Real Ways to Earn

5 Sites That Will Pay You To Write About Sports

Do you usually stay up late at night to watch Sportscenter on ESPN, spend hours of time listening to sports commentary podcasts, or read blogs about your local teams? Are you interested in getting paid to write about sports, or looking for sports related work at home jobs ? Then read on!

The dream job for an aspiring sports writer would be penning articles for a major newspaper, or contributing to one of the big sports media giants like ESPN. But those are tough gigs to land. There are thousands upon thousands of sports fans out there who would love to become writers, so the competition is pretty fierce.

If you're just starting out, you're going to have to aim a little lower. You may have to do some small time freelance writing, or contribute articles for blogs in exchange for revenue share.

To eventually get into more lucrative and exciting work, you'll need to gain some exposure and build your credibility as an authority on your chosen sport.

Fortunately, though it will probably take a while to reach the top of the sports writing ladder, you can still make some decent money along the way.

And if you approach things with the right attitude, you're sure to learn a lot in the process. Below we've listed a few useful sites that can help you get started on the path.

Get Paid To Write About Sports

One of the best ways to get your feet wet in the sports writing biz is to become a freelancer. You get to be your own boss, and you get some great experience doing what you love while building up a base of reliable, paying clients.

Upwork always has quite a few job postings looking for writers who can produce sports content quickly and professionally. The pay rates are all over the place, but new jobs get posted all the time, so you never know what you might find.

Go here to browse the sports writing jobs on Upwork  or read our Upwork review first.

SBnation is a big independent sports blog network. They have sites for just about every major sports team or subject, and they occasionally hire new regular contributors.

You can also pitch them article ideas by going here , and selecting “I want to pitch a story” from the contact drop-down menu. There's no mention anywhere about how much you'll get paid, but this is a pretty popular sports portal, so the exposure might be worth something all on its own.

Go here to sign up at SBnation. Note openings are not always available.

Athlon media group is looking for NFL and college football fans who have solid writing chops to join their team of regular content contributors. You'll need to fill out a form and submit links to two published sample articles. The pay rate is unspecified.

Go here to sign up at Athlon.

Fansided is looking for basketball writers to create content for their Hoopshabit site. They offer both revenue share and flat pay per piece.

You can pitch article concepts or apply for a regular contributor position, which apparently offers a very flexible schedule and the freedom to come up with your own article ideas.

Go here to sign up at Fansided.

Though LWOS is known as a baseball network, they actually have several sites devoted to various professional sports leagues.

They're looking for writers who can become a regular part of their staff. If selected, you'll spend most of your time covering one particular team, and you need to specify in your application which teams you'd be open to writing about.

The pay is based on traffic with no ceiling.

Go here to sign up at LWOS.

This is a high-pay sports writing position. Preference is given to candidates located in AL, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, or WI. A four year college degree is required.

They offer competitive salaries. $46,668-$58,542 depending on experience and qualifications. Writers are eligible for a monthly bonus plan based on performance and production.

Go here to learn more about the position.

The sites above are just a sample of the many sports writing gigs available. Unfortunately, most of them either don't specify pay or rely on a revenue sharing scheme, and that's generally what you'll find when you go looking around the web for writing jobs in this niche.

As I mentioned in the intro, there a lot of very talented people who love sports, including some who are happy to work for free, so you have to put in a lot of effort to make the big bucks.

If you're really passionate about becoming a professional sports writer, and know that you have what it takes, then stick with it and do what's needed to build a solid reputation.

Better opportunities will eventually open up when you make some connections and start creating a nice portfolio of work.

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Anna

Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 13 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.

14 freelance sports writing jobs for beginners

write sports articles for money

Are you a sports fan who loves to write? If so, sports writing might be the perfect way to make a living by combining your passion with your talent.

It’s a growing popular culture niche, making it possible for beginner freelance writers to break into it. To help kickstart your sports writing career, here are some tips for getting started. You’ll also find some of the best freelance sports writing jobs for beginners.

What is a sports writing job?

A sportswriter crafts material about sporting events, players, coaches, and other topics related to sports. They might interview players, write a recap of a local ball game, or dive into player stats and make predictions.

While you’re probably familiar with the sports page in the newspaper, that’s not the only place you’ll find these types of articles. You can also find them in:

  • Online publications
  • Press releases
  • Social media
  • Advertisements

Sports journalists cover all types of activities. They write about football and basketball, but also cover golf, cycling, and more. You’ll find these writers at local high school games and events at the professional level.

This means there are loads of possibilities, so start thinking about what type of material you’d like to create.

What skills do you need to be a sportswriter?

To succeed as a sports writer , you obviously need to have a knowledge of sports and enjoy the culture. If you aren’t a true fan, your readers will be able to tell. You’ll also likely get burned out, since it’s a lot harder trying to write engaging articles about a topic you couldn’t care less about.

While you might be an expert in one type of sport (such as football), you must have a basic knowledge of all major competitions. You also may not be able to write exclusively about your favorite sport, so being open to others can help you succeed. There are many sports to write about , so try getting experience with at least a few different ones.

In addition to being a sports fanatic, you must be a good writer. People don’t want to read material that’s full of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes.

Those two things are essential qualifications for these types of jobs. However, they’re not the only requirements. You should also be:

  • Punctual : A freelance writer in this niche maintains crucial deadlines. People want to read about sporting events right after they occur, not days or weeks afterward. You’ll need to create content quickly and get it submitted on time.
  • Thick-skinned : There are so many opinions surrounding this niche. Not everyone will like what you say, so you shouldn’t take comments personally.
  • Collaborative : You’ll be working with others. This could be a team of other writers and editors or figures in the sporting world. Either way, if you don’t play well with others, this isn’t the job for you.
  • Willing to cover events : If you’re looking for an online writing gig so that you never have to leave your home, you may want to select a different niche . Most writers are eventually asked to attend the game, so travel could be in your future.
  • A good communicator : Since you’ll be working with others and expressing yourself in writing, good communication skills are vital.

Each company may also have specific requirements. For instance, some may want you to have a degree in communication or journalism or previous experience. Make sure you read the job ads you apply for. This helps improve your chances of landing a job.

Pros and cons of being a sportswriter

Sports writing isn’t for everyone. Just like any job, there are good and bad aspects.

Pros of sports writing

You get paid to create content on a subject you’re passionate about. You also have an excuse to watch any game, since you’re doing it for work.

Additionally, it’s a job that won’t feel too monotonous and boring. You can write about a variety of games and create different types of content. This keeps things feeling fresh, and can help reignite your passion for your job.

Though many full-time sportswriter jobs require you to live in large cities such as New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Phoenix, AZ, or Washington DC, you can find freelance positions all across the United States. It’s fairly flexible.

Also, you can write about professional sports or up-and-coming high school stars. It's a broad niche, with room for lots of writers in almost any area.

You’ll also get to interact with others, so it won’t be a lonely position. You may have the chance to interview famous players, talk to inspiring coaches, or get advice from other writers. Most companies want a team player who can get out and build relationships. You won’t be working behind a cubicle all of the time.

Cons of sports writing

Though there are many good things about sports writing, there are also some downsides. For instance, if you’re covering a game, you probably won’t be able to enjoy it with family and friends. Instead, you’ll be keeping track of the stats, monitoring plays, and taking notes to incorporate into your writing.

This means that game nights, or sports in general, might not be as leisurely as they once were. It will be your responsibility to watch plays with a critical eye, not as something you do just to relax.

Increasing the stress is the need to turn in great content soon after the game is over. There are crucial deadlines to provide your content to your client, so you'll need to work quickly.

Another challenging part about sports writing may be the pay. Many sites that accept contributors pay low rates. Others don’t pay anything at all. You’ll need to read the guidelines carefully to avoid surprises about payments.

How do you find sports writing jobs?

As a freelance writer, it's your responsibility to find each sportswriter position you desire. To grow your business, make sure you keep looking for work even after you land your first client. By continuing to market yourself for at least a couple of hours per week, you can get your name out and secure more work. That way, you don't end up stuck in the dreaded freelance feast and famine cycle.

To help you find a continuous stream of clients, here are four ideas to try.

1. Search job boards

Make it a point to frequently peruse job boards and apply for the gigs you’re interested in. Here are several freelance writing job boards to help you find work:

  • Blogging Pro
  • Freelance Writing
  • Freelance Writing Gigs and its job board
  • All Freelance Writing

You can also search for job ads on general job boards, such as:

  • Ziprecruiter

If you set up an account on these sites, you can usually upload your resume. This makes it easy to apply for a variety of positions.

Craigslist can also be a potential source of gigs. You can check in both the “gigs” and “jobs” sections. If your local Craigslist doesn’t have much, change the location to New York, NY, Washington DC, or Los Angeles, CA. These larger metropolitan areas often have more potential.

Set up job alerts to make sure you don’t miss any potential gigs. This way, you’re notified when a freelance sportswriter position comes up. A job alert makes it easy for job seekers to find what they're looking for without spending hours reviewing new job listings.

2. Cold pitch companies

If you’re already familiar with the local sports industry, a local company might be your best bet for your first gig. Contact your local newspaper, and see if it hires freelance writers to cover the sports beat in your city.

