How to Become a Sports Writer

Have you ever dreamed of being a sports writer? Freelance sports writing is an exciting niche that allows you to combine a love of sports with a passion for writing.

In this post, we’ll tell you:

1. What sports writing is
2. What a sports writer does
3. How to become a sports writer in four easy-to-follow steps

Let’s dive in!

What Is Sports Writing?

In simple terms, freelance sports writing is any type of writing that discusses sports. A sports writer may focus on one sport in particular or cover a number of different sports. They may also write about sports more generally, for example, providing insights into the sports industry as a whole. Depending on the context, the intended audience could be dedicated sports fans (e.g., an article in a subscription-only sports magazine) or the general public (e.g., a column in a national newspaper).

Sports writing can be featured in newspapers and magazines, on websites, in broadcast media, and in other publications. Examples include:

• Interviews (e.g., an article from The Guardian where a newly appointed Brazil coach talks about his upcoming game against England at Wembley)
• Athlete profiles (e.g., this database from World Athletics)
• Opinion pieces (e.g., this article from The Athletic about why a certain player will likely win Rookie of the Year)
• Feature articles (e.g., an in-depth story from The New York Times about how a talented athlete had a lasting impact on women’s basketball)
• Behind-the-scenes (e.g., this humorous list of stories from Bleacher Report)
• Historical or cultural examinations (e.g., The Strangest Sports Stories In History featured in History Collection, including a tale about a dead jockey who won a horse race)

What Does a Sports Writer Do?

If you want to get sports writing jobs, it helps to be passionate about sports. And aside from the obvious – excellent writing skills – you’ll need a keen eye for detail, great communication skills, high self-motivation, and strong time management. You’ll need to write insightful stories that engage the reader and educate them about the sports they are interested in.

Here are some of the duties that a sports writer typically performs:

• Attending sporting events. Sports writers will attend sporting events such as pre-game shows and matches. The purpose is to observe and analyze what’s happening in order to get information for a story. This might include pre- and post-game analysis and insights on player performance. 
• Conducting interviews. Athletes, coaches, bystanders, and other officials can be interviewed before, during, or after the event in order to gain extra insights and quotes for content. 
• Staying up to date. In the world of sports, a lot can change in a short amount of time. In order to get good sports writing jobs and produce timely content, you’ll need to keep current with sports-related news, trends, and developments.
• Writing content. The key duty of the sports writer is crafting engaging, informative, and entertaining narratives that will appeal to the intended audience. This includes being able to conduct research and tell your story in a clear and concise way.
• Checking facts. Accuracy is essential in any type of content writing, and sports writing is no exception. Any sports statistics or factual data may need to be verified to make sure it is as accurate as possible.
• Meeting deadlines. Most fans want to know what’s happening in the world of sports as soon as possible. Getting assignments finished and ready for publication on time is essential.

How to Become a Sports Writer

If you’re reading this post, chances are you’re already interested in sports and writing. That’s the perfect first step! Apart from your passion for sports, here’s what you should do next to get your ideal sports writing jobs. 

1. Educate Yourself

No formal degree is required to become a freelance sports writer, but education in journalism, writing, communications, or English can be useful.

The most important thing is to learn how to research and write your content. There are lots of different freelance writing courses that can help you get up to speed with the basics of good writing.

2. Develop Your Skills

The best way to become a better writer is to practice as much as possible. Read other people’s sports writing to learn about best practices, and try to develop your own unique tone of voice. Writing blog posts, contributing to community newspapers, or even just writing short articles to share with friends and family are great ways to develop your skills.

3. Build a Portfolio

This follows naturally from the practice mentioned in step two. Once you have done some sports writing, you can start to build your freelance writing portfolio. Your portfolio should showcase your talents and highlight some of your best pieces of content. Remember, your portfolio doesn’t need to be only composed of paid work. Anything you have written while developing your skills can be included.

If you’re having trouble finding paid work right away, internships and volunteer writing opportunities can give you hands-on experience working alongside professional sports writers.

4. Network

This is an important step for any writer and is especially important for freelance sports writing. Build your network by connecting with sports writers, broadcasters, editors, publishers, and other professionals. This can be done through social media (e.g., X – previously Twitter – is widely used by sports writers) and online forums (such as SportsJournalists.com) or by attending sporting events, press conferences, or sports writing workshops. You could even consider joining a professional association such as the Associated Press Sports Editors in the US or The Sports Journalists’ Association in the UK.

5. Apply for Jobs

Once you have completed the first four steps, it’s time to get some sports writing jobs! At the time of writing, employment websites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter have hundreds of freelance sports writing opportunities.

There are also many websites, blogs, and print publications that accept pitches from freelance writers. Do some research into what’s available in your niche, then start crafting your pitches. Most publications will have a specific submissions process, so make sure you follow their instructions. You might have to start out at smaller publications, but as you gain experience, more opportunities will open up for you.

Becoming a Freelance Writer

As mentioned above, one of the most important steps in securing sports writing jobs is to make sure you have the right skills. We have a course that can teach you everything you need to know!

Becoming A Freelance Writer will show you how to research, outline, write, and redraft compelling content. Plus, achieve 80% or more in the final assignment, and you’ll have the opportunity to write three pieces of content for our blog. Why not try it for free right now?