Sports Writing

By: Ricky Manliguis

Editor-in-chief, “The Summit” (2006-07)
Sports Editor, “The Summit” (2003-06)
Differences of News Writing to Sports Writing

Although similar in form and structure, we can

easily differentiate sports writing to the
traditional news writing:
1. Sports writing is more playful when relating
the scenes, whereas news writing, which
sticks to the basics of writing.
2. It highlights two important news values:
CONFLICT and ACTION.
3. Sports Writing has a structure of an action story
but with greater freedom of style in writing.
4. It is considered a specialized field. Sports
writing uses the sports lingo, a specialized
group of words to be used only to sports
articles.
5. 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.
• Must bear in mind that he writes for his
readers and not for himself.
 Different types of sports articles
• Blow-by-blow account story (Coverage Story)
• Backgrounder story (sidebar story)
• Advanced story (dope or prognostication)
• Sports feature
• Sports editorial
• Sports cartoon
• Sports Column
 Where can we get sources for our sports
articles?
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Television
• Interviews
• Radio
• Internet
• Table officials
• Pamphlets/posters
 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
 Examples of headlines
• English:
Gotze goal leads Germany to WC glory; nips Messi, Argentina

Beermen dumps Hotshots

Manila 5 stays unbeaten, pummels Antipolo

Manliguis, Torres cream foes,

book tickets to Antipolo jinfest final
• Filipino:
Gin Kings nabilaukan sa Hotdogs
Pacquaio dinurog si Algieri
Red Lions lusot sa Bombers
NCR sumingkit ng 3 golds sa Nat’l jinfest
Manliguis bagsak kay Manaloto
 Lead
- the frequent questions a lead should answer:
• Who won?
• Against whom?
• By what score?
• What event?
• When?
• Where?
 Types of Leads

• 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.
- “Donaire rallies to stop foe in dramatic style,”
Manila Bulletin, November 11, 2013.
 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.
- “Bright shines for Altas, scores 44,”
Manila Bulletin, July 4, 2015
 Winalis ni top seed Allan Pason ang huli niyang
apat na laban, kasama rito ang seventh round victory
kay solo leader Albert Diolola Jr., para kunin ang
seniors crown, habang sinikwat ni No. 7 Tristan Ibaoc
ang juniors title sa 23rd Shell National Youth Active
Chess Championship Northern Mindanao leg sa SM
CDO City Event Center sa Cagayan de Oro noong
Linggo.
- “Pason, Ibaoc kampeon sa Shell-Mindanao Chessfest”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, July 24, 2015.
 PARIS – Napasok ni Roger Federer ang Last
16 ng French Open sa ika-11 sunod na taon
nang kalusin si Damir Dzumhur, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2,
sa pagpapatuloy ng aksyon kahapon.

- “Federer pasok sa Last 16; Sharapova umusad din,”

Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 31, 2015
• Significant play lead
-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.
- “Germany nips Poland, 1-0; Spain scores”
People’s Tonight, 2006
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.
- “Sta. Lucia, TNT jam top;SMB scores, finally”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2009
 Naisalpak ni Rodrigue Ebondo ang banked
shot sa huling 1.2 segundo para ibigay sa Café
France Bakers ang 56-55 panalo laban sa Hapee
Fresh Fighters sa Game Three para angkinin ang
korona ng PBA D-League Foundation Finals
kahapon sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig City.
- “San Beda players ‘di pinalaro sa Fresh Fighters; Bakers
inangkin ang D-League title,” Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 26,
2015
 Nilimitahan ng AMA University Titans ang
MP Hotel Warriors sa walong puntos sa huling
limang minuto ng labanan para sa 99-87
panalo sa PBA D-League Foundation Cup
kahapon sa JCSGO Gym sa Cubao, Quezon
City.
- "Titans buhay pa ang tsansa sa playoffs,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 22, 2015
• 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.
- “Wizards end NBA drought”
People’s Tonight, 2006
 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.

