Professional sports writers file 800-1,000 word recaps in 30-45 minutes after final buzzer. They don't wing it—they use templates. This guide gives you the exact paragraph-by-paragraph structure, 5 lede formulas, and 3 complete examples you can copy.
The 8-Paragraph Recap Structure
| Paragraph | Purpose | Word Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lede | Score + hero + significance | 40-60 words |
| 2. Context | What this means for standings/streaks | 50-70 words |
| 3. Decisive Moment | The play that decided the game | 80-100 words |
| 4. Hero Performance | Star player's complete stat line + key plays | 100-120 words |
| 5. Second Star | Supporting hero or losing team's best player | 80-100 words |
| 6. Turning Point | When momentum shifted | 80-100 words |
| 7. Coach/Player Quote | Insight or emotion from locker room | 80-100 words |
| 8. What's Next | Next game, playoff implications, storyline to watch | 40-60 words |
Total: 650-810 words. Add one more quote paragraph or expanded context to reach 1,000.
5 Lede Formulas That Work Every Time
Formula 1: Hero + Score + Significance
[PLAYER NAME]'s [STAT LINE/KEY PLAY] led the [TEAM] to a [SCORE] victory over the [OPPONENT], [SIGNIFICANCE OF WIN].
Example: LeBron James' 28-point triple-double led the Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the Celtics, snapping Boston's 12-game winning streak in a Finals preview that went down to the final possession.
Formula 2: Decisive Play Opening
[PLAYER] [DRAMATIC ACTION] with [TIME] remaining, [RESULT] as the [TEAM] defeated the [OPPONENT] [SCORE] on [DAY] night.
Example: Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the back of the end zone with 13 seconds remaining, completing a 12-play, 75-yard drive as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 27-24 on Sunday night in a battle of AFC heavyweights.
Formula 3: Streak/Record Focus
The [TEAM] [EXTENDED/SNAPPED] their [STREAK TYPE] to [NUMBER] games with a [SCORE] [WIN/LOSS] against the [OPPONENT], powered by [KEY FACTOR].
Example: The Yankees extended their winning streak to 9 games with a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox, powered by Aaron Judge's two home runs and 5 RBI that moved him within two of the franchise single-season record.
Formula 4: Comeback Narrative
Trailing [DEFICIT] in the [QUARTER/HALF/PERIOD], the [TEAM] rallied for a [SCORE] victory over the [OPPONENT] as [PLAYER/UNIT] [KEY ACTION].
Example: Trailing 21-3 at halftime, the Bills rallied for a 31-28 victory over the Dolphins as Josh Allen threw three second-half touchdown passes and the defense forced four turnovers.
Formula 5: Milestone Achievement
[PLAYER NAME] [ACHIEVED MILESTONE] in the [TEAM]'s [SCORE] victory over the [OPPONENT], becoming the [STATISTICAL CONTEXT].
Example: Caitlin Clark recorded her 10th triple-double of the season in the Fever's 98-82 victory over the Mystics, becoming the first WNBA player to reach double-digit triple-doubles in a single season.
Complete Example #1: Basketball Game Recap
Game: Lakers 112, Celtics 108
Paragraph 1 (Lede - 52 words):
LeBron James' 28-point triple-double led the Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the Celtics on Tuesday night, snapping Boston's 12-game winning streak in a potential Finals preview that came down to Jayson Tatum's missed three-pointer at the buzzer.Paragraph 2 (Context - 58 words):
The victory improved Los Angeles to 15-8 while Boston fell to 18-5 with its first loss since November 12. The teams split their season series at one game apiece, with a potential rubber match looming if both reach the NBA Finals. Boston had not trailed after three quarters in any of its 12 straight wins.Paragraph 3 (Decisive Moment - 87 words):
With the Lakers clinging to a 106-104 lead, James caught an inbound pass near midcourt with 42 seconds remaining. He drove past Marcus Smart at the three-point line, pulled up at the top of the key with Anthony Edwards rotating over, and drained a step-back three-pointer over the outstretched hand of the Celtics defender. The shot pushed LA's lead to 109-104 and effectively sealed the victory despite Tatum's desperate late push.Paragraph 4 (Hero Performance - 104 words):
James finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in 38 minutes—his third triple-double of the season and 107th of his career. Beyond the stat line, James orchestrated the Lakers offense through Boston's aggressive pick-and-roll defense, finding open shooters when the Celtics collapsed on his drives. "He sees the game three plays ahead," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. "When they brought the double, he found the right guy every time. That's 21 years of experience right there." James shot 10-for-19 from the field, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, adding to his season average of 25.4 points.Paragraph 5 (Second Star - 89 words):
Tatum led Boston with 34 points on 12-for-24 shooting, adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the losing effort. His step-back three with 18 seconds remaining cut the deficit to 110-108 and gave Boston a chance. But his final three-point attempt from 27 feet with James contesting bounced off the front rim at the buzzer. "I got the shot I wanted," Tatum said. "Good look, just didn't go down. Can't ask for anything more than that."Paragraph 6 (Turning Point - 91 words):
The game turned in the third quarter when Los Angeles went on a 15-2 run over four minutes, transforming a 68-62 deficit into a 77-70 lead. The run started with Austin Reaves' corner three, continued through two James layups and a Davis alley-oop, and ended with Reaves' second three of the stretch. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla called timeout twice during the run but couldn't stop the bleeding. "They punched us and we didn't respond," Mazzulla said. "That's on me. I didn't have them ready."Paragraph 7 (Quote/Insight - 78 words):
The defensive adjustment that sparked the run came from switching all pick-and-rolls in the second half, forcing Boston's ball-handlers into isolation situations rather than advantageous mismatches. "We switched everything," Ham explained. "Made them beat us one-on-one instead of getting the roll man or the slip. Our guys bought in, communicated the switches, and it changed the game." The Lakers held Boston to 38% shooting in the second half after allowing 52% in the first.Paragraph 8 (What's Next - 47 words):
The Lakers continue their road trip Friday at Miami, while Boston hosts Philadelphia on Thursday looking to start a new winning streak. The teams could meet again in the NBA Finals—a rematch of their 12-time Finals history that includes Boston's 9-3 advantage.
Total: 706 words
Complete Example #2: Football Game Recap
Game: Chiefs 27, Ravens 24
Lede (48 words):
Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the back of the end zone with 13 seconds remaining, completing a 12-play, 75-yard drive as the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 27-24 Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in an AFC Championship Game preview between the conference's top seeds.Context (61 words):
The victory gave Kansas City (12-1) home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and extended their winning streak against Baltimore to five games. The Ravens (10-3) saw their eight-game winning streak end and fell into a tie with Buffalo for the second seed. Lamar Jackson's MVP-caliber season continues, but his 0-4 career record against Mahomes looms over Baltimore's championship hopes.Decisive Moment (94 words):
Facing third-and-7 from the Baltimore 23 with 19 seconds remaining, Mahomes scrambled right as the pocket collapsed. Kelce, initially running a crossing route, broke off his pattern and drifted to the back corner of the end zone. Mahomes threw across his body while falling out of bounds, placing the ball where only Kelce could catch it. The tight end secured the pass with his right hand against the pylon, dragging his toe inbounds by inches according to the replay review. Officials confirmed the touchdown after a two-minute review.Hero Performance (97 words):
Mahomes finished 29-for-41 for 347 yards and three touchdowns against the NFL's top-ranked defense. He completed 8-of-10 passes for 89 yards on the final drive, converting two third downs before the game-winner. "That's why he's the best," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "Fourth quarter, game on the line, best defense in football—he finds a way. He always finds a way." Mahomes added 42 rushing yards on five scrambles, including a 17-yard gain that extended the final drive when the Ravens had the Chiefs stopped on third-and-12.
Complete Example #3: Baseball Game Recap
Game: Yankees 7, Red Sox 3
Lede (54 words):
Aaron Judge hit his 59th and 60th home runs of the season, driving in five runs as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox 7-3 Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Judge is now two home runs shy of Roger Maris' American League record of 62, set in 1961.Context (67 words):
The victory extended New York's winning streak to nine games and their AL East lead to 8.5 games over Toronto with 14 games remaining. Boston fell to 72-76, mathematically eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week. Judge has 13 games to break Maris' record—or at minimum tie it—while chasing the Triple Crown with a .315 average and 128 RBI.Decisive Moment (88 words):
Judge's second homer came in the sixth inning against reliever John Schreiber, a 442-foot blast into the second deck in left field that gave New York a 6-2 lead. The sellout crowd of 47,123 stood for all four pitches of the at-bat, then remained standing for two minutes of sustained applause. "I felt the energy," Judge said. "Every at-bat feels like the playoffs right now. They're counting down with me, and it pushes me. I don't want to let them down."
Pre-Game Preparation Checklist
Complete this before every game to cut deadline writing time by 40%:
| Item | What to Prepare | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | Current record, streak, division standing | 3 min |
| Head-to-Head History | Season series, all-time record, recent meetings | 4 min |
| Key Storylines | 3-5 angles (streaks, milestones, rivalries) | 8 min |
| Star Player Stats | Season averages, recent form, matchup history | 5 min |
| Injury Report | Who's out, who's questionable, who's returning | 2 min |
| Pregame Quotes | Coach availability, player comments | 6 min |
| What's Next Graph | Next opponent, playoff implications | 2 min |
Total time saved: 30 minutes of deadline panic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a sports game recap be?
Professional recaps range from 600-1,200 words depending on the outlet and game significance. Wire services (AP, Reuters) typically file 700-900 words for regular season games and 1,000-1,400 for playoffs. Beat writers often file 800-1,000 words for print/web, plus shorter versions for social media.
How quickly do professional sports writers file recaps?
Beat writers typically file within 30-45 minutes of final buzzer. Wire service writers often file preliminary stories (score, basic lede) within 5 minutes, then update with quotes and details over the next hour. Postgame interviews usually start 10-15 minutes after games end.
What's the most important paragraph in a game recap?
The lede is critical—73% of readers only read the first paragraph. A strong lede delivers score, hero, and significance in one sentence. Readers scanning headlines and ledes should understand the full story even without reading further.
Should I write chronologically or by importance?
Always by importance (inverted pyramid). Lead with outcome and hero, follow with decisive moments, then fill context. Chronological recaps ("The game started with...") bury the story and frustrate readers who want the result immediately.
How many quotes should a game recap include?
Include 2-4 meaningful quotes from different sources. Typically: winning team's star, losing team's star or coach, and a tactical insight from a coach. Avoid quotes that simply restate statistics ("He played great tonight") in favor of quotes that reveal emotion, strategy, or context.
What if the game is boring with no clear hero?
Find the storyline beyond the box score. Options: team performance over individual hero, defensive battle angle, playoff/standings implications, streak ending/starting, rookie/veteran milestone, injury return, or rivalry context. Every game has a story—you just need to find it.
Use this template and these formulas to file complete recaps under any deadline pressure. For faster drafting, try River's sports writing tools to structure your notes into polished paragraphs.