Are there any colleges in your town? You can see if one of them needs content for its athletics website or help covering events in your area. You can also reach out to local teams. Ask if they need a new writer to tackle press releases or manage their social media.

However, don't feel limited to local companies. Reach out to companies in Washington DC, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and other major sports towns. You never know which company might need some additional help.

You can use cold pitching templates when asking for a job to boost your success rates and simplify the process.

3. Search on Google

Job seekers can find job ads for sports writing through Google searches. Try using the following search terms to find relevant results:

  • “ Write for us + sports ”
  • “ Paid sportswriter jobs ”

Then scroll through the results to see what positions you have the knowledge and experience to succeed at.

4. Search on freelance writing employer bids sites

Freelance employer bids sites such as Upwork or Freelancer can be potential sources of writing gigs, so consider creating an account on each of them. If you see a job you’re interested in, send in a bid. Make sure you include your resume and any additional material employers request.

You’ll be competing against the other applicants, so make sure your pitch clearly explains why you’re the best writer for the job. Also, let the employers know you can submit your stories on time. It’ll show them that you understand the importance of deadlines.

How much do sportswriter jobs pay?

According to Salary.com , the average sportswriter in the United States earns $36,384 per year. However, this rate varies greatly depending on your experience, education, and writing abilities.

If you take a full- or part-time sports writing job with a business, you can expect to earn a salary that’ll likely be in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. If you prefer to be your own boss and work as a freelancer, you’ll work out payment arrangements with your clients on a per-post, per-word, or per-hour basis.

Going this route means you have the potential to earn even more, especially if you work with multiple clients and have income coming in from different streams. Still, you’ll need to set aside money for taxes and any business expenses you have.

What types of sports writing jobs are available?

Now that you know more about sports writing, let’s look at some of the possible gigs you can get. You can use each job type as a search term to help you find open positions.

1. Online sportswriter jobs

There are lots of online publications that hire freelance writers. Here are a few of the best opportunities for beginners.

If you have a firm grasp of online writing and a love for sports, you can apply to work with one of the numerous sites FanSided manages. You can select between pay-per-piece and pay-per-pageview options.

Athlon Sports

Is football the sport you love? If so, you might be a great contributor to Athlon Sports. Though its pay rate isn’t specified, contributors are paid. You’ll want to work out the details with the editor.

SB Nation has a vast reach, with over 300 different websites and millions of followers. It’s a great resume builder for your sports writing career. To apply, you’ll want to check its parent company (Vox Media) and scroll down to the SB Nation section.

TheSportster

If you love wrestling, try becoming a contributor to TheSportster. It’s looking for solid writers to contribute to its Wrestling News or Wrestling Lists categories. If accepted, you’ll get paid and receive a byline on your articles.

Last Word on Sports (LWOS)

Whether you want to write about sports news, provide analysis of games, share your opinion, or hash out some rumors, there’s room for your work over at LWOS. It offers a remuneration program based on views, so the more popular your content is, the more you get paid.

Screen Rant

If you’re into sports video games and the gaming industry, be a contributor to Screen Rant. With Screen Rant, you’ll get credit for your work as a freelance writer and also get paid.

You can be a game reviewer, write about the best sports games, and more. It’s an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in the gaming culture who wants to combine their sports and video games knowledge.

2. Sports copy editor

If you’re a pro at catching grammatical errors and can see a typo quickly, a job in sports editing might be in your future. You work with companies to proofread and edit their material before it goes live.

Some sports copy editors also oversee a team and plan the content calendar for the company. It can be a great step up in the world of sports writing.

You can find sports writing editor jobs with a variety of companies. To see which ones are hiring, use a site such as Indeed or SimplyHired . If you set up a job alert, you won't miss any possible openings.

3. Sports magazine writer

Many magazines hire freelance sportswriters to create content. Here are a few that you can send a query to.

Trail Runner

If you enjoy trail running, make sure you send a query to this magazine. There’s a digital and a print publication. You can write featured articles about running destinations, race reports, and more. It also accepts shorter pieces in the 800- to 1,200-word range.

The Sports Digest

Can you create short (300 to 500 words) articles about sports? If yes, send a pitch to The Sports Digest. It accepts posts about athlete development, ethical matters related to sports, sports governance, and other relevant topics.

Adventure Cyclist

Adventure Cyclist pays $0.25 to $0.50 per word for articles related to cycling. This publication accepts work from freelancers for two different categories: first-person tour accounts and essays about a singular experience while biking.

If climbing is your sport of choice, check out the submission guidelines for Gripped. It pays $150 to $200, depending on the length and category. This publication does use Canadian grammar, so if you’re in the United States, you'll need to review your article carefully before submitting it.

A magazine for sporting officials, Referee accepts posts from contributors for feature and sports-specific stories and its columns. The pay is typically $0.03 per word. However, you’ll need to work out the details with your editor.

The Chronicle of the Horse

Equestrian sports are growing in popularity. If you enjoy writing about them, pitch the editors at The Chronicle of the Horse. This publication frequently works with freelancers to generate content about horse news or horse feature stories. Payment ranges from $150 to $400 per article.

FourFourTwo

If you’re a soccer fan, send a pitch to FourFourTwo. This magazine accepts pieces from freelance writers for several different columns. There’s also the potential to publish work on its website. If FourFourTwo commissions your work, you’ll work closely with an editor to get it in tip-top shape before it gets printed.

When Saturday Comes

The editors of When Saturday Comes put together a comprehensive set of writer’s guidelines. So if you’re interested in writing about soccer, you’ll want to check it out. Payment is typically £75 for 750-word articles.

4. Sports copywriter

Good copy sells. If you’re a copywriter who loves athletics, try to find a position that allows you to put your persuasive writing skills to work. Companies that sell sports products or services would be happy to have you on board. You can occasionally find these positions on job boards, though your best bet is a cold pitch. You can pitch:

  • Sporting good stores
  • Sports camps
  • Sporting wear companies
  • Fantasy sports leagues

You can create ad copy, social media posts, email marketing campaigns, and more.

5. Local sports journalist

Your own city newspaper can be an excellent way to land your first freelance sports writing gig. Don't worry if it doesn't have the readership of a larger newspaper such as the San Diego Union-Tribune or The New York Times . It’s often easier to get started with a small-town newspaper because you don’t have as much competition.

Contact the editor to see if they hire freelance writers to provide sports stories. Since you’re local, you can cover the games in town and write an analysis of them. If you can take decent sports photos as well, this can be a nice upsell for the newspaper.

6. Sports multimedia journalist

If you enjoy writing about sports and capturing the game’s highlights through photography, a job as a sports multimedia journalist could be in your future. In this position, you’ll prepare sports coverage for publication in the newspaper or on television. Your client may also ask you to cover stories that aren’t about sports, so make sure you’re flexible.

To find these positions, go to the career section of a media company (such as FOX Corporation ) and search for careers as a sports multimedia journalist. Don't limit yourself to the major media powerhouses. Search for openings with smaller companies, such as Woodward Community Media.

General job boards also occasionally have this job type posted, so add this one to your job alert system.

7. Sports betting writer

Do you have a deep understanding of sports betting, game predictions, and other similar topics? Consider becoming a sports-betting writer. This could also include sportsbook ticket writer jobs.

To help you get started in this field, here are a few publications to consider writing for:

Sports Betting Dime (SBD)

If you’re an expert on all things odds analysis, apply to be a contributor to SBD. It’s looking to expand its sports writing crew by hiring new team members who are experts in the NFL, golf, MMA, NBA, and more. It covers just about any sport, so it could be a great fit no matter where your passion lies.

QL Gaming Group

Are you well-versed in the art of betting? QL Gaming Group hires sportswriters to tackle this subject. Rates aren’t listed on the website, so ensure you verify the terms with the editor before you accept.

CappersPick Blog

Though this website has a fairly low pay rate ($5 to $10 per article), it can be a great way to build up your writing portfolio. The site asks for articles in the 500- to 700-word range. It accepts posts about all major sports leagues, as long as your post relates to the gambling industry.

Sports Bet Listing (SBL)

If you’re passionate about sports and know how to successfully bet as well, apply to join the SBL’s team of paid writers. This company has precise pitching directions, so make sure you read them carefully before reaching out.

GamblingSites.org

While this publication doesn’t only cover sports, the company is looking to add additional sports betting writers to its lineup. To succeed, you must have technical competency, strong writing skills, and a passion for the industry.

In this role, you’ll create a variety of resources to help sports bettors succeed. This could include a roundup of betting sites, strategy guides, betting picks, and more.

8. Sports anchor

If you don’t mind going live on the air, consider becoming a sports anchor. Before you get in front of the camera, you have to prepare for your segment in writing.

In this role, you need to interview players and coaches, have a general knowledge of all sports you cover, and become the face of the program. You can find openings by searching the careers page of your local stations. They’re also occasionally posted on sites such as ZipRecruiter or Indeed .

9. Sports social media coordinator

If you’re passionate about sports and understand how social media works, you can get paid to create sports-related social media posts. In this role, you interact with others online to help build a following and manage your client’s online presence.

You can often find these positions on job boards, so make sure to set up a job alert, so you always see new openings. Cold pitching sports-related companies without a good social media presence can also help you land work.

