the sports report

the sports report(just keeping score isn’t enough)

ideas shared by Sarah Nichols, MJE | Whitney H.S. | Rocklin Calif.Casey Nichols, CJE | Rocklin H.S. | Rocklin Calif.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

time mattersbefore, during, after


a matter of time

• before (practice & culture)• during (action & alternate views)• after (reaction & review)


a matter of time

• BEFORE (practice & culture)• 80%+ of sports is non-game time• What’s an average practice like?• What unusual practices took place?• What kind of team bonding?• What are road trips like?






a matter of time

• DURING (action & alternate views)• do capture outstanding action• don’t forget …

– the bench– the fans– support groups – adjustments



a matter of time

• AFTER (reaction & review)• do capture thrills and agony• don’t forget …

– postgame celebrations– game analysis and adjustments– ups and downs of seasons – injuries



numbers matter

bits, hits and splits


one or another

• stats• infographics• featured numbers













visuals matter

crop, drop & stop


f-stop the madness

• action photographs• candids• show me something new



















words matter

head, said & read


a story well told

• headlines• quotes, anecdotes & alt copy• features and issues


heads up


heads up

• pick a sport


heads up

• pick a sport• list all the clichés


heads up

• pick a sport• list all the clichés• now eliminate them from your

writing ... and especially from headlines!


heads up

• pick a sport• list all the clichés• now eliminate them from your

writing ... and especially from headlines!– don’t label me and don’t be predictable

(some heads we never want to see again)



bench these


bench these

• (any label headline)


bench these

• (any label headline)• Practice Makes Perfect!


bench these

• (any label headline)• Practice Makes Perfect!• Friday Night Lights


bench these

• (any label headline)• Practice Makes Perfect!• Friday Night Lights• Bump, Set, Spike











this…


this…

...becomes this


they said it


they said it

• quote/anecdotes


they said it

• quote/anecdotes• Q & A


they said it

• quote/anecdotes• Q & A• alternative copy















sports is like life


sports is like life

• don’t be predictable, sports aren’t


sports is like life

• don’t be predictable, sports aren’t• what happens outside the game

matters ... a lot


sports is like life

• don’t be predictable, sports aren’t• what happens outside the game

matters ... a lot• people first


now go play


now go play

For more information, contact us:


now go play


Casey Nichols [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]


now go play


Casey Nichols [email protected]

Sarah Nichols [email protected]






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the sports report