Writing Sports Stories

Test your overall knowledge by answering the questions on the following quiz:

  1. If you score a hat trick, what sport are you playing? ______
  2. If you’re in the squared circle, what sport are you involved in? ______
  3. If your perfect score is 300, what sport are you playing? ______
  4. In what sport might a team become one of the Final Four? ______
  5. If you have 92, your opponent has 86, and you lose, what sport are you playing? ______
  6. In what sports is a three-point possible? ______
  7. If close counts, what game is being played? ______
  8. If you’re in the penalty box, what sport are you playing? ______
  9. If you’re a wideout, what sport and positing are you playing? ______
  10. If the coach gives you the take sign, what are you doing and in what sport? ______
  11. If the score is love-15, what sport is being played? ______
  12. If your time is 15 seconds, what race did you run? ______
  13. If you won the trifecta, what did you do and in what sport?______
  14. If you’re sacked, what sport and positing are you playing? ______
  15. If you’re a coach and get a T while your team is on D, what sport is being played, and what happened? ______
  16. If you use a quiver, what sport are you participating in? ______
  17. If you have good hang time, what are you doing in what sport? ______
  18. If you’re a coxswain in a scull, what are you doing? ______
  19. If you need a broom to play, what sport is that?______
  20. If it’s downhill all the way, what sports might be involved? ______

Below are some trite, overused sports words and phrases. Translate them into plain, understandable English.

  1. Split the uprights:
  2. Toe the ball:
  3. Hot corner:
  4. Burn the nets:
  5. Cagers:
  6. Hoop battle:
  7. Snag the aerial
  8. The D:
  9. Hoopsters:
  10. Pigskin:

Write interesting, feature-style leads for sports stories using the information provided.

  1. A baseball game Tuesday between Centerville and St. Joseph high schools was won by St. Joseph, 1-0. St. Joseph’s pitcher Raul Guitierrez pitched a no-hitter. He also hit a home run in the 16th inning. The game was played on his 16th birthday.

______

  1. A soccer match will be held Tuesday between girls’ teams from Fremont High School and Springfield High School. The winning team will be champion of the Mid-City Conference. Both teams are undefeated. ______
  1. Lorenzo High School’s mixed doubles tennis team defeated Northwood High’s team, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in an exhibition match on Saturday. Lorenzo’s team members, Brenda and Brendan Shea, are twins. Northwood’s players Franco Neri and Louise Antonelli, are first cousins. ______
  1. A boys’ basketball game was played Tuesday between Washington High School and Arlington High School. Washington won, 57-56, in overtime. The winning points came when John Morehouse hit a 30-foot jump shot at the buzzer. ______
  1. The Lexington High School girls’ softball team lost its first game of the season Wednesday to a team that had not won a game all last season. The winning team is from Cozad High School. The score was 10-9. Lexington’s record was 12-0 before the game; Cozad’s record was 0-9. A light rain fell throughout the game. ______

List the names of six professional teams each in football, baseball and basketball.

  • Football:

______

  • Baseball:

______

  • Basketball:

______

List all the schools that your school competes against in athletics. List each opponent’s nickname or mascot, colors, and other pertinent data, such as the name of the opponents stadium. Determine whether boys’ and girls’ teams use the same nickname or not. Think of this list as an aid to next year’s sports staff.

______