SPORTS

WRITING/
Pagsulat ng
Balitang
Isports
SHERYL D. CARIAGA
Gen. Mamerto Natividad National
High School
SPORTS WRITING

Sports story is any of a written article of

a particular event/game, a presentation
of the vivid action in the court, and or
any form of information involved in the
world of sports. It may be in the form of
sports news, sports editorial, sports
feature, sports editorial cartoon and
others. The basic characteristics of a
sports article that holds the reader’s
attention is the action imbedded on it
based on the turn-out of a particular
game
Before starting to write a sports story,
bear in mind that sports story...
• is RESULT ORIENTED.
• is written in the active voice and
in the simple past tense.
• celebrates victories more often
than that of losing (when the
home team or local champion is
generally the subject)
• is a VISUAL REPORT, thus the
need for more description
 Writing Sports Stories…
Ingame stories, always describe the
winner’s action before the loser’s.
Put the most important play or turning
point of a game high in the story.
Sometimes an outstanding play can
become the lead, if you describe it well.
example: Banking on a third game
onslaught, Talavera Central School
(TCS), smashed San Pascual Elem.
School (SPES) way to victory on the
District Athletic Meet yesterday.
Put the most important
information on top and the least
important at the bottom. (follow
the inverted pyramid)
Aim for clarity rather than
flowery cliches.
Have no more than one thought
for sentence. (follow the 1
sentence, 1 paragraph, 1 idea
rule)
Types of Sports News

Advance News. It gives an

advance information of the
coming event. It is predictive in
nature because the article makes
assumption of the possible
turnout of the game based on the
strengths and weaknesses of both
contending teams or players, their
historical backgrounds, their
mindset, and the preparations
they made before the event.
Coverage News. It is an on the spot
news of an event or game. It
emphasizes the outcome of the
game(the winner, scores of both
team/player), spectacular moments
in the game(how the winner
outclassed the loser, see-saw-scores
and other trivial plays), the
significance of the game, the key
players, the key plays, the weather
condition, the audience and other
background stuff.
Follow-up Story. It reviews
the activities of the team. It
also evaluates previous game
performances of players,
strategic plays, psychological
state of the team, and the
statistics and its significance
Structure of Sports News

Lead
Climax of the game/
 decisive plays
Quotes
Play –by-play account
Significance of the game
Other Information
The LEAD
It is the first paragraph of
the story where most
important facts about
the game are written.
It usually contains the 5
W’s and 1 H.
 Below are the three ways of
writing the lead in sports news:
Key play. This is usually used when
the best angle of the sports event through
the collective effort of all the members of
the winning team.
Example:
Metrian Spikers blasted the
defenseless Bula Netters in the volleyball
championship game. 2-0 (25-13 and 25-
17), during the Zone III Athletic Association
Meet at Mindanao State University, General
Santos City on October 28, 2005.
Key player. When one or two of the
members of the team seem to standout of
the rest of the players that caused the team
to win the game, their heroic deed is the
best angle to start a sports news.
Example:
Mark Cornet Terrante grabbed the
limelight when his do-or-die three-pointer
shot dove ringless with less than five seconds
remaining to lead Lagao National High School
to its thrilling victory, 60-59, against Buayan
National High School in a basketball
exhibition game yesterday at Oval Plaza,
General Santos City.
Analytical way. This is used when the
team employs a very spectacular strategy
or action that brings them to victory.
Example:
 Banking on nerve-breaking wallops,
deadly spikes and tricky placing, Irineo L.
Santiago National High School Spikers
dethroned Lagao National High School
Netters in the crucial third set of their
volleyball championship game, 3.0 (25-18,
25-22 and 25-19), in the Division Athletic
Association Meet at Antonio Acharon Sports
Complex, Calumpang, General Santos City
on December 25, 2005.
Try to analyze the
followingplayed
leads
Jose Obmerga
the role of
The San
savior for San
Gregorio Crusaders
Gregorio School as
defeated the he buried a buzzer
Quezon National beater shot to
High School Orators squeak past
in a basketball Quezon National
game 65-63 High School Orators
yesterday at the in a basketball
Bgy. Covered Court. game last night at
the Bgy, San
Gregorio Covered
Court.
 Jimbo Nagal
Jimbo Nagal proved that height
defeated Mako is of little value
Sato last night in when he knocked
their fight held at out Japanese Mako
the Ynares Sports Sato during their
Complex in battle last night at
Antipolo City. the Ynares Sports
Complex in
Antipolo City and
win the World
Boxing Council
Straw Weight Title.
 Winalis lahat ni
Dennis Orcollo ang
tinik sa kanyang
Tinalo ni
daan patungo sa
Dennis Orcollo finals ngunit nabigo
ang lahat ng para sa korona nang
kanyang unang yumuko ito kay
nakalaban. Pero Taiwanese Ko Pin, na
natalo siya kay Ko humakot ng 11 sunod
na racks tungo sa
Pin, 15-14 para sa kapana-panabik na
korona ng 15-14 panalo para
Brunswick masungkit ang
Thailand 9-Ball korona at
Open noong makuntento ang
Linggo ng gabi sa pinoy sa runner-up
place sa Brunswick
Bangkok. Thailand 9-ball Open
 Naungusan
Dinurog ng
ng Gryffindor Gryffindor Lions
Lions ang ang Slytherin
Slytherin Snakes Snakes, 230-20,
sa kanilang laro.
Ang laro ay sa kanilang
ginanap kahapon laban sa
sa Hogwarts Hogwarts
Quidditch field.
Ang iskor ay 230- Quidditch Field
20. Ang nanalo ay kahapon upang
nangunguna na kunin ang
ngayon sa torneyo
liderato ng
torneyo.
 Verbs to be used
(small margin score) (wide margin score)
Nipped (defeat)  Demolished
Edged  Drubbed (beat)
Scratched past  Massacred
Survived  Dominated
Squeaked past  Bombarded
Nalusutan (attack)
 Dinurog
Naligtasan
 Binomba
Naungusan
 Niyanig
Pinitik
 Inilampaso
Kinapos
 Pinabagsak
ample Sports adjectives and ver
(ENGLISH) (FILIPINO)
Poor Malamyang laro
performance Palpak
Atrocious Mahina/Kapos
Anemic Malamig
Frigid/Ice Cold Kinakalawang

Rusty Pipilay-pilay

Limped Ininda

Bothered Masakit

Sore Nakakaawa/

Pathetic kalunos-lunos
The BODY
Itis where the writer narrates the
events happened in the game.
This is where the writer describes
the game in blow-by-blow
account and provides the readers
a clear visual on how the game
took place.
TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE YOUR
BODY
 Focus on the winning moment
 Use of quotes from the winning coach or player

example:
“I am happy for the win,” the 5’11 spiker said
after the game.
“Medyo kinapos kami nung una pero pinilit
naming bumawi sa huli,” pahayag ni Perez.
Meanwhile the losing Martinez said that he will
keep on practicing to win next time.
Ayon sa tubong Batangas na manlalaro, hindi
nya inaasahan ang pagkapanalo.
Citation of stats of the game’s
best player/hero/outstanding
players
example:
Ravena sizzled with a career-
high 28 points, 12 rebounds and
seven assists, hitting the huge
baskets and feeding off open
teammates in a 15-4 blast that
propelled Ateneo to a 59-55 lead
after falling behind by nine.
 Nagtala ang hinirang na MVP
ng laro ng 13 hits, pitong blocks
at walong attacks sa unang set
na sinundan pa ng limang sunod-
sunod na aces sa ikalawang set
na tuluyan ng nagpababa ng
moral ng kabilang koponan na
naging sanhi ng kanilang
pagkatalo.
Include the highlight of the losing
side’s best moments
example:
In typical Ginebra fashion,
the Gin Kings rallied from 21
points down to within seven
points midway in the fourth amid
chants of “Gi-neb-ra, Gi-neb-ra”
only to be stopped on their tracks
by clutch baskets by the Elasto
Painters.
 Sinikap pababain ng
Droppers ang 15 puntos na
kalamangan ng kalaban sa
pamamagitan ng kabi-kabilang
placing subalit nanatiling kapos
sa tindi ng depensang itinayo ng
Smashers sa huling bahagi ng
ikalawang game.
Consider using additional identifiers in lieu
of the last name:
The 7-foot-3 Iranian center (Alhadadi)
the former Mapua King Cardinal (Alvin
Patrimonio)
The eight division world titlist and
pound-for-pound king (Manny Pacquiao)
The three-time three time 3-point
shooter champ and Hardcourt Heartthrob
(Teody A. Viernes)
Also look for:
great moments of the game
ironies (e.g. tall vs. short)
crowd numbers and reaction
venue condition
How to develop and improve
writing skills
Read newspapers and learn to
read as a writer/writing
teacher/writing student.
Read the sports section-
everyday or as often as possible.
Enjoy reading the sports section
Have a compilation of sports
stories they like. The more
diverse the articles selected, the
better.
Compile sample sports stories
from
a. Team contests
b. Physical combat events
(boxing, taekwondo, judo)
c. Individual scoring (bowling,
archery)
d. Timed events (sprints,
marathon, swimming, cycling)
e. Judged events (dance sports,
gymnastics, diving)
Watch sporting events on TV and
during live game situations.
Learn how to analyze data (e.g.
Numbers, sequence, etc.)
Learn how to take notes during
games
Learn how to ask questions before
and after the games.
Learn how to behave when covering
games
Write sports stories – even if the
material is fiction based.
Understand the value of rewriting
Understand that reading is key to
becoming and effective and
efficient writer- communicator.
Ilagan, Isabela- Isabela National High School found an unlikely hero
in Paul Gonzales to squeak past Roxas National High School, 60-59,
in a basketball exhibition game held at St. Ferdinand’s College,
Ilagan, Isabela.
Gonzales got a pass from Florante Carreon, drew a foul from
Ballaga and split his charities to shatter the same’s last deadlock at
59-all with 12 seconds to go.
RNHS had a chance to win the game but mainman Rolly
Menor missed an open jumper in the ensuing play enabling INHS to
ice the game.
RNHS started at a 28-27 deficit late in the first half but INHS
anchored a dizzying 9-2 run on a choking 2-3 defense that held
RNHS gasping for air and space.
INHS sustained its momentum in the face of a heated rally by
RNHS’ Menor and Ballaga who even managed to tie the game with
37 ticks remaining.
Florante Carreon, Menor’s teammate in the CAVRAA, led INHS
with 21 markers and dished out 14 assists, Magusib added 12 while
Gonzales chipped in 13 points in the second half as they outshone
RNHS’ troika of Rolly Menor who led all scorers with 22 and lorded
the boards with 10 rebounds, Ballaga with 18 points and Mallaca
with 14.
 Sentinels upend Scourge
The Green Sentinels scored a thrilling 26-25 come-
from-behind victory over the Red Scourge during their
exhibition battle last night.
Kardel Sharpeye led a furious Sentinel rally in the
closing moment of the match as the Rex SD
maneuvered team snatched victory from the jaws of
defeat.
Down 24-13 in terms of the kills department at the
50 minute mark of the 64 minute gae, the 3’10 Dwarven
sniper exploded with a pair of double kills and an even
more impressive triple during a battle-royale type
skirmish that featured all six heroes at the Sentinel
central gate to personally turn the tide in favor of the
besieged squad.
“I’m ready and waited, and I’m always good to
go,” said Sharpeye.
 Gamit ang apat na sunud-sunod na puntos sa huling bahagi ng
laban, inilampaso ni Mark Santos ng San Fernando National High School
(SFNHS) si Lyndon Uy ng Sta. Cruz High School (SCHS), 2-0 (21-14, 21-
13) sa ginanap na Provincial Meet Men’s Badminton Singles
Championship sa Pampanga Sports Complex kahapon.
Niyanig ng kabi-kabilang smash mula sa 17-anyos na si Santos ang
depensa ni Uy na naging daan sa tuluyang paglayo ng iskor ng dalawang
nagbabanggaang manlalaro.
Nagpamalas ng malakas na simula sa ikatlong game si Santos na
nanatiling masipag sa pag-atake upang lumamang ng pitong puntos sa
iskor na 8-1.
Hindi na nagpabaya ang 5’11 na smasher sa huling yugto ng laro at
lalo pang pinalawak ang distansya sa naghahabol na si Uy at wakasan
ang laban na tumagal ng humigit kumulang kalahating oras.
“Hindi ko na talaga siya hinayaang humabol,” ani Santos matapos
ang laban.
Dagdag pa niya, bahagya siyang nakaramdam ng kaba subalit
determinado talaga siyang manalo at maiuwi ang kampyonato.
“Ok lang po,” matipid na tugon ng natalong si Uy matapos ang
kanilang tunggalian.
Matapos ang laban, susunod na paghahandaan ni Santos ang mas
 MOST IMPORTANT
TIP
Writing style is something that
cannot be developed overnight
so you need to...