10. Fantasy sportswriter

Fantasy teams are rapidly growing in popularity. These websites need writers to create material for publication. While many of these sites don’t pay writers, there are a few that do.

Here are some potential sites to pitch:

FantasyData

This company is looking for fantasy football writers who have at least seven years of experience playing. Read the job description for details, and then you can apply by filling out the application form on the website.

You can apply for a paid position with RotoBaller. Writers work closely with the editing team to create content that’s helpful to readers. The use of advanced stats is essential, so make sure you understand how to integrate stats into your writing before you apply.

The Scorecrow

Want to write about fantasy football or baseball? You can do that for The Scorecrow. While you won’t get paid per piece, the site offers quarterly payouts per 1,000 views, cumulative.

11. Sports tech writer

As technology evolves, sports and sports coverage changes as well. Tech sportswriters stay up to date on the intersection of sports and technology. They examine how sports teams use technology to stay in touch with their fans or how new tech can help players gain skills.

12. Sports staff writer

While not as flexible as many freelance positions, many companies hire staff writers to cover sports. In this role, you’ll be assigned topics to write about and have strict deadlines to meet.

To find these positions, connect with your newspapers and television stations to see if they have any openings.

13. Sports blogger

You can start your own blog dedicated to sports. Then as you grow your readership, you can earn money through affiliate links, ads, and other monetization techniques. You can also guest blog for established sports blogs. Here are a few to pitch:

While contributors to this website aren’t paid, it can be a great way to get backlinks and exposure. Additionally, this company does hire writers occasionally. So if you enjoy blogging about soccer, it might be an excellent opportunity for some paid work.

Sportskeeda

You can occasionally write articles for this site as a guest columnist or become a regular writer with a contract. The editor will discuss remuneration for your posts with the editor. Per-month or per-article terms are typical.

Eyefootball

This website is searching for more football (soccer) writers and editors. It has a variety of intern and paid positions available. While you’re waiting on your blog to get up and running, this can be a good option for generating some income.

14. Sporting events writer

If you can complete sports stories in a timely manner, you can find a position that allows you to cover sporting events. In this job, you'd go to the game and watch it. Then, you'd quickly write your article and submit it for publication. If you aren't comfortable working with tight deadlines, it may be better to consider other types of sports writing jobs.

Get paid as a sports fan

With so many freelance sports writing jobs available, you’re sure to find something that’d be a good fit for you as a sports fan. So pick one and give it a try. Your future career as a sportswriter is waiting for you.

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Sports Writing Jobs: A Big List of Sport & Leisure Sites That Pay Writers

Sports Writing Jobs: A Big List of Sport & Leisure Sites That Pay Writers

What if you could get paid to write about your favorite sport, hobby, or whatever it is you like to do in your free time (besides sleeping, snacking, and binge-watching series)?

Seriously. Even that one weird hobby you can’t stop talking about and some of your friends think you’re a little too obsessed with… Check and see if it’s on our list!

Pro tip: If expensive gear is involved, chances are you could get paid very well to write about it. If you want to get paid to write about a topic, someone else has to make money selling products on said topic.

You’ll find a few exceptions to that rule. But especially with leisure activities and fun things to do in your free time, follow the money if you want to turn your writing into more than a hobby.

Want more blogging gigs on other topics? Check out our Ultimat e List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs here.

How Much Do Sports Writers Earn?

This is the internet. If it exists, there is a blog or online publication for it. Sports and leisure topics are no exception to that rule.

But not all of them pay writers… and not all of those that do pay writers pay them well .

If you find yourself with a favorite hobby that pays peanuts (and you still dream of writing about it), look a little deeper. Look at the businesses that make money from this activity. What are they? Do some research.

If you want to get paid to write about anything, you have to find people who make money from it. This is where you start.

We’ve got a big list of hobby sites, sports blogs, leisure publications, and so on right here that pay freelancers $50 or more per article (up to $3,000 and $4,000 in some cases).

Can I Really Get Paid to Blog About Hobbies & Sports?

Just curious… what do you think a sports writer does?

Yeah, yeah, write about sports. But do you have any idea HOW MANY sports exist out there? Go take a look at how many different medal-awarding sports the Olympic Games list. And then add a few more because even they don’t include them all.

Do you want to write about your favorite (insert most popular sport in your country) team? Yeah, you and a few million other raving fans willing to do it for free.

You *can* write about those big sports (and even get paid to do it). Just be prepared for some competition.

Got a question for you: Do you like any less well-known sports? Because if you can corner a niche topic, you can get some sweet sportswriting gigs there (and get paid more, too).

As for leisure activities, hobbies, and such, if you know how to do even something as simple as crochet then you can get paid to write articles explaining it to others. But don’t look only at hobby blogs about hobbies — look for businesses with blogs or online articles on the topic, too, because they may have a bigger budget.

With some persistence and a passion for a specific sport or leisure activity, you could land yourself a high-paying one-off gig or even a regular paid spot in a publication.

Where to Find Your Next Hobby or Sports Writing Gig

Adironback life magazine.

Adirondack Life magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing jobs

Adirondack Life  magazine publishes stories about its six-million-acre natural park in New York State. Think outdoor fun, hiking, kayaking, backcountry skiing (and everything in between). They also love articles about the wildlife, history, places, and people of the Adirondacks. One way to get started with this publication is their magazine departments (1000 to 1800 words on average). They have a very small staff (good news for getting freelance writing jobs). If you don’t hear back from them in 30 days, follow up with them about your query.

  • Homepage:  https://www.adirondacklifemag.com/
  • Contributor info:  https://www.adirondacklifemag.com/blogs/magazine/writers-guidelines/
  • Pay:  30 cents per word for features and news stories (1,000-3,500 words).
  • Contributor byline:  Yes.
  • Contributor bio:  No.

Adventure Cyclist Magazine

Adventure Cycling pays sports writers for freelance writing gigs

Want to tell stories about your cycling adventures? The Adventure Cyclist magazine and blog want to hear about it (and might even pay you to write it). They are looking for first-person stories about your bike trip. If you’re also very handy with a camera, you’ll have an even better chance of scoring the job. Photos are important for these types of articles (and you get paid extra for them). Keep in mind that their editorial calendar is often planned 12+ months out. And their very small team can take up to 6 months to get back to you about your query or submission.

  • Homepage: https://www.adventurecycling.org/blog/
  • Contributor info: https://www.adventurecycling.org/adventure-cyclist/adventure-cyclist-submissions/
  • Pay: From 25 to 50 cents a word (for articles from 1200 to 3000 words).
  • Contributor byline: Yes. with a photo.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, on a separate page with a photo and links.

Adventure Motorcyle

Adventure Motorcycle magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing jobs

Do fun road trips on your motorcycle much? Then take a look at Adventure Motorcycle magazine and blog. You can send queries for ride reports, feature articles, news, reviews, and spotlights. They’re especially interested in travel stories and personal stories of overcoming hardship and challenges on the road. Photos are extremely important for most stories (and you’re usually responsible for them too). Read through the magazine and the blog to see if your ideas fit their style (and check out the photos to make sure it’s something you can do). If you’ve got seasonal ideas, get in touch at least 6 months early (or more).

  • Homepage: https://adventuremotorcycle.com/
  • Contributor info: https://adventuremotorcycle.com/submission-guidelines
  • Pay: $150 and up (for 1400 to 1800 word articles).
  • Contributor byline: Yes.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences with a photo. and a link.

The Alpinist hires writers for freelance sports writing jobs

The Alpinist magazine and blog hire freelance sportswriters. If you’re already passionate about mountain climbing, go make some money talking (and writing) about your favorite subject. What do they want to publish? First-person stories, investigative reports, and documentaries about topics adventure climbing fanatics love to read. Do your research and then send in a pitch.

  • Homepage: http://www.alpinist.com/
  • Contributor info: http://www.alpinist.com/p/magazine/contribute
  • Pay: We hear 25 cents a word.
  • Contributor bio: No.

Amazonas Magazine and Coral Magazine

Amazonas and Coral magazines pay freelance writers for aquarium writing jobs

Amazonas and Coral magazines and websites write about aquariums (and everything you need to know if you have one or want to build one). Amazonas focuses on freshwater aquariums and Coral on salt-water aquariums. If you’re already slightly obsessed with aquariums, take a look at their site and magazine. You’ll find sample editions on the website. And remember to check out the photos (an important part of most articles for these publications). You can also write blog articles for them, but they pay much more for the magazines.

  • Homepage: https://www.reef2rainforest.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.reef2rainforest.com/contributor-guidelines/
  • Pay: We hear $100 to $600.
  • Contributor bio: Yes.

American Angler

American Angler pays fishing writers for freelance writing gigs

Are you a somewhat obsessed fisher and a freelance writer? American Angler  magazine and website are looking for passionate fishing fans who also know how to write words people want to read. Check out their submission guidelines and you’ll know what I mean. If you know how to tell a story that’s not a fish tale (with research and interviews), you’ll have a much better chance of getting published here.

  • Homepage: https://www.americanangler.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.americanangler.com/submissions/
  • Pay: We hear $200-$600.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a sentence or two with a link (maybe even a photo).

