5.1 Preparing for Sports Interviews

Preparing for sports interviews requires thorough research and strategic planning. From studying an athlete's background to understanding the event context, every detail matters. Crafting questions that dig deep and challenge assumptions is key to uncovering compelling stories.

The interview structure should be flexible, adapting to the interviewee and medium. Timing and setting are crucial - consider the athlete's schedule and create a comfortable environment. By mastering these elements, you'll conduct interviews that yield rich, insightful content.

Research for sports interviews

Interviewee background and context

Top images from around the web for Interviewee background and context

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  Pourrahnama among Most Successful Para Taekwondo Athlete: IPC - Sports news - Tasnim News Agency View original

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  Frontiers | Redefining the Scholar-Athlete View original

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  Pourrahnama among Most Successful Para Taekwondo Athlete: IPC - Sports news - Tasnim News Agency View original

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• 

  Frontiers | When and How to Provide Feedback and Instructions to Athletes?—How Sport Psychology ... View original

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Top images from around the web for Interviewee background and context

• 

  Pourrahnama among Most Successful Para Taekwondo Athlete: IPC - Sports news - Tasnim News Agency View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | When and How to Provide Feedback and Instructions to Athletes?—How Sport Psychology ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Redefining the Scholar-Athlete View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Pourrahnama among Most Successful Para Taekwondo Athlete: IPC - Sports news - Tasnim News Agency View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | When and How to Provide Feedback and Instructions to Athletes?—How Sport Psychology ... View original

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• Thorough research on the interviewee's background, including their career history, notable achievements (championships won, records broken), challenges faced (injuries, controversies), and personal life details relevant to the story, is essential for crafting informed questions
• Understanding the interviewee's current team, league (NBA, NFL), and competitive landscape provides important context for discussing their performance and experiences
• Reviewing recent news, interviews, and public statements made by the interviewee helps identify potential discussion topics and avoid redundant questions

Event and story focus

• Researching the specific event, game (Super Bowl, World Series), or topic that the interview will focus on is crucial for asking pertinent questions and understanding the significance of the interviewee's responses
• Gathering input from colleagues, editors, or producers on desired story angles or information to gather helps ensure the interview aligns with the overall project's goals (player profile, game recap)

Interview structure and angle

Developing a coherent narrative

• Identifying the central theme, narrative, or purpose of the interview is essential for creating a coherent structure and line of questioning
• Organizing questions into logical sections, such as background information, main topic exploration, and forward-looking statements, helps create a natural flow and progression throughout the interview
• Prioritizing questions based on their importance to the desired story angle ensures that crucial information is gathered early in the interview, in case of time constraints or unexpected interruptions

Adapting to medium and interviewee

• Planning a balance of open-ended and specific questions allows for both expansive responses and targeted information gathering
• Building flexibility into the interview structure allows for adapting to unexpected responses or new information that may arise during the conversation
• Considering the interview's intended medium (print, radio, video) and adjusting the question structure accordingly is important for gathering content that suits the final product's format

Question development for insight

Encouraging detailed responses

• Crafting open-ended questions that encourage interviewees to provide detailed, reflective responses rather than simple yes/no answers is essential for gathering rich content
• Developing questions that explore the interviewee's emotions, motivations, and decision-making processes helps uncover the human element behind their experiences and actions
• Posing hypothetical scenarios or asking interviewees to reflect on alternative outcomes (what if the game had gone differently) can yield insightful responses and reveal their thought processes

Challenging assumptions and digging deeper

• Including questions that challenge the interviewee's assumptions, address criticisms, or explore contrasting viewpoints can lead to more nuanced and balanced responses
• Incorporating follow-up questions that build on the interviewee's initial responses helps to dig deeper into topics and uncover additional layers of information
• Tailoring questions to the interviewee's unique experiences, background, and personality demonstrates genuine interest and can foster a more comfortable, candid conversation

Timing and setting for interviews

Scheduling considerations

• Considering the athlete or coach's schedule, including training, competition, travel, and media obligations, is crucial for identifying a convenient and low-stress time for the interview
• Evaluating the physical and emotional demands of the interviewee's recent experiences, such as a major victory or defeat (winning or losing a championship), allows for gauging their receptiveness to an interview and adjusting the approach accordingly
• Scheduling interviews with ample lead time before publication or broadcast deadlines ensures sufficient opportunity for preparation, transcription, and editing

Creating a conducive environment

• Assessing the level of privacy and comfort offered by potential interview settings, such as a locker room, practice facility (basketball court, football field), or neutral location, helps create an environment conducive to open communication
• Understanding the media policies and access restrictions of the interviewee's team, league, or governing body is essential for complying with guidelines and maintaining positive professional relationships
• Considering the interviewee's preferences and comfort level with different interview formats (in-person, phone, video call) allows for selecting a setting that fosters the most natural, engaging conversation