- “Australia, Trinidad and Tobago enter World Cup

with 3 others,” Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2005
 SINGAPORE – Tinumbok ng 16-anyos na si
Chezka Centeno ang gold medal sa women’d
9-ball singles ng 28th Southeast Asian Games
nang kanyang masilat ang beteranang si
Rubilen Amit, 7-5 sa billiards and snooker
competition na idinaraos sa OCBC Arena Hall
4.
- “Gold tinumbok ni Centeno
Pilipino Star Ngayon,June 10, 2015
 SINGAPORE – Nagtala ang Philippine Blu
Boys ng come-from-behind 8-7 win laban sa
Indonesia upang okupahan ang isa sa
dalawang slots sa page system semifinals ng
28th Southeast Asian Games softball
tournament na ginaganap sa Kallang
Diamonds dito.
- “Blu Boys wagi sa Indons, sumampa sa semifinals”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 9, 2015
• 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.
For a change, Mapua won by a mile this time.
Using their narrow defeats against two title
contenders as added motivation and fuel, the
Cardinals blasted the winless Emilio Aguinaldo
College Generals, 101-72, yesterday in the
NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in
San Juan.
“Cards blast woeful Generals,”
Manila Bulletin, July 25, 2015
HELSINKI, Finland- “Batman” didn’t let a little rain
slow him down.
Bershawn Jackson, who earned his nickname as a
kid because he had ears like a bat and was so fast
he seemed to fly, splashed to victory in the 400-
meter hurdles Tuesday, leading a 1-2 US finish at
the world athletics championships.
- “ ‘Batman’ soars,
‘Superman’ falls,”
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2005
Sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay muling nabigo si Milan
Melindo na makamit ang pinapangarap niyang world
boxing crown.
Ito ay matapos siyang talunin ni Mexican Javier
Mendoza via sixth-round technical decision (TKO)
para mapanatiling suot ang International Boxing
Federation (IBF) light flyweight belt sa Campo Nuevo
sa Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
- “Melindo nadiskaril kay Mendoza via TKO,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 1, 2015
 CLEVELAND – Lumuhod si LeBron James at hinampas ang
sahig ng kanyang mga kamay.
Pagod na pagod na siya, ngunit isang panalo na lamang ang
kailangan niya para muling makapasok sa NBA Finals.
“I gave everything I have,” sabi ni James.
Nalampasan ni James ang pagbangon ng Hawks, pagkakaroon
niya ng cramps at injuries para itala ang triple-double at
akayin ang Cavaliers sa 114-111 overtime win sa Game 3 ng
kanilang Eastern Conference finals series.
- “Umangat si James sa OT: Cavs inilapit sa finals,”
Pilipino Star Ngayon, May 26, 2015
 Bridge
• A paragraph that connects the lead to the
body.
W- W’s and H not answered in the lead
A- Attributes
I- Identifies other personalities involved.
T- Ties up story back to a previous story
S- Secondary facts are given in the bridge.
 Body

- explains and narrates some of the events in

the game to support the lead. It may contain
other significant plays of the game, statistics,
quotes from the personalities involved, or in
the case of composite news, others played. It
relates the other Ws unanswered in the lead.
Has to be 4-6 paragraph long.
 Other Elements in the Body

• 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.
• Quotation
- it is customary for the hero of the day to have
his sentiments recorded for posterity.
 Action words used in Sports Writing
• 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 tem:
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 is still the champion
keep…, retain…,
• If team A held team b scoreless to win:
blank, zero, sweep, whitewash.
• Filipino
Nakamit, Dinurog, Napasakamay, Namayani,
Namayagpag, Nanguna, Nasungkit, Naghari,
Nagreyna, Winalis, Nasulot,Naagaw,Nagkampeon,
Nanalo,Hinagupit, Ginulantang, Nilupig, Hiniya,
Pinaluhod, Pinabagsak, Nagapi, Naungusan, Nilupig,
Dinurog, Pinulbos, Ginapi, Pinatulog, Pinatumba,
Pinataob, Pinadapa .
 Sports terms
• BASKETBALL - quintet, zone defense, five, rebound, rally,
man-to-man, keyhole area, 30- second clock, long tom, tip-
in, press, steals, 15-foot line, twinner, follow-up, lemon
time, playoff slot, haul rebounds, dish out assists, inside
baskets, point guard, homecourt advantage, playmaker.
• 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.
• 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.
• SOCCER FOOTBALL - goalie, fullback, corner kick,
midfielder, penalty kick,offside, corner kick,
penalty shoot-out.
• SIPA - fancy kick, dead ball, single, ball on play,
double.
• GOLF - hole-in-one, birdie, bogey, par, fired a 7- under-64,
win by two strokes second putt, behind the green, one- shot
lead, tee-off, four-stroke lead, sprint down the fairway, hit
pivotal shots, hole clutch putts, carded a two-under par 70
• TENNIS - straight sets, singles, smash cut, doubles, half
volleys, passing shots, good serving, grass court, backhand
volley, double fault, lost serve
• TRACK EVENTS - breasted the tape, dashes, runs (200, 400 &
800), hurdles, burned the cinders, relay, clocked a new
record, photo finish, middle distance runner, anchor man,
pass the baton, bore down on him, break the record
• 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.
• 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
 Sample Articles (English)
Perpetual turns back Lyceum; Letran wins
by Christian Jacinto, Manila Bulletin, July 1, 2015

