If you are passionate about sharing your life for and knowledge of "the game" you may be interested in learning more about how to become a sports writer.

One of the great fringe benefits to being a sportswriter is that you can receive press passes to events, paid travel to games and the opportunity to develop professional relationships with athletes. Becoming a sports writer requires dedication, commitment, and a willingness to ask questions and analyze events. You should be able to write clear and concise text, and have a deep understanding of the sport you'll be writing about.

Many sports writers focus on one sport they are passionate about (ie. hockey or baseball), while some versatile writers are open to exploring a variety of different sports. Read on if you've ever dreamed of being a sports writer.

photo by Susan MacDowell

• It takes more than a love of the game and an ability to write well to be a successful sports writer. You must also have something valuable to say. Although you may love sports in general, before you begin to write, select one sport and become an expert in it.

1. Read about the history of the sport.
2. Study statistics.
3. Understand the rules.
4. Keep informed about trades, and current events involving players and management.
5. Participate in Fantasy leagues.
6. Watch all levels of a sport - high school, college, and major leagues.
7. Pay attention to the draft.

• Local or community papers are always looking for writers to cover local events. Some sports writers begin in high school, covering sports for their high school paper, then moving on to a small community paper. You'll gain experience, build your resume, and maybe even cultivate a following.

1. Sports news is very time bound, so sports writers need to be able to make deadlines. If a game runs late at night, the writer may have very little time to create and submit compelling, accurate, copy to the publication.
2. Research, networking and develop contacts in the sport you're covering can help you to to provide acurate information to your readers.
3. Although developing relationships is important, you need to keep professional and personal relationships separate, to avoid compromising your ethics and integrity.
4. Look for a different angle to the story. Weave in off the field information into your story about the game to broaden the readership you appeal to.