Student Media

A well-written sports story will either make you wish you'd been there or be glad you were!

Significance

• Is a championship at stake?
• Effect of the result on the all-time records of the contestants
• Effect of the results of the season's records on the contestants
• Are the contestants old rivals?
• Are they resuming relations after a long period?
• Will the outcome suggest either contestant's probable strength against future opponents?

Probable Outcome

• Relative weight and experience of contestants
• Ability as demonstrated against other opponents, especially common ones.
• Improvement during the season
• New plays, tactics, etc.
• New players, return of the injured players, strength of substitutes, etc.
• Former contests between the two contestants
• Weather conditions favorable to either contestant
• Lack of practice, injuries and other handicaps
• Tradition of not being able to win away from home
• Recent record, slumps, etc.

How victory was won

• The winning play, if score was close
• The style of play of both winner and loser
• Costly errors and mistakes of judgment
• Spurts that overcame opponent's lead

Important Plays

• How each score was made
• Spectacular team or individual efforts, etc.
• The results of "hunches."
• Penalties, fouls, etc.
• Disputed decisions of umpires or referees

Individual records, stars, etc.

• Records broken
• High scores
• Players who delivered in pinches
• Teamwork
• Player not up to usual form

Injuries

• How seriously was the player injured?
• Is this a common injury in this sport?
• What's the long-term prognosis? Will this affect the player's future is college athletics?
• Follow-up and related stories about sports rehabilitation and injury prevention for weekend athletes.

Crowd

• Size of crowd
• a yearly event?
• enthusiasm, riots, demonstrations, etc.

Weather

• Condition of track or playing field
• Effect of heat (ha!) or cold
• Effect of sun on fielders
• Which side was affected more? Why?
• Delays because of rain?