American Falconry

American Falconry hires freelance writers for falconry writing jobs

Know someone who practices the ancient tradition of falconry? When we say there’s a publication for nearly everything, we’re not kidding. American Falconry magazine and website pay writers for stories about its history, techniques, gear, and more. You can read more about it on the site or in the magazine. As with most of these hobby and sports magazines, taking photos to go with the story is indispensable (and can make or break your pitch).

  • Homepage: https://www.americanfalconry.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.americanfalconry.com/writersguidelines.html
  • Pay: Starting at $100.

American Gardener

American Gardener magazine pays writers for freelance gardening writing jobs

Are you an avid gardener? I’ve got some good news for you. American Gardener the American Horticultural Society’s primary publication is mostly freelance written. Their readers are amateur gardeners with lots of experience. Some of the topics they’re looking for are horticulturalist profiles, garden design, plant research, plant conservation, and much more. Read through the website and digital version of the magazine (you can read some articles without being a member). They only want pitches for stories.

  • Homepage: https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/gardening-publications/archives/
  • Contributor info: https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/gardening-publications/the-american-gardener/writers-guidelines/
  • Pay: From $150 to $200 for department articles (600 to 1000 words normally) and $300 to $600 for most features (1500 to 2500 words usually).
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a very short one.

Audubon Society

Audubon pays freelance writers for birdwatching writing gigs

If you’re already into birdwatching and reading about them, maybe it’s time to start making some money writing about it. The Audubon Society’s magazine pays freelance writers. You can dive into the articles on the website or a selection of articles from the magazine. The writer guidelines are on the light side (but you do get a list of the editors). Use the stories available online to create a pitch that fits their publishing style.

  • Homepage: https://www.audubon.org/
  • Contributor info: https://www.audubon.org/about-audubon-magazine
  • Pay: We hear from 20 to 40 cents a word (for 1000 to 2000 word articles).
  • Contributor bio: No, but you get a writer’s page.

Backcountry Magazine

Back Country magazine pays freelance writers for sports writing gigs

Backcountry magazine and website are about skiing off-piste or outside of ski resorts. They’re always on the lookout for talented writers with fresh ideas for their readers. Current events, interesting destinations, and profiles of interesting backcountry skiers, for example. If you’re already familiar with their audience (and backcountry skiing), do some research on the site. And pitch away.

  • Homepage: https://backcountrymagazine.com/
  • Contributor info: https://backcountrymagazine.com/magazine/submission-guidelines/
  • Pay: 35 cents a word.
  • Contributor bio: No. but you get a writer’s page.

Backpacker magazine pays writers for freelance sports writing jobs

Do you like to hike? Please check out this magazine and blog dedicated to “foot-based” travel, Backpacker. Half of their feature articles are freelance-written. Even better news, OVER 50% of their magazine departments are written by freelance writers. Their advice to new writers: pitch to the departments or online-only articles. Stick to North American destinations, Read their blog and magazine and you’ll notice a strong preference for off-the-trail trips, out-of-the-ordinary destinations, and practical information their readers can use.

  • Homepage:   https://www.backpacker.com/
  • Contributor info:   https://www.backpacker.com/page/guidelines
  • Pay:  From about $150 to $2,000 or more; typical pay starts at 40 cents per word, with article lengths ranging from 400-600 words to 1500-5000 word destination feature articles.
  • Contributor byline:  Yes.
  • Contributor bio:  Yes, on a separate page, no links.

Bee Culture

Bee Culture magazine pays bee writers for freelance writing gigs

Bee Culture magazine and blog write about American beekeeping. Yes, lots of how-to, gear, and pollination articles for sure, but also political issues, marketing, dealing with disease, and pesticides too. Everything a new (or experienced) beekeeper needs to know. Profiles of important figures in beekeeping and how to market your products are both on their wish list for topics. Over one-third (closer to half) of their articles are freelance written (yay for you). Send them a proposal or outline after you’ve read their blog and magazine. You can send completed articles (but they’d really prefer proposals). Read their detailed writer guidelines and then get to it.

  • Homepage: https://www.beeculture.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.beeculture.com/write-us/
  • Pay: $150 to $200 for 1000-2000 word articles (sometimes more for assigned pieces).

Bicycle Retailer

Bicycle Retailer magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing jobs

Bicycle Retailer is a trade publication for businesses that sell bicycles. They put out a printed or digital magazine (along with the website). Keep in mind that they receive lots of press releases and other pitches from non-writers (so make sure your pitch clearly states that you’re a writer). Read through the site, send them a letter of introduction with a few great pitches (especially if you love cycling).

  • Homepage: https://www.bicycleretailer.com/
  • Contributor info: Read their submission guidelines and have a look at the staff directory .
  • Pay: It’s a trade publication, so they won’t publish rates (but they pay well enough to be on this list).

Blackbelt Magazine

Blackbelt magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing gigs

Blackbelt magazine (and its blog) is one of the oldest martial arts publications in the US. We hear they hire freelance writers (but you won’t find much direction in their writer guidelines). If you’re a somewhat obsessed fan or regularly practice any martial arts, check out their website. They cover all of them. Chances are they could use a talented writer that has martial arts experience.

  • Homepage: https://blackbeltmag.com/
  • Contributor info: https://blackbeltmag.com/article-submission
  • Pay: We hear $150 to $330 (for 1000+ word articles).
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a very short one on a separate page with a photo. Links are possible.

Blade Magazine

Blade magazine hires writers for freelance knife writing jobs

Got a knife collection? Then you probably already know about Blade magazine and its website. It’s where knife collectors go to learn more about the world of practical, historic, beautiful, or even rare knives. They’d much prefer you send them a pitch. Read the magazine (and the site) before you pitch them something they’ve already done. Pitch them on new and interesting situations to use different knives (think outdoor adventures or creative solutions to everyday problems), new knife designs, how certain knives are made, or even celebrities and their knives. Are you handy with a camera too? They’ll love you even more if you can get high quality photos for your stories.

  • Homepage: https://blademag.com/
  • Contributor info: https://blademag.com/writers-guidelines
  • Pay: From $150 to $300 (for 500 to 1700 word stories).
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a short one on a separate page with a photo.

Climbing Magazine

Climbing magazine pays freelance writers for sports writing jobs

Good news if you’re a new freelance writer (who also loves climbing up mountains). Climbing magazine and blog work with pro writers and brand-new writers. For feature stories, think climbing area histories, profiles about the people who climb them, and even controversial subjects. Of course, if you’re new, you might want to try the smaller department articles in the magazine. Check out the magazine and blog before you pitch.

  • Homepage: https://www.climbing.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.climbing.com/writer-contribution-guidelines/
  • Pay: We hear 35 cents a word.

Cross Country Magazine

Cross country magazine hires freelance writers for sports writing jobs

Cross Country  magazine is all about flying. You know, like paragliding, hang gliding, paramotoring… you get the idea. If it involves humans in the air with or without motors, consider pitching it to Cross Country. And if you’ve also got some high-resolution photos, they will be even more interested. Read the site and magazine first of course. Then pitch away.

  • Homepage: https://xcmag.com/
  • Contributor info: https://xcmag.com/contribute/
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a short one.

Cruising World

Cruising World pays writers for freelance boat writing jobs

Calling all boating enthusiasts: Cruising World pays writers. You’ll have to read through the site and magazine to get a feel for what their relatively affluent sailing enthusiast readers love reading. Their writer guidelines give advice on the technical side of pitching them (but not so much about topics). If you’re already got your sea legs, time to cash in on your sailing experience and know-how.

  • Homepage: https://www.cruisingworld.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.cruisingworld.com/cruising-world-guidelines-writers-and-photographers/
  • Pay: From $25 to $200 for short pieces and $300 to $1000 for feature-length stories (2000 words max usually).
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences.

Deadspin blog hires sports writers for freelance writing jobs

Wanna write for Deadspin? If you’re already a raving fan of a particular sport, chances are you can write a winning pitch (with some reading and research). Deadspin wants to help you. They’ve written a very practical post about how to write one. They’re giving you the word-for-word play on pitches that won (and then telling you why). Can’t get much better than that. Follow their advice (plus read the blog and do your research) and you’ll up your chances for a yes.

  • Homepage: https://deadspin.com/
  • Contributor info: https://deadspin.com/an-actually-useful-and-not-at-all-tedious-guide-to-pitc-1833272366
  • Pay: We hear at least 11 cents a word.
  • Contributor byline: Yes, with a photo.

DesertUSA hires freelance writers for sports writing jobs

Are you an outdoor sports fanatic? Writing about your hiking, kayaking, rafting, climbing, and even offroading trips in the desert could get you a paid article on the DesertUSA blog. North American deserts only, please. Do some research on the site to make sure your idea hasn’t already been written (they’ve been around since 1997). Remember to include photos and do some research on the geology, local wildlife, and native plants of the area for your article.

  • Homepage:   https://www.desertusa.com/stories/
  • Contributor info:   https://www.desertusa.com/who/du_submissions.html
  • Pay:  $50 for 1200-1500 word articles for adventure stories in the North American deserts.

