Organizing a game story

In addition to your headline, lead, and game summary, you should consider adding the following to your game story:

  1. Info that puts the reader at the game or on the field--weather, crowd, playing conditions (use sensory details--sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)
  2. Key/Big Plays
  3. Key Players
  4. (Key) Mistakes
  5. Stats
  6. Bkgrd Info: History--Rivalries, Past Season, Current Season/Impact Players/Special Events or Causes
  7. Look to the future - Progress/Upcoming Games for both teams
  8. Quotations: Coaches & Players.  They are a key feature of sports writing
Organizational Plan

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 (Aliteration, play on words?
Lead (Sensory Details: Sights & Sounds. More than one paragraph.  When, Where, Who, What, Why--dominant impression. Should be more than one paragraph--context or story lead) Lead (Sensory Details: Sights & Sounds.  More than one paragraph.  When, Where, Who, What, Why--dominant impression. Should be more than one paragraph--context or story lead)
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