The Ultimate Guide to Live Blogging Sports Events

By Flora Szandi | October 30, 2024

If you’ve been wondering how to do sports coverage – whether it’s for your local or regional football teams or a  major sports league like Major League Baseball and the Champions League—you’re in the right place.

But regardless of the scale, fans demand timely, accurate reportage, and live blogging is a great way to deliver both.

For journalists covering the action on the courts, fields and tracks, creating engaging content will require more than knowledge of the game. It will also require a versatile platform to share news before, during, and after it happens. 

We’ve compiled some top tips to help you effectively cover sports events of any size and type with a live blogging platform.

1. Plan Your Coverage

Start by reviewing the sports season schedule to identify the most important games for your audience. Focus on high-profile matchups and rivalries, such as El Clásico, Spain’s most famous football rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, which has become a global phenomenon. Pay extra attention to team sports such as football, basketball, or baseball for trade rumours and player transactions that could change the dynamics and performance of the best teams.

Use Live Blog’s Player Transfer custom type feature to show which players are getting signed or re-signed. In individual sports such as tennis or golf, note any changes in players’ contracts, coaches, or sponsors. Prepare your coverage strategically for key matches and moments.

2. Game Commentary

During competition , it’s crucial to be precise and punctual in reporting important and exciting moments as they happen. Deliver detailed play-by-play commentary to narrate the entire event. Track the game clock, key timers (like possession or shot clocks), and highlight major moments such as goals, penalties, saves, turnovers, fouls, and substitutions, or any other sport-specific metrics. 

To help keep readers updated, try using Live Blog’s scorecard feature. Scroll through the official websites and social media channels related to the sport to gather the latest information about players, games, and schedules. For example, The Guardian actively live blogs significant Premier League matches.

Keep track of the score

3. Audience Engagement

Interactive elements are essential for successful live blogging. Encourage reader participation through polls, quizzes, and live discussions, using Live Blog’s commenting feature. Pose  questions to keep your audience engaged, such as their predictions for the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) or what upcoming game they are most excited to watch. The NFL MVP, for example, is a hot topic each year, with fans eagerly anticipating the announcement. Collect or share quotes from players, coaches, officials and spectators.

4. Players’ Stories

In addition to game updates, focus on fan-favourite players and their stories. Provide in-depth profiles that explore their careers, challenges, and standout performances.

Football (soccer in the United States), as the most universally followed sport in the world, attracts more television viewers than any other sports. Many top players have become household names due to the attention the sport receives. Sharing the stories of favourite players, including the challenges they’ve overcome, adds a personal touch to your coverage.

5. Historical Moments

Highlight game-defining moments, such as a player hitting a game-winner or making a crucial block. You never know what match may hold a historical importance for the future. Recall legendary matches such as the Rumble in the Jungle in boxing, the famous match in 1974 between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), which some consider the greatest sporting event of the 20th century.

6. Special Events Beyond Regular Games

Beyond regular game coverage, include significant events in your live blog, such as the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Shootout. Action off the court may also be of interest to readers. The Ballon d’Or, one of football’s most prestigious individual awards, always raises questions about who will win each year.

7. Using Statistics

Regularly update team standings and player statistics to keep your readers informed about the current state of the season. Use Live Blog’s statistics and big numbers feature to display key metrics related to the sport you are covering, such as goals, hits, assists, and points in ice hockey, or goals, shots on target, assists, tackles, and yellow cards in football.

Show player statistics

8. Use Sports Terminology

Fans expect you to speak their language, so use the proper jargon for the sport you’re covering. Be mindful of your audience’s familiarity with the sport, balancing detailed terminology with clear explanations when needed. “Pace” is a key term in live blogging a marathon, but it holds little meaning for someone watching a golf match.

Frequently asked questions about live blogging sports events:

Do sports live blogs make money?

Sports live blogs can generate profits based on different factors such as traffic volume and a good monetisation strategy. Revenue can come from native or remote ads, sponsorship deals, and premium content offerings, all of which can be integrated into your live blogging software.

How long should a sports blog post be?

Longer posts can offer comprehensive insights, allowing for a deeper exploration of topics, whereas shorter posts are great for delivering quick updates and information. It’s beneficial to have short, attention-grabbing posts during live blogging of events or other important information.

Is sports a good niche for live blogging?

Sports is an excellent niche for live blogging. Fans want real-time updates and detailed analysis during games, which live blogs provide effectively. They allow for continuous engagement, instant reactions, and in-depth commentary that goes beyond brief social media posts. The interactive way of live blogging also allows fans to share their thoughts during key moments, making it a dynamic and engaging way to cover sports events.

Which sport is the best to live blog about?

Choose a sport that you feel connected to or in which you are an expert. All sports have dedicated fan bases, so don’t hesitate to live blog about the sport you enjoy. If you aim for a wide audience, consider sports with significant global or national followings. 

A live blogging platform is an invaluable tool for covering sports events of any scale. Providing real-time coverage of games offers a unique opportunity to connect with all sports fans effectively. By incorporating these strategies into your live blog, you can position yourself as a go-to resource for game updates, keeping your audience engaged and informed throughout the season or the sports event.