PRACTICE.
PRACTICE.
PRACTICE
One need not have PhD to learn
sportswriting. What is needed is a
different kind of PHD
Passion- strive to be the best at
what you do.
Hunger- don’t let the first taste of
success spoil your appetite for
more, sustain it through your
career.
Drive- organize and aim your
drive towards your goal, that is to
learn how to write about sports.
 Thank You
nd Good Luck!
 Dig out facts below to write a sports story no
less than 7 paragraphs.
 The game ended in 50 minutes.
 Gen. Mamerto Natividad National High School’s
Resty Reyes defeated Talabutab National High
School’s Armando Tapic in the quarter finals of CD-
1II Meet Men’s Badminton Singles.
 The 15-year old and defending champ Reyes
consistently played well throughout the game to
bag a one sided contest against the first timer Tapic
 Scores: 21-8 and 21-7.
 Next game will be against Patrick Sanchez of Gen.
Luna National High School for the semis.
 Reyes said that he is very much prepared for this
match. He said that he really wants to win and
become the champion of the tournament.
 The game was held at Nueva Ecija National High
School, July 23, 2014
Bumuo ng balitang isports batay sa mga sumusunod na
impormasyon. Maaaring dagdagan ang mga nakatala sa
ibaba.

 Nagwagi ang UST, tinalo ang defending champion na FEU.

 Ang mga iskor ay15-12, 16-14,15-10
 Ito ang 61st UAAP Women’s Volleyball Championship
 Unang set, nagpasiklab agad ang UST dahil sa sunud-sunod
na Chinese kill nito. Nagtala si Jennifer Tan ng
pinakamaraming kill.
 Ikalawang set, nagrelaks ang UST kaya nakahabol at
nakatabla ang FEU, 9-9.
 Sa ikalawang set sumaklolo si Mila Randa sa pamamagitan
ng matatalim na spikes kaya nakalamang na sila.
 Sa ikatlong set ay nagdepensa si Analiza Yu ng FEU at
nakalamang sila ng isang puntos, 9-10
 “Talagang nakagugulat ang ipinamalas na galing ng UST, sa
susunod ay talagang pagbubutihin namin,” wika ni Joel
Villaflores, coach ng FEU.