Sports Writing Outline

Storyline: The element of the story that keeps it going, and keeps it interesting.

• Should address significance of the event, play, or player.
• Should be slightly dramatic for effect.

Context: The facts!

• Should offer important details about the game itself, this info is known as a “nut graph”.
• Nut Graph should contain:
  - Who played
  - Where the team played
  - The date
  - What the final score was
• Important info is usually within the lede

Quotes: Excerpts from insightful interviews with coaches and players

• Speak with participants from both teams so that readers get the full story.
• Get reaction quotes!
• Also get quotes w analysis

Key Plays: important moments from the game!

• Keep detailed notes accounting for the score at any given moment
• Determine exactly how they scored the points.
• Don’t make the mistake of ignoring action from earlier in the game.
• Use plays that might exemplify how a certain player is doing.

Key Statistics:

• Don’t offer too many statistics so that it isn’t dry.
• Compare stats from each half or quarter.