In addition to your headline, lead, and game summary, you should consider adding the following to your game story:
- Info that puts the reader at the game or on the field--weather, crowd, playing conditions (use sensory details--sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)
- Key/Big Plays
- Key Players
- (Key) Mistakes
- Stats
- Bkgrd Info: History--Rivalries, Past Season, Current Season/Impact Players/Special Events or Causes
- Look to the future - Progress/Upcoming Games for both teams
- Quotations: Coaches & Players. They are a key feature of sports writing
Use these samples for ideas, which you should adapt for your needs. Quotations should be taken from interviews you conducted.
These are just two basic templates, so expand and adjust them as needed.
See your sample game stories
Finally, don't forget the central idea you are stating in your lead. Think about this as you plan your organization. Also, consider blending info. (Sensory details, descriptive language, commentary) into your game summary to keep it interesting and lively.
Remember--you are telling a story.
| Sample 1 |
Sample 2 |
|---|---|
| Headline (Alliteration, play on words?) | Headline (Alliteration, play on words?) |
| Lead (Sensory Details: Sights & Sounds. When, Where, Who, What, Why--dominant impression/thesis: Why did a team win or lose? Should be more than one paragraph--what is your angle? What story are you telling?) | Lead (Sensory Details: Sights & Sounds. When, Where, Who, What, Why--dominant impression/thesis: Why did a team win or lose? Should be more than one paragraph--what is your angle? What story are you telling?) |
| Key Stats | Quotation/Bkgrd Info |
| Bkgrd Info | Key Player |
| Big Play | Game Summary (First Part/Maybe break strict chronology. Sensory Details/Show, don't tell. What big or key plays will you show readers? You cannot show readers every play/event in a game or meet. Quotation as part of game summary? Describe game chronologically or break chronology?) |
| Quotation | Summary of Key Stats |
| Game Summary (Sensory Details/Show, don't tell. What big or key plays will you show readers? You cannot show readers every play/event in a game or meet. Quotation as part of game summary? Describe game chronologically or break chronology?) | Quotation |
| Key Player/Stats | Game Summary (Second Part/Show, don't tell) |
| Quotation | Quotation |
| Overall stats--both teams | Overall Stats--both teams |
| Upcoming games for both teams | Quotation |
| Quotation/Go back to lead | Upcoming games for both teams |