What I’ve Learned Covering a Varsity Basketball Team
I started covering my school’s varsity basketball team as a freshman for its newspaper and sports app. Being 5’6” and standing next to 6-footers and 7-footers made me look minuscule and made them appear as behemoths. I ended up surprising my editors with the news that I was a freshman working alongside a junior. Basketball has been in my blood for as long as I can remember, and getting the opportunity to write about the sport I love was life-changing. In addition to being professional around them, I learned how to let loose and have fun with them. I didn’t have to have a recorder on me 24/7 and when I wasn’t writing down notes and getting quotes for articles, I was joking around with the players and having casual conversations with them. Being a varsity basketball reporter allowed me to get experience in the field that I want to work in, exposed me to what it’s like juggling a time-consuming extracurricular with seven classes, and led me to new, lifelong friendships with players and coaches.
This role gave me a glimpse into what journalists do for more than 40 hours a week. I was able to experience firsthand how hard people in the industry have to work as well as the long hours they log every day. Covering games would take at least three hours, half the time traveling to and observing the game and the other half spent writing my article. I’ve had to stay up past 11 pm some nights and once or twice got an article submitted after midnight. Those late nights showed me the amount of work and focus I needed if I wanted a viable career in the journalism industry. While writing for the paper, I also learned how to take constructive criticism from my editors, who deleted and rearranged several parts of my articles and ultimately made them better.
I also joined the broadcast club as a play-by-play commentator for basketball as a freshman. Originally brought in as a backup, I ended up being the main commentator after my first game. My knowledge of how the team plays and their performances in prior games proved to be helpful when it came to discussing it on the air. It also helped to watch NBA broadcasters such as Chick Hearn, Kevin Harlan, Doris Burke, and Ryan Ruocco. By observing how they worked and the lingo being used, I was able to use some of them on-air as well as bring some more flavor into what I said. It was similar to how players watch and intricately study film. From putting games “into the refrigerator” to highlighting someone’s “Kodak moment”, watching others do the same work I did helped push my commentating game to the next level.
When I began my job as a beat writer, I only knew the head coach. Since then, I’ve befriended over 30 players, eight managers, and five assistant coaches. I’ve gotten so close to the players that I have handshakes with five of the guys on our current roster. From the funny jokes to the friendly debates, I’ve loved every second of being around the team and truly felt like I was “one of the guys”. It’s amazing how a novice beat writer can become part of the team in one season.
Being a varsity basketball team reporter has brought me unforgettable experiences and taught me valuable lessons of preparedness and never being satisfied with just one good article. Every time I typed words on the page, I knew I wasn’t just writing about a regular weeknight game or another tournament; I was telling a story, just as every journalist does. I was humbled to have been selected for this role and incredibly grateful for two phenomenal years. Whether I am elevated into a higher position or decide to come back and write for another year, I cannot wait for what comes next.
UPDATE: On June 13, 2020, I found out I will be joining my school’s newspaper as a Sports Editor next year. I’m overjoyed and cannot wait to begin this new opportunity!
