THE GAME STORY OR GAME RECAP INVERTED PYRAMID

THE GAME STORY OR GAME RECAP

INVERTED PYRAMID FORMAT • Chronological order does not work for sports • Back up your lead right away • Introduce additional information in descending order of importance • Write concisely • Avoid elaboration and editorializing that lengthen stories

PARTS OF A SIMPLE GAME STORY: • Lead • Body • Conclusion

LEAD • Again, not only the result but some information that is beyond a score, an outcome, that highlights the star, the big play, the key, the interesting information for our team. Or we may focus on our team, too, in a loss. Now with these leads, what would we start out talking about in our next paragraphs?

WHAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BODY: • A recap of the MAJOR parts of the game (the big scoring run, the final minute or two, etc). WE don’t want every single play. Usually the non-deciding half/set/quarters/ warrant only a paragraph total (if at all) • Use scores and times as part of that recap. So not: Purdue went on a scoring run and took the lead. But Purdue went on a 10 -0 run to take the lead 50 -49 with 3: 50 left on a layup by Carsen Edwards. • Be as specific as you can. Not Purdue scored 3 runs in the fifth inning but Purdue got RBI singles from Owen Jansen, Tayler Powers and Tanner Haston to take a 3 -0 lead in the fifth inning. • Try not to just focus on the scoring alone.

NOTICE HOW I SUCCINCTLY SHARE THIS VOLLEYBALL GAME ACTION In a competitive opening set, the teams saw the score knotted seven times. At the final tie of 22, the Boilermakers prevailed with a kill from redshirt junior Blake Mohler and a pair of kills from Atkinson, taking the set 25 -23. Overall, the Bucs lead Purdue in kills 16 -14, but the Boilermakers capitalized on nine ETSU errors to claim the edge. It was a much improved start to the second set at the Boilermakers rattled off seven points before the Bucs got on the board. Fueled by 15 team kills, including seven from Cleveland, Purdue never allowed its lead to drop to single digits, sailing to a 25 -7 second set victory. The set win saw Purdue hit a. 700 clip to defeat an opponent by 18 points in the tournament for the first time since 2007, when the Boilermakers outpaced Cal Poly 30 -12 in their matchup's opening set. Leading 2 -0, Purdue jumped out to a 7 -2 lead in the third and never looked back, closing the match with a 25 -18 final frame. The set was highlighted by six kills from Atkinson and five Boilermakers registering at least one dig.

OTHER THAN RECAPPING THE ACTION, YOU NEED: • Team records • Game notes (any records, streaks) • Context (the game affects the team how) • Other key players/scorers for winning team • Leaders for losing team

CONCLUSION • Often this will be whom the teams face next. • Or some team stats not used in story.

GOOD RELEASES WILL MIRROR TO A DEGREE MEDIA STORIES

BACK UP YOUR LEAD IN SUBSEQUENT GRAFS So grafs 2 and 3 focus on the final innings

YOU START AT THE “MOMENT OF IMPACT” Key moment Later on you can recount some other scores

YOU DON’T WANT TO RECAP EVERY PLAY

NOTICE HOW MORE SUCCINCT THIS IS (YES I KNOW IT’S DIFFERENT SPORTS BUT YOU GET THE POINT )

YOU ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE THAN NUMBERS • So if Purdue went on a 10 -2 run, why? Did they heat up from 3 -point range? Did their press bother the other team = turnovers? Did they start getting the ball inside to Isaac and the smaller opponent was helpless?

INSTEAD YOU WANT TO PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT

AS WITH THE LEAD, SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT WANT TO FOCUS THE GAME STORY ON THE LOSING TEAM IF THAT’S YOU

AND YOU WANT TO FIND INSTANCES TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR TEAM The Boilermakers made two nice catches along the fence line in foul territory. Jacson Mc. Gowan caught a pop up near the Iowa dugout for the first out of the first inning. Dalesandro was able to reach over the left field fencing by the Purdue bullpen to steal an out in bottom of the fifth. Both plays came with a man at first base. Third baseman Mike Madej also helped Stroh get out of a jam in the second inning by turning a chopper down the third base line into an unconventional 5 -4 double play, forcing runners at second and third base on the play. Stroh recorded his second pickoff of the season to erase a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, but Purdue was unable to record an out when it had a runner picked off on two other occasions later in the game. Shipley also stole a base after initially being caught leaving early for second.

SOMETIMES THERE JUST ISN’T MUCH TO HIGHLIGHT FOR HOME TEAM AND YOU MUST INCLUDE “NEGATIVES”

OPTIONAL GAME STORY INCLUSIONS: • Coaches’ quotes • Players’ quotes • Game notes • More details from game

DON’T OVERUSE CLICHÉS AND JARGON

THIS YEAR: • The Associated Press added a stylebook entry urging a move away from “hackneyed words and phrases, redundancies and exaggerations. ” It specifically says: “Home runs are homers, not ‘dingers, ’ ‘jacks’ or ‘bombs. ’ ” • There’s nothing innately wrong with using a few clichés, unless they mislead, but clichés are less creative than coming up with a unique description for that event.