How to Create a Sample Fact Sheet for Sports Writing Filipino Athletes and Events

As a sports writer who's been covering Filipino athletes for over a decade, I've learned that creating an effective fact sheet is like building the foundation of a great story. Just last week, when I was preparing to cover Mike Sampurna's upcoming game with Taguig, I realized how crucial these documents are for both writers and readers. Let me walk you through what I've discovered works best when creating sample fact sheets specifically for Filipino sports coverage.

When I start compiling a fact sheet, I always begin with the athlete's current performance metrics because numbers don't lie. Take Mike Sampurna's case - those statistics of 17.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists for the Generals this conference immediately tell me we're looking at an exceptional all-around player. What makes these numbers particularly impressive is how they reflect his versatility. Honestly, I haven't seen many local athletes maintain such balanced performance across scoring, rebounding, and playmaking. The fact that he's a former Finals MVP adds another layer to his story, giving context to his current performance. I always make sure to include both current and career highlights because they show progression and consistency - two things that really matter when evaluating an athlete's true impact.

The structure of your fact sheet can make or break its usefulness. From my experience, I've found that starting with basic biographical information followed by current season performance, then career highlights works best. But here's the thing - you need to adapt this structure based on the athlete's profile. For someone like Sampurna who's taking on leadership responsibilities with Taguig, I'd dedicate a separate section to his leadership qualities and how they might influence the team's dynamics. I personally prefer including what I call "impact metrics" - those statistics that might not show up in traditional boxes but reveal how the athlete affects the game. For instance, Sampurna's assist numbers suggest he makes his teammates better, which is crucial context that raw scoring numbers alone can't provide.

What many writers overlook is the local context. When covering Filipino athletes, I always include information about their background, previous teams, and how they've developed within our local sports ecosystem. This creates connection points for readers who might be following their journey. I remember tracking Sampurna's progress since his college days, and that historical perspective adds depth to any current coverage. Another practice I've adopted is including what I call "comparison metrics" - showing how an athlete's current performance stacks up against their previous seasons or against league averages. This gives readers immediate context about whether we're seeing improvement, consistency, or perhaps a slight decline.

The most practical tip I can share is to keep your fact sheets visually organized but information-rich. I use a simple two-column format with clear headings, making sure to bold the most critical statistics while keeping supporting data easily accessible. For events, I follow a similar approach but focus more on historical significance, previous editions, and what makes the current iteration special. After creating hundreds of these documents, I've learned that the best fact sheets tell a mini-story on their own - they should give any writer enough material to craft multiple angles for their coverage. The key is balancing comprehensive data with readability, ensuring that the fact sheet serves as both quick reference and deep resource depending on the writer's needs.

Ultimately, a well-crafted fact sheet does more than just organize information - it captures the essence of an athlete's journey and current moment. When I look at Sampurna's fact sheet, I don't just see numbers; I see the story of a leader ready to carry his team, of an MVP proving his worth through consistent excellence, and of an athlete at the peak of his capabilities. That's the magic of good sports documentation - it turns data into narrative and statistics into stories waiting to be told.