It took some time for the University of Perpetual Help

Altas to live up to the preseason hype. Thankfully, their
fangs showed up at the right time.
Reigning MVP Scottie Thompson and Gab Dagangon
conspired on a backbreaking 16-4 windup as the Altas
pulled off a 70-61 victory over the Lyceum Pirates
yesterday in the NCAA basketball tournament at The
Arena in San Juan.
 Held scoreless in the first half due to foul trouble,
Thompson scored eight of his 12 points during that
decisive run to help Perpetual escape with the win.
Perpetual was trailing 57-54 with five minutes to
play before Thompson and Dagangon took over down
the stretch.
The run began when Thompson hit a three-pointer
to tie the game at 57-all. He followed it up with a
completed three-point play off a Dagangon assist to
put the Altas ahead, 60-57, with 3:34 remaining.
 In the second game, Letran forced 33 turnovers on St.
Benilde behind its stingy defense on its way to an 82-53
victory. Mark Cruz led the Knights with 16 points, giving
Aldin Ayo a smashing debut in his first season as coach.
In the juniors division, CSB-La Salle Greenhills crushed
Letran, 88-49, but could end up losing by forfeiture after
three players — JM Pedrosa, Ladis Lepalam and Alain
Madrigal — wore prohibited jersey numbers. The
controversy spoiled the 35-point performance of LSGH
star Ricci Rivero. (With a report from Lance Agcaoili) #
40-taong tagtuyot tinapos ng Warriors 2015 NBA
Champions Pilipino Star Ngayon, June 18, 2015
CLEVELAND — Ibinangon ng isang fresh-faced shooting superstar at first-
year coach na pinatibay ang kanilang paniniwala sa sarili, muling
nagkampeon ang Golden State Warriors matapos ang 40-taon.
Patuloy naman ang pagkauhaw ng Cleveland sa anumang korona sa
major sports, habang hindi nakakuha si LeBron James ng sapat na suporta
mula sa kanyang mga kakampi sa Cavaliers.
Nagtala si Stephen Curry at Finals MVP Andre Iguodala ng tig-25 points,
samantalang nagposte si Draymond Green ng triple-double para tulungan
ang Warriors, ginamit ang mga three-pointers sa fourth quarter, sa 105-97
paggupo kay James at sa Cavaliers para tapusin ang NBA Finals sa Game
Six.
 Huling nagkampeon sa NBA ang Warriors noong 1975.
Matapos maiwanan ng dalawang puntos sa third
quarter, kinontrol ng Warriors ang laro sa likod nina Curry,
ang league MVP, at Iguodala.
“This was awesome,” sabi ni Iguodala. “We talked about
staying strong, stay with it. That was Coach’s motto the
whole playoffs. Stay with it. They kept fighting. This is
unreal.”
Lumambot ang depensa ng Golden State kaya
nakalapit ang Cleveland sa walong puntos sa fourth period.
 Nagsalpak ng magkakasunod na tres ang Warriors para tiyakin na
makukuha nila ang Larry O’Brien Trophy pabalik sa California.
Ang step-back triple ni Curry ang nagbigay sa Golden State ng 78-68 bago
sumuporta sina Iguodala at Klay Thompson para ibaon ang Cleveland sa 89-75.
Tumipa si Iguodala ng isang long shot para tiyakin ang tagumpay ng
Warriors.
Nagbalik si James mula sa Miami para ipangako sa kanyang home region
ang NBA title.
Ngunit wala siyang nakuhang tulong matapos ang season-ending injury
nina All-Stars Kyrie Irving at Kevin Love.
Huling nakatikim ang Cleveland ng pro sports championship noong 1964.
#
 The SPORTS Style of Writing
• S-Score
• P-Personalities
• O- Opinion of players, coaches, and others
involved (Quotations)
• R- Rules and regulations
• T- Terminologies/ Time
• S- Spectator
 The ACES style of checking article
• After you have written your article, check the
following:
A- action
C- conflict/ contest/competition
E- emotions
S- score
 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
flowerly 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
disasrter, 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
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.)
• Have an understanding for the world around you.
Understanding pop culture, race issues and public
affairs gives you perspective that can make you a well-
rounded writer and person.
• 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.
• Don’t over glorify your subjects. Sports aren’t
life or death.
• Look for great moments in the game, ironics,
outstanding players, interesting tidbits,
descriptions, crown reaction, crowd numbers,
venue condition, breaks in the norm.
• 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.
• Some headlines indicate the score. Put the
score for emphasis.
• Enter a newsroom as though you have much
to learn. You just have to be humble enough
to listen.
• Always enjoy what you are doing.
Thank you for Listening!

Enjoy Writing!