doctors and managed to resume the fight.
Trailing 7-0 with 14 seconds left, he limped and sat again to receive further treatment, losing the round
without scoring a point. Magomedov was helped off the canvas but returned for the second round and
continued without threatening his opponent, who capped off his masterpiece with a superb turning kick
to the head.
Magomedov’s ordeal continued a bit longer as Park landed a final kick to his back that ejected him from
the combat arena. It was the coup de grace, and Magomedov called it quits.
“In Tokyo, South Korea did not get a gold medal, it was a bit frustrating and sad. Today I’m honored and
proud. The whole team has worked hard to make sure we were prepared here,” Park said.
The men’s bronze medals went to Cyrian Ravet of France and Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia.
Taekwondo tournaments at the Olympics award two bronze medals, with the losing semifinalists facing
two contestants who lost to the finalists in the elimination phase.