Dropzone pays freelance writers for skydiving writing jobs

Is skydiving your favorite thing to do on a weekend? Check out Dropzone. This skydiving blog publishes articles on safety, equipment, training, and industry-related topics. Submissions must be in Word or plain text format, without HTML tags. Read the contributors’ guidelines and style guide before you write your draft, and contact the editor to negotiate pay.

  • Homepage: http://www.dropzone.com
  • Contributor info: Read about our writers and read our guidelines .
  • Pay: We hear $50 to $100, for 500 to 750+ words.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, up to 35 words including hyperlinks, with a headshot photo.

Equestrian Living magazine pays writers for freelance equestrian writing jobs

Equestrian Living magazine or the EQ Living website are looking for stories about equestrian society. Want to cover a local equestrian event or profile a well-known person in equestrian society? Pitch this publication. You can also write about travel, home decor, culture, and even relevant (and exceptional) fiction or essays. Have a closer look at the website and magazine before you pitch them your ideas.

  • Homepage: https://eqliving.com/
  • Contributor info: https://eqliving.com/writers-guidelines/
  • Pay: We hear $100 to $300.

Escapees RV Club

The Escapees RV Club blog pays writers for freelance RV writing jobs

The Escapees RV Club blog publishes posts on anything and everything about the RV lifestyle – from the RVs themselves to traveling, to parenting on the go, to transitioning from recreational to full-time RVing. So if you’re got an RV and love going places in it, write it up and send it to them. That’s right, they do NOT accept pitches, only completed articles. They also love stories about life in an RV.

  • Homepage:   https://www.escapees.com/blog-feed/
  • Contributor info:   https://www.escapees.com/images/pdfs/WritersGuidelines.pdf
  • Pay:  $50 to $200.
  • Contributor bio:  Yes.

Fine Gardening

Fine Gardening hires garden writers for freelance writing jobs

If you love gardening, you’ve got options for publications to pitch. Fine Gardening magazine pays freelance writers. They don’t really offer any guidance on what to pitch (so look through the site and magazine). FYI, Taunton, its publisher,, also puts out a few other magazines (so check them out if woodworking, sewing, or homebuilding is your jam).

  • Homepage: https://www.finegardening.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.taunton.com/contact-us/
  • Pay: We hear from $35 to $400.

Golf Course Management

Golf Course Management magazine hires freelance writers for golf course writing jobs

Surprised to see a magazine dedicated to golf course management? Get over it. Every subject under the sun has a blog or magazine. The question is, “Do they pay freelancers?” If it’s on this list, they do. Golf Course Management is a trade publication for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. These guys and girls want to know more about how to manage their golf course better. You can read the digital version of the magazine on the website to get a feel for what they want. Then send them a letter of introduction with your pitch.

  • Homepage: https://www.gcmonline.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.gcmonline.com/editorial-guidelines
  • Pay: It’s a trade publication. Rates aren’t published, but it’s enough to be included on this list.

Gray’s Sporting Journal

Gray's Sporting Journal pays freelance writers for hunting writing gigs

Gray’s Sporting Journal is dedicated to hunting. They’re looking for bird hunting, fly fishing, and even big game hunting stories. You’re not limited to these three topics, but they’re the top three for their readers. Feature stories, tall tales, expeditions, and even poetry are on this publication’s wish list. If you have a talent for photography, they also love photo essays (or just photos to go with articles). Take note: they don’t want queries. Write the article and send it to them for consideration. And be patient. it may take them 6 months to answer (if it’s a yes). They are often working more than 6 months in advance of publication.

  • Homepage: https://www.grayssportingjournal.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.grayssportingjournal.com/submissions/
  • Pay: From $600 to $1250 for articles. $100 for poems. $50 to $300 for photographs.

Gripped Magazine

Gripped magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing gigs

Gripped is a Canadian mountain climbing magazine and blog. They hire freelance writers and climbing enthusiasts. So consider pitching even if you don’t have much writing experience yet (but know boatloads about the subject). Feature stories, profiles of important Canadians, and profiles of enticing spots to climb are always needed. You can pitch them any ideas that will appeal to their Canadian mountain climbing audience too. Read through the website to get a feel for their style (and pay attention to the magazine’s regular columns). They’re always looking for good fits for their columns.

  • Homepage: https://gripped.com/
  • Contributor info: Read their writer guidelines and check out the list of editors.
  • Pay: $150 to $250 (for 500 to 2500 word articles).

Hoofbeats Magazine

Hoofbeats magazine hires horse writers for freelance writing jobs

Hoofbeats is the magazine for the US Trotting Association. This association establishes the rules of harness racing and gives licensing exams for future professionals in the sport. If you have an interest in harness racing, this is the publication to pitch your ideas. Great news: 70% of Hoofbeats ‘ stories are written by freelancers. They’d very much prefer you send a query (instead of a completed article). If you’d like a sample copy of the magazine, just ask (and of course read the website too).

  • Homepage: http://www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com/
  • Contributor info: http://www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com/contact.cfm
  • Pay: From $100 to $500.

Horse and Rider

Horse and Rider pays writers for freelance horse writing jobs

Love riding horses? You may be a perfect fit for Horse & Rider Magazine and blog. Their readers are horse owners who love riding and spending time with their horses. Check out their writer guidelines (so much helpful information about their readers and how to write an article if you’re new to it). Their readers want helpful stories about training, healthcare, trail riding, and more. As always, read the site and magazine to get a feel for their style before you pitch.

  • Homepage: https://horseandrider.com/
  • Contributor info: https://horseandrider.com/page/submission-guidelines
  • Pay: From $25 to $400.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a nice one on a separate page.

Horse Network

Horse Network blog pays freelance writers for horse writing jobs

The Horse Network is a blog for horse lovers. News, interviews, profiles, health articles, lifestyle stories, and opinion pieces are all doable. They’re especially interested in horse health, interviews, and profiles at the moment. Read the blog, do your research, and send your completed article to the editor. They’ll let you know in 30 days if it’s a good fit.

  • Homepage: https://horsenetwork.com/
  • Contributor info: https://horsenetwork.com/contribute/
  • Pay: We hear $50 and up for 500 to 750 words usually (plus bonuses for social shares).

Kitplanes pays freelance writers for kitplane writing jobs

Do you know how to build small airplanes? Well, that is exactly what Kitplane ‘s readers do. And this magazine and blog pay very good money to freelance writers who can write practical articles about flight trials, airplane design, different construction techniques, and of course product reviews. They’re looking for writers with some experience flying or building kit planes (flight reviews and kit reviews are very popular with their readers). Read the website and magazine before you send a pitch.

  • Homepage: https://www.kitplanes.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.kitplanes.com/guidelines-for-writers/
  • Pay: $250 to $1000.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences with a photo.

Knitty blog pays writers for freelance knitting writing jobs.

A digital magazine rather than a blog, Knitty publishes articles batched into 4 issues per year. This site is interested in patterns and tutorial articles for knitting or crocheting. Their writer guidelines are extremely detailed (and will answer all your questions plus a few extras). Check out their submission deadlines. Normally you’ll hear back from them in 2 weeks to 2 months. If you don’t, feel free to send an email and check.

  • Homepage: http://www.knitty.com
  • Contributor info: http://www.knitty.com/subguide.php
  • Pay: From $150 up to $200.

Loaded Landscapes

Loaded Landscapes blog hires writers for freelance photography writing jobs

Got camera gear and love using it? If you’re snapping photos with more than a point and click camera or your phone, you’ve probably got some ideas to pitch the Loaded Landscapes blog. Landscapes, nature, and travel photography are mainly what this blog wants. They also publish blog posts on photo editing (usually for Photoshop and Lightroom). They would love a regular contributor, but you can also pitch them a one-off guest post too. And they’d prefer you send a pitch to see if it’s a good fit. Remember to do some research on the blog before pitching.

  • Homepage: https://loadedlandscapes.com/blog/
  • Contributor info: https://loadedlandscapes.com/write-for-us/
  • Pay: We hear up to $150.
  • Contributor byline: Ask.
  • Contributor bio: Ask.

Men’s Journal

Men's Journal pays freelance writers for sports writing jobs

Why is Men’s Journal listed on a Sports magazine and blog list? This may be a men’s lifestyle magazine and blog, but they publish a lot of outdoor sports, fitness, and regular sports articles. Take a look at their editor list and you’ll notice they’re an active outdoor bunch (or they’ve written for tons of sports magazines or sites). You won’t find any submission guidelines (but we know they hire freelance writers). Read their mag and blog. Then go pitch them.

  • Homepage: https://www.mensjournal.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.mensjournal.com/about-team/
  • Pay: We’ve heard from $150 to $4200 (for a 3000-word story).

Model Railroad Hobbyist

Model Railroad magazine hires writers for freelance model train writing jobs

This online magazine for model railroad lovers welcomes pitches or ready-written submissions from readers. Follow their submission instructions, and include well-lit, high-quality photographs and any other supporting media such as videos or sketches with your draft. They’d prefer you send them a pitch instead of a complete article. Read their extremely detailed writer guidelines for info on everything from how to shoot video and photos for them to how to submit your finished article.

  • Homepage:   http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog
  • Contributor info:   http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/submission-guidelines
  • Pay:  We’ve heard $10 per 350 words, up to $1,000 for long articles (maximum 3,000 words) with lots of supporting media.
  • Contributor bio:  Yes, a generous length of bio text with a photo and a link to your website if it’s relevant.

