How best to turn yourself from sports fan to professional sports journalist? Quickly moving beyond general guidance about sports writing, Joe Gisondi focuses on the nitty-gritty, with hands-on, practical advice on covering 20 specific sports. From auto racing to wrestling, you’ll find tips on the seemingly straightforward—where to stand on the sideline and how to identify a key player—along with the more specialized—figuring out shot selection in lacrosse and understanding a coxswain’s call for a harder stroke in rowing. Preparing you for just about any game, match, meet, race, regatta or tournament you’re likely to cover, Field Guide to Covering Sports is the ideal go-to resource to have on hand as you master the beat.

Using his Prepare-Watch-Ask-Write approach in each sports chapter, you will learn:

In addition to brief chapters on writing, interviewing and blogging, the Guide features useful “primers”: knowing the APSE ethical guidelines, avoiding clichés, working with Sports Information Directors, covering fantasy sports and broadcasting on the radio. A series of annotated score cards shows how reporters can keep track of stats and details, and assignments at the end of the book get you applying your new-found sports knowledge.

Two additional features round out helpful coverage:

No sports reporter’s collection is complete without this unique guide.

Coverage of Twenty Sports, Including: