Exercises: Sports Writing (Chapter 12)

Exercise One: Read and evaluate ten sports stories from magazines, newspapers or online: four columns, two
features and four news/game stories. Dont do briefs here. . .do actual stories. After you read each, write a 2/3 page
evaluation of the article (kind of like a journal) on the article, touching on the following:

Who is the author? What periodical did this article appear in?
What kind of article is this? (column, game story, feature)
What is the lead of the article? What type of lead is it? (anecdotal? AP? quote?) Is it effective? Does it grab
your attention?
Who was interviewed? What other type of reporting/research was done for the article? Comment on the
depth of reporting that you see here.
Evaluate the article as a whole. Did you enjoy it? Was it well written? Did it keep you interested? Is the
reporting well done? What could have made this article better?

Exercise Two: Based on the information presented below, write a sports game story of at least 350 words.
Statements as presented on this fact sheet may be treated as direct quotations or paraphrases. You are writing for
the Sept. 17 issue of the Hays High Guidon.

BACKGROUND The Varsity Girls Volleyball team began season-Sept. 15- v. Salina South. Hays lost 15-7, 13-
15, 11-15.
The next game: Sept. 19, at Junction City.

THE TEAM The team includes six returners,

Three returners made all-district last year
Two returners advanced to the all-region roster, Amie Roberts and Leah Claycamp, both
juniors.
Rhonda Ames, a senior, is predicted to be one of the districts star players.

SIGNIFICANT First game

PLAYS Amie Roberts scored the first point of the game, an off-speed spike, after only 10 seconds
of play. She scored five points in the first game.
Kenda Von Feldt scored six points.
Leah Claycamp scored four points
The Salina South team scored seven points.

Second game
Roberts scored six points and blocked 10 spikes.
Claycamp scored five points. Her most significant play was a dive that set up a point. She
also made two fouls.
Von Feldt scored two points-one after she made a dig to another player who returned it to
her for the score.
Hays hit the ball out of bounds four times. The officials called three thrown ball penalties
on Hays.
Salina South won this game.

Third game
Rhonda Ames scored the first five points of this game. She was injured while making a double
block and did not play the rest of the game.
Claycamp scored four points, one after a spin serve that Salina could not even return.
Von Feldt scored two points.
The score was tied almost the entire way through the game. The winning four points all
 came within one minute of play when the Hays team looked exhausted.

QUOTATIONS Larry Schmidt, varsity coach

The first game of the season didnt go as well as I hoped. We didnt accomplish the team goals
that we set. We didnt serve and pass as well as I hoped to.
We need to work on our movement and getting into the right position when it comes to
playing defense.

Jessica Bird, sophomore

I think we were playing very well. We need to work on our fundamentals. Overall, I think that
we are playing great and the season should be successful.

Rhonda Ames, senior

I think if we work hard and use our potential, well do all right in state. Salina just beat us by
playing good clean volleyball.

Lori Billinger, senior

I need to work on my passing, but otherwise, everything is going great for me so far this year.
I think that out team should talk more to each other when we are on the courts.

Exercise Three: Many high school newspaper sports pages can allow space in an issue for only one news story
about a particular sport, even though two games may have been played since the last issue and two more may take
place before the next issue of the newspaper. In such a situation, the story usually features the coming games, while
summarizing the action in recent contests. This is called a summary story because it summarizes what the team
has done since its last contest.

From the following reporters notes, prepare a summary story of at least 350 words for the February 18 issue of the
Central High School News.

February 5: Basketball game between Central High Bears and East High Wildcats in East High gymnasium, won
by Central 44-36. John Gunnison of Central was high point man with 15 points. East was always within 5 points
of Central until the last few minutes of the game. Game was marred by many fouls on both sides.

Gunnison: They played us tough and stayed with us throughout, but we were able to get by them. They are a
scrappy team. . .I dont remember having this much trouble with them before. Still, we were able to pull it out.

Coach Turner: Gunnison did the job tonight. When he is on his game, he can do some really good things.
Tonight was his night.

February 12: Central High v. Midvale Astronauts, at Central. Won by Midvale 54-52. High scoring game, with
Central ahead at half time, 32-22, and keeping lead until last 10 minutes. Joe Small was hero of game for
Midvale, making many scores in last part of game and encouraging his teammates. Guninson and Jimmy Smith
of Central were outstanding, but team just wasnt good enough, according to Coach Ed Turner.

Turner: A game like this one breaks your heart. We seemed to be on as far as our scoring was concerned. We
scored more points than in any other game this year. Still, we have to play defense. Without defense, we are
sitting ducks.

February 19: Central High v. West High Gophers at West. West hasnt won a game this year but has put up a
good fight every time and almost defeated Midvale. Gunnison twisted his leg in practice early this week but
should be able to play.
 February 26: Central High v. River City Scorpions at Central. River City hasnt been defeated yet but meets
Midvale Feb. 19 in a game that may decide league championship. river City has excellent defensive team and a
high-scoring center, Jack Sorrenson.

Turner: These two games are both going to be a challenge. People think that West is going to be an easy win,
but they play tough despite their record. River City has been great all year. They just seem to be in a groove.
Maybe we can trip them up, but well see. A lot of it depends on how strong Gunnison is this week. He is taking
it one day at a time, so hopefully things will pan out.

Exercise four: Write a sports column on any sports-related issue. Be sure to include: your background research on
the issue along with the article itself. The column should be between 350-400 words. Remember the advice about
column writing. . .the writing should be a reflection of your personality.