Outside Online

Outside Online magazine hires writers for freelance sports writing gigs

Do you have a lot to say about the outdoors?  Outside  is an online and print magazine that publishes mostly long-form content (2,000-10,000 words). They are looking for reports, essays, practical how-tos, and reviews about outdoor sports. You can pitch ideas to the following website departments: Features, Travel, Health, Adventure, Culture, and Gear. If you’ve got a talent for photography (and love shooting outdoor sports), you could get paid for it too.

  • Homepage: https://www.outsideonline.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.outsideonline.com/2415584/how-to-pitch-freelance-outside-magazine
  • Pay: Starting at 50 cents per word for online stories.
  • Contributor byline: Yes with a photo.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences on a separate page with a photo and links.

Paddling Magazine

Paddling magazine pays sports writers for freelance writing gigs

Paddling  magazine and blog are the merger of three different publications,  Adventure Kayak ,  Canoeroots , and  Rapid . So that already gives you an idea of what they’re looking for. If you are an avid fan of the paddle (no, not that kind of paddle), you could make some money freelance writing about your favorite sport. Read the magazine and blog first. They’re looking for stories about the people in paddlesports, adventure travel, paddling events, helpful how-tos, and investigative reports.

  • Homepage: https://paddlingmag.com/
  • Contributor info: https://paddlingmag.com/contribute/
  • Pay: We hear 20 cents a word.

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics magazine pays writers for freelance writing jobs

Like building things and figuring out how machines work? You could put your hands-on curiosity to work (and make some money) writing for Popular Mechanics magazine and blog. For over a hundred years they’ve been satisfying your neverending desire to understand how the world works. This pub’s writer guidelines are excellent with tons of details and examples (so read them carefully). And then go read the blog and magazine. Send them pitches only. Normally if it’s a yes, they’ll get back to you in 30 days.

  • Homepage: https://www.popularmechanics.com/
  • Contributor info: Read this incredibly helpful guide on pitching Popular Mechanics and check out their list of editors .
  • Pay: We hear 40 cents a word.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a short one on a separate writer’s page with a photo.

Popular Woodworking

Popular Woodworking magazine hires writers for freelance woodworking writing jobs

Popular Woodworking magazine and blog wants you to have fun building wooden furniture (or really anything interesting made of wood). If you’re a freelance writer who loves making things with wood, you could get a byline in Popular Woodworking. Taking great photos is a major plus too (as in most of the hobby magazines and blogs). Pitch them a DIY project they can’t resist (look through the blog and magazine to get a feel for what gets published).

  • Homepage: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/submission-guidelines/
  • Pay: We hear $50 and up. Feature stories usually pay $1000 to $3000 for 2500+ words with 20 photos.

Rider Magazine

Rider magazine hires freelance writers for motorcycle writing jobs

Got a motorcycle and love riding it everywhere? Send a query to  Rider  magazine and blog to see if they’re interested in your next (or latest) ride. Short day trips and more detailed multi-day rides are both fair game — just remember to take great photos. Anything motorcycle-related is worth pitching too.

  • Homepage: https://ridermagazine.com/
  • Contributor info: https://ridermagazine.com/contact-us/
  • Pay: We hear $200+
  • Contributor byline. Yes.

Roadrunner magazine pays motorcycle writers for freelance writing jobs

Do you love traveling by motorcycle? You might have a great story for Roadrunner magazine and blog. They’re looking for stories about your motorcycle tour in the US and Canada. You could send them a story about your tour somewhere else, but they only allow a few international travel articles per issue. Photos are part of your article package, so make sure to include 30 to 50 high-quality digital photos. And speaking of sending things to Roadrunner , they want your completed article, no pitches.

  • Homepage: https://www.roadrunner.travel/magazine/content/current/
  • Contributor info: https://www.roadrunner.travel/reader-submissions/
  • Pay: $100 for an 800 to 1000 word article with photos.

Runner’s World

Runner's World magazine hires freelance writers for sports writing jobs

Do you enjoy jogging and running? Consider pitching Runner’s World magazine and blog. You’ve got UK and US version to pitch. And more good news: you don’t have to be the perfect running machine to work with these publications. They’re looking for all levels of runners (and even non-running writers). What do they want? Stories that help beginners get started, experienced runners train better, and competitive runners hit new records. You’ll find some great examples and more details in the writer guidelines for both sites.

  • Homepage: https://www.runnersworld.com/
  • Contributor info: Check out how to pitch Runner’s World in the UK or Runner’s World in the US
  • Pay: We hear $1 per word.

Sailing Magazine

Sailing magazine pays writers for freelance sailing writing gigs

Sailing magazine and blog publish stories about learning to sail in your local lakes, crossing oceans in cruisers, and even competitive sailing. And they hire freelance writers (if you have experience sailing your chances of being published go up). Avoid pitching far-flung destinations. Their readers are more interested in sailing (and whether or not they can get to the destination without any extreme difficulties). Read the site and magazine, then go pitch them. And be patient, they may take up to 3 months to accept your pitch or article.

  • Homepage: https://sailingmagazine.net/
  • Contributor info: https://sailingmagazine.net/flex-32-writers-guidelines.html
  • Pay: From $50 to $500 for articles (and $50 to $500 for photos too).

Sky and Telescope

Sky and Telescope magazine hires astronomy writers for freelance writing gigs

Are you a star-gazing amateur astronomer and a freelance writer? Sky and Telescope magazine and website are always on the lookout for new writers with interesting new ideas. Staff and regular writers write about half of the magazine. The other half is written by journalists, researchers, and amateur astronomists too. What topics are they looking for? Current challenges and new discoveries in astronomy, how to get the most out of your equipment, taking great photos, important people and events in astronomy, and news about observatories. Read the magazine and website. Then send them a pitch. You could send a completed story, but they’d prefer a pitch.

  • Homepage: https://skyandtelescope.org/
  • Contributor info: https://skyandtelescope.org/writing-for-sky-telescope/
  • Pay: Their rates are not published, but they pay enough to be on this list.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a short one on a separate page.

Slate blog pays sports writers for freelance writing jobs

Slate hires freelance writers! It’s an enormous general interest site known for writing opinions and analysis. But they also publish a ton of sports articles. Do a site search for yourself and see. If you’ve got a favorite sport, go look at what it’s already done before you pitch them. And especially for Slate: do an internet search about your pitch idea (to make sure it’s not old news somewhere else). Slate wants to publish articles that no one else is writing.

  • Homepage: https://slate.com/
  • Contributor info: https://slate.com/pitch
  • Pay: We hear $300
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a short one on a separate page with links.

Word Play’s Solver Stories in The New York Times

Wordplay Solver Stories in the New York Times hires freelance writers for puzzle writing jobs

Are you a word puzzle lover? Answer the question, “How do my puzzles help connect me to other people?” And you may get published in The New York Times. You’ll have to do it in a personal essay that tells one hell of a story (about a problem in your life and how puzzle-solving helped you). We highly recommend you read the writer guidelines. Not only do they tell you what they want, but they also give you some outstanding advice about pitching (and story writing too).

  • Homepage: https://www.nytimes.com/column/wordplay
  • Contributor info: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/crosswords/solver-stories-submission-guidelines.html
  • Pay: $200 for 800 to 1300 word personal essays.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences with a link.

Sport Fishing Magazine

Sports Fishing magazine hires freelance writers for fishing writing jobs

How much do you love saltwater fishing? If it makes your eyes light up, it’s time to check out Sport Fishing magazine and blog. Their readers are successful, boat-owning fishermen who are always looking to up their game. Think how-to-do-this-cool-new-technique, interesting fishing trip ideas, new gear (and how to use it), and conservation issues. Please only send queries. And read this great set of submission guidelines (with helpful insights about getting published). And you know…read the magazine and blog. Then pitch.

  • Homepage: https://www.sportfishingmag.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.sportfishingmag.com/contributor/editorial-guidelines-and-policies/
  • Pay: From $200 to $300 or more for digital articles. They pay $750 for print features (and more for photos).

The Chronicle of the Horse

The Chronicle of the Horse pays writers for freelance horse writing jobs

The Chronicle of the Horse Magazine and website (as well as their equestrian lifestyle magazine Untacked ) pay freelance writers. They publish stories on topics like dressage, foxhunting, and steeple chasing. And they rely on freelancers regularly. They’re always looking for horse sports news stories, horse care articles, profiles about important figures in horse sports, and other ideas their readers will love. Read through their website and magazine to see if your ideas fit their style.

  • Homepage: https://www.chronofhorse.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.chronofhorse.com/page/writers-guidelines
  • Pay: We hear $150 to $400 (for feature or news stories).

Two plus Two magazine pays poker writers for freelance writing jobs

The Two Plus Two online magazine and website publish articles about poker or gambling. Keep in mind they’re looking for more advanced poker topics (so don’t send them a pitch or finished article for beginner poker players). For example, advanced poker strategy, mathematics and game theory in gambling, or interviews with not-so-well-known people in the poker world are all on their wish list. You can pitch them or send a written piece (we recommend pitching first).

  • Homepage: http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine
  • Contributor info: http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine/contribute.php
  • Pay: $200 for 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Wooden Boat

Wooden boat magazine pays writers for freelance boat writing jobs

How much do you know about wooden boats? Did you know there’s a magazine dedicated to designing, building, and caring for wooden boats. Profiles of past and present personalities, boat building how-tos, photo essays of boating events, or building and restorations, are all good directions for feature stories. Read through the site and magazine. Then send them a proposal or outline (and read the detailed writer guidelines for more tips on getting published).

  • Homepage: https://www.woodenboat.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.woodenboat.com/woodenboat-editorial-guidelines
  • Pay: We hear $250 to $300 per 1000 words for feature articles (and $25 to $350 for photos).
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences with links.

Worthpoint blog hires freelance writers for collectibles writing jobs

The Worthpoint blog is hiring freelance writers. They publish articles and other content about collectibles. If it has value for collectors, chances are it’s on this site (or will be very soon). Get your resume ready and apply to work for them (as a freelancer). Once you’re approved, they’ll give you paid writing assignments. The more assignments you complete, the more you get paid. If antiques and collectibles are a topic you love, check out their website and apply.

  • Homepage: https://www.worthpoint.com/
  • Contributor info: https://www.worthpoint.com/page/careers
  • Pay: $50 to $100 (for 450 to 1200 word articles).

Yoga International

Yoga International hires freelance writers for yoga writing jobs

Yoga International is a membership website helping its readers learn about and practice yoga. And they hire freelance writers to write about health, well-being, and yoga. Do you already practice yoga? Would you love to write about it (and get paid)? Then check out their writer guidelines and their articles to see if this site is a good fit for you. Then get in touch with the site.

  • Homepage: https://yogainternational.com/
  • Contributor info: https://yogainternational.com/article/view/write-or-teach-for-yoga-international
  • Pay: We hear $50 to $200.
  • Contributor bio: Yes, a few sentences and a photo.

This List Needs YOUR Help!

Have you written for one of these blogs? Will you tell us about your experience?

Or do you know of another blog that pays at least $50 per post on sports and leisure topics?

If you’ve got a tip about a blog that pays writers $50+, please send it to [email protected] in exchange for our undying gratitude — thank you for your service.

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write sports articles for money

About Sophie Lizard

Founder of Be a Freelance Blogger, creator of the free Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs and the Freelance Blogger's Client Hunting Masterclass . Hello!

write sports articles for money

December 14, 2022 at 2:41 pm

Hi Suzanne,

Thank you for this very informative article. I learned much about sports writing and how I can earn with this career.

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write sports articles for money

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FREELANCE COMMUNITY

  • Sports Writing & Blogging Jobs: How to Become a Sports Writer

How Much Do Sports Writers Get Paid?

How do you become a sports writer, 27 sports writing jobs you can pitch to right now, 1. cruising world, 2. sport fishing magazine, 3. adventure cyclist, 4. gray’s sporting journal, 5. sailing magazine, 6. worthpoint, 7. the chronicle of the horse, 8. backcountry magazine, 9. deadspin, 10. the sportster, 11. athlon sports, 12. horse network, 13. sbnation, 14. fansided, 15. last word on sports, 16. runner’s world, 17. blackbelt magazine, 18. golf course management, 19. gripped, 20. powder magazine, 21. sports collectors digest, 22. shotgun sports, 23. sports afield, 24. triathlete, 25. ushpa pilot, 26. climbing.

Let’s face it — most freelance writers don’t have what it takes to be a professional athlete. And that’s okay. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t do an excellent job writing about sports, from reporting on the latest sports news to in-depth analysis about the in-game action.

There are tons of great freelance sports writing jobs out there, and they can pay really well in many instances (some of the sports blogging jobs we’ll reveal below pay $1,000 or more per article!).

Sports writing jobs can consist of everything from contributing to a dedicated team blog to interviewing athletes to covering breaking news to statistical analysis and more.

Admittedly, trying to land these gigs can be pretty competitive (who wouldn’t want to get paid to write about sports?!). But there are still plenty of opportunities out there to make money writing about sports.

In the guide below, you’ll learn everything you need to know to start getting sports writing/blogging jobs to further your freelance writing career.

Paid freelance sports writing jobs can pay from as little $25 all the way up to $1,000 or more per article. In general, you’ll get paid a lot more writing feature pieces for print sports publications as opposed to cranking out short news pieces on sports blogging jobs.

That’s not to say you can’t make money writing about sports online. As you’ll see below, there are many digital publications with sports writing gigs that pay well. But in general, print is where the real money is with freelance sports writing.

The good news is there are more sports writing job opportunities available today than at any time before. Go back just a couple of decades, and the only real sports writing jobs were for newspapers or magazines. But that’s changed quite a bit.

Now, sports writers not only have newspapers and magazine opportunities available, but they can also write for different sports blogs, team websites, league websites, social media pages, email newsletters, or even their own blog.

If you want to get into sports writing, there’s no real secret to it. To become a successful freelance sports writer, all of the basics apply — create an online presence (actively build out your social media presence and create a great writing portfolio website ), build out your network, get some samples under your belt (starting your own blog or guest posting on other blogs may be good places to start), and of course, make sure you’re actually knowledgable about sports.

I also highly recommend checking out the Freelance Writers Den , an invaluable resource for freelance writers looking to make more money. You can access over 300 hours of courses and training materials covering just about everything you need to know to make money writing by becoming a Den member .

Learn how to earn more from your writing, ad banner for freelancewritersden.com

Ready to start making some money? There are opportunities in the list below to write about football, baseball, basketball, boating, hunting, fishing, and just about every other sport you can imagine. Check out this list of sports writing and blogging jobs below, study the editorial guidelines, and start pitching!

This popular boating magazine accepts pitches year-round despite their full editorial calendar. Guidelines can vary based on the type of article you’re doing, so make sure you read them fully at the link above. You can send your pitch by email to [email protected] .

Rates: $300-$1,000 for feature articles, $25-$200 for short news articles

This print and digital magazine covers all things related to the sport of saltwater fishing. They’re looking for features that provide info about saltwater fishing that is ” (1) new/fresh/different; (2) specific/in-depth and (3) accurate.” Send an email to [email protected] with your pitch.

Rates:  $750 for print features, $200-$300 for online features

This magazine takes pitches year-round, but they only review them on a quarterly basis and most stories are scheduled 12-18 months out. They’re looking for pitches for both feature stories and “final mile essays”. All materials must be submitted through Submittable at this link .

Rates:  25-50 cents per word

Published 7 times a year, Gray’s is looking for “competent, vividly written prose-fact or fiction-that has high entertainment value for a very sophisticated audience.” Their readers are bird hunters, fly fishers, and big-game hunters, so content around those themes is always a good idea. They warn writers against submitting pieces that are longer than they need to be, saying, “If you need 12,000 words to tell the tale, then do so. But if you can tell the story in 3,000 or even 1,500 words, then be kind to yourself, your readers, and our editors.”

Rates: From $100-$1,250 per article

This publication covers all aspects of sailing, “from learning how to sail in a dinghy to crossing the ocean on a large cruiser to racing around the buoys against the best sailors in the world.” Articles should conform to AP style. Submissions should be drafted in Microsoft Word and emailed as an attachment to [email protected] .

Rates: $50-$500 per article

Love sports collectibles? While this website covers the broader market of antiques and collectibles, you can pitch informative articles and blog posts on sports-specific collectibles and memorabilia. Send an email to [email protected] with your pitch.

Rates:  $50-$100 per article, bonus opportunities available

This national bi-weekly magazine is looking for articles on dressage, hunters and jumpers, eventing, foxhunting, and steeplechase racing. They also accept reporting on sport horse news, feature articles on horse care, and profiles of prominent horse people. Email your pitch to [email protected] .

Rates:  $165-$400 per article

This site is looking for a range of article types with a “strong backcountry hook.” They provide an email template they request all freelancers adhere to when pitching to editor-in-chief Lucy Higgins at [email protected] .

Rates:  35 cents per word

This popular sports site offers detailed guidance on how to pitch them successfully with some real examples from writers they published. Their Managing Editor Chris Baud is on LinkedIn .

Rates:  11-17 cents a word

TheSportster is always looking for freelancers to write about football, basketball, wrestling, and more. The site has sports writing jobs for freelancers who can “produce in-depth premium content with expert knowledge in one or more of TheSportster’s featured categories.” Visit the link above to start pitching.

Rates:  Determined by assignment

Athlon Sports is looking for freelance football writers to join their team. They have sports writing gigs for NFL and college football experts. Fill out the form at the link above to get started.

From athlete profiles to interviews to in-depth analysis of the equestrian sport, Horse Network is a popular site for impassioned horse lovers. Try to land one of their sports blogging jobs by sending your story to [email protected] .

Rates:  $50 & up, bonuses for social shares

The SBNation network of 300+ sports blogs is managed by Vox Media. You can check out their current sports blogging jobs at the link above.

Rates: Determined by assignment

FanSided is a huge network of sports blogs, including team sites for a number of professional and college teams. Their sites are regularly looking for paid contributors.

LWOS is a network of 20+ specialty sports sites from numerous professional leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, UFC, and more) across the world. You can apply at this link .

Love the sport of running? This popular magazine features articles on training, nutrition, injuries, and more.

Rates:  $1 a word

Since 1961, this magazine has been covering all aspects of martial arts and combat sports. Send your pitch to Patrick Sternkopf via email at [email protected] .

Rates:  Currently unspecified, but reportedly has been $300/article in the past

This publication specializes in content that deals with the unique problems faced by golf course superintendents. You can pitch Scott Hollister at [email protected] .

Climbing enthusiasts can send pitches for features, athlete profiles, reviews of climbing areas, and more to query editor Brandon Pullan at [email protected] .

Rates: $150-$250 depending on article type

Since 1972, this publication has been an alternative to “the other, uptight skiing magazines.” They only accept pitches via email, and ask freelancers to allow up to two weeks for a response. Email your pitch to Managing Editor Sierra Shafer at [email protected] .

This monthly magazine is the oldest publication covering all aspects of sports memorabilia and the hobby of collecting. It includes feature articles, news items, and regular columns. Queries can be sent to [email protected] .

If you know about hunting, trapshooting, or skeet shooting, Shotgun Sports wants to hear from you. Email the editor at [email protected] .

Rates:  $50-$200 depending on article type

Sports Afield is the world’s premier hunting adventure magazine dating back to 1887. The magazine is aimed at hunting and shooting enthusiasts. While the magazine has a staff of regular contributors, they also accept feature articles from freelancers. Email your story ideas to editor-in-chief Diana Rupp at [email protected] .

This is the largest American publication covering the sport of triathlon, and they have an editorial focus on ” multi-sport training tips and workouts, nutrition, gear guides, athlete profiles, triathlon-related travel stories, and timely news pieces relating to the sport and lifestyle.” Reach out to their chief editor Kelly O’Mara at  [email protected] to propose a story.

The U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding association publishes a monthly magazine called USHPA Pilot. This publication includes news and information about the sport, and they’re always looking for original flying-related articles from freelancers. Send your story ideas to [email protected] .

Published six times a year, this magazine is always looking for features around the hobby of climbing, lifestyle, and wellness. Take the time to look at all the magazine’s departments before pitching. You can find  editor Matt Samet  on  LinkedIn .

Rates:  $0.35 a word

While you might think of Slate as a politically-focused site, they actually cover a wide range of topics, including some sports. Have a story idea? Pick the right editor from this list .

Rates:  $300 for a 1,000 to 2,000-word op-ed, according to The Web Writer Spotlight

Ready to start getting some great freelance sports writing jobs? Start pitching so you can make more money! And don’t forget to check out our guide to freelancer invoicing so you can get paid for your work!

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How to Start a Sports Blog (and Make Extra Money)

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by  Ron Stefanski

Updated: January 17, 2024

Disclosure: OneHourProfessor is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Everyone deserves to spend their time doing what they love. If you love sports, starting a sports blog can be an enjoyable way to take your love of the game to the next level. There was a very interesting study in the country of Hungry that found that of the total population, 42% of fans followed sports on website or blogs.

With these numbers (which are only expected to continue to grow), it makes sense that so many people are considering starting a great sports blog to carve out their little piece of the pie. 

Unfortunately…

Many aspiring sports bloggers jump in without a proper plan or roadmap. That’s why they often face challenges and obstacles they have no idea how to overcome. And while you may not have blogging experience, a formal education, or connections in the industry to have a successful sports blog, you still need a proper plan to follow when creating a blog by yourself , and I can help.

So, here’s my guide on how to start a sports blog.

Editors Note

This guide is extremely DETAILED and explains everything you need to start a sports blog. I’ve been at this blogging stuff for over 8 years and have built a business making $20,000 per month, so I have a lot of helpful advice for you newbies out there.

If you get stuck or need advice, I HIGHLY recommend that you get my 100% FREE blogging course by clicking here . If that doesn’t help please contact me directly and I’ll help you out for free.

How to Start a Sports Blog in 10 Steps:

If you just need someone to walk you through setting up your blog quickly and easily, check out step 5 .

There are many reasons why you might want to start a sports blog, and these include:

  • Sharing Your Opinion: If you already talk about any sport, starting a sports blog is a great way to share your opinion on teams and recent games with the masses.
  • Making Money: Whether you’re blogging about sports for fun or as a career, it could eventually be a way to make money talking about topics you love.
  • Improving Your Writing Skills: By blogging consistently, you will also be improving your writing skills which could end up helping you in your career.
  • Building Your Resume: Starting a sports blog is a great way to make your resume and could even lead to sports journalism offers.
  • Getting Free Tickets to Events: While sports blogging is already a dream job for many, it can also come with the added perks of getting free tickets to specific events. 
  • Making Industry Connections: Your blog could be the gateway to meeting some of your admired athletes.

Whether you focus on a specific sport, a specific team, or all branches of both major and minor leagues, sports blogging is undoubtedly a great way to let your voice be heard and make money simultaneously. So, here are the steps to follow on your journey to becoming a successful sports blogger.

1. Decide on Your Focus for the Sports Blog

Your first step is to think about the type of sports blog you want to create. Next, you need to decide on a specific focus for your sports blog because ‘sports’ is such an extensive topic that it’s unlikely to do well if you start there.

Merely having sports as the theme of your blog is way too large a subject for you to handle on your own, especially at the beginning. There are just too many sports that you could talk about and too many different elements of each sport to dive into.

It would be impossible for you to be able to focus on every one of them, and your audience would be far too large.

A better way to start your sports blog is to focus on one area you can cover. It’s best to choose an area with previous knowledge and a firm understanding of the players, history, rules, techniques, player transactions, etc. 

Ask yourself questions such as: 

Will my blog be about baseball or football? 

Will it cover major leagues or local college football? 

Do I want to focus on a local team or an entire league?

Here are some ideas for your own sports blogs to help with your brainstorming process:

  • You can focus on a local sports team (college, professional, or high school).
  • Write about the athletes of the teams, including their upbringing and accolades.
  • Write about the latest sport or athlete news.
  • Discuss the fitness routines and dietary programs of top-tier athletes
  • You can blog online about your favorite sports stadiums.
  • Share information about your favorite team(s).
  • Cover an entire major league (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc.)
  • Create articles and reviews of sports clothing and equipment.
  • Write about different sports movies and your thoughts on them. However, this may be better if you want to start a movie blog instead.

Choosing a focus for your blog online is not right or wrong.

However, choosing something you will enjoy writing about consistently for months and years to come is essential.

You should also note that you can always change your focus later, so pick whatever feels right and move on to the next step.

2. Choose Your Sports Niche

You should never try to become the ESPN of sports blogs. Instead, you need to choose a specific topic that you will focus on to become an authority on that topic. 

Choosing a specific niche for your sports blog increases your chances of getting more targeted traffic and making more money from your blog .

So, your blog needs to cater to a targeted audience instead of appealing to a huge mass of people with varied interests. 

Doing this will make your journey to becoming an industry expert easier and more proficient, but having a targeted audience will help you reach out and connect with the right people in your marketing endeavors.

Finding your niche is crucial to helping you build a firm foundation for your sports blog. Below are some of America’s most popular and most-watched sports that generate the highest revenue.

Use these ideas to help you decide on a niche for your sports blog.

1) American Football (NFL)

American Football

This is America’s most popular sport, rated 9th most popular worldwide. It has some of the highest-paid athletes in the sports world and the largest numbers of fans that turn up to watch the sport in stadiums.

If you choose to blog about the NFL, you can be sure that you will never be short of exciting topics to write about or an audience to appreciate your hard work.

2) Baseball (MLB)

Baseball

This is America’s second most popular sport, rated 7th most popular worldwide. Also known as the national pastime, this sport has mainly two levels of competition: minor league and major league baseball (MLB). This is an excellent option for a sports blog niche; if you’re already a baseball fan and can’t get enough- write a baseball blog.

3) Basketball (NBA)

After football and baseball, basketball is America’s third most popular sport. It’s also rated the 10th most popular sport around the world. Basketball has produced some of the greatest and most famous players in history, including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, etc. 

This niche would undoubtedly give you many opportunities to write interesting articles on various topics about the athletes, teams, and the league.

4) Ice Hockey (NHL)

Ice Hockey

Hockey is America’s fourth most popular sport. It’s also very popular in Europe and many other parts of the world.

The NHL in America is the highest level for hockey. Thanks to the advent of artificial ice rinks, the sport continues to grow in popularity as the country’s favorite indoor sport.

5) Soccer/Football

Soccer/Football

Soccer, the fifth most popular sport in America, is one of the most watched and played globally. There has been a marked increase in viewership over the years, and interest in the sport continues to grow, making this another good option for a sports blog.

Tennis

This is the next on our list of the most popular sports in America and worldwide. The game of tennis is equally famous for both men and women.

Like the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, many tennis greats inspire young players and other sports fans in America and throughout the world. You could focus on this niche to take advantage of their spotlight on this sport.

Next on our list is golf, the 7th most popular sport in America and 8th most popular globally. This sport produced Tiger Woods and many other contemporary golf figures that have helped make golf more popular.

As a golf blogger, you could cover golfing tournaments, