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Sports writing (always two words) is a demanding specialty that takes years of experience and practice - not to mention talent - to master. Don't try to write like a sportswriter unless you are one or are legitimately trying to become one.
Those of us who are not Frank DeFord can only write about sports as we would write about anything else but with special attention to the many specialized terms and expressions. Avoid slang, jargon and - most especially - clichés. You'll only end up saying almost what you mean, but not quite, and confusing the reader to boot.
Here are some vocabulary lists, general rules and guidelines adapted from the "AP Stylebook."
All-America, All-American, Academic All-America(n)
These terms are always capitalized on both sides of the hyphen. All-America is an adjective, All-American is a noun: "Judy Denslow is an Academic All-American by anyone's standards." "Ed Breneke was an All-America halfback in only his sophomore year."
Baseball
Basketball
Coach
Capitalize as a title before a name unless modified. "Coach Mel Tjeerdsma said the 2006 Bearcat football team was one of the best he ever coached." "Head football coach Mel Tjeerdsma said the 2006 Bearcats were one of the best teams he ever coached."
Cross country
There is no hyphen. This exception to "Webster's New World Dictionary" is based on the practices of the sport's national and international ruling bodies.
Football
MIAA
The conference to which all Northwest intercollegiate athletics teams belong. The acronym is acceptable in all references and stands for Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
NCAA
Acceptable in all references to the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Northwest's intercollegiate athletics teams are part of the NCAA's Division II. Our conference is the MIAA, which stands for Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. MIAA is also acceptable in all references.
Play off(s), playoff
Play off(s) (verb) playoff (noun, adjective). The Bearcats are in the play offs. It was Coach Seltzer's first playoff win.
Track and field
For time events, spell out "minutes" and "seconds" on first reference: "She finished with a time of 3 minutes, 42.8 seconds. Subsequent times require only a colon and decimal point: 3:42.8
Do not use a colon before times given only in seconds and tenths of seconds. Use ".0" to record a "flat" time: 5.0 seconds, 10.2 seconds. Extend to hundredths when possible: 17.38 seconds.
Spell out the first reference to running events: the 100-meter dash. Subsequent references can be shortened to such phrases as "the 100," "the 400" and so forth.
For hurdle and relay events, the progression is "100-meter hurdles" on first reference and "the 100 hurdles" in subsequent references: "He ran both the 400-meter relay and the 200 relay."
For field events, which do not involve running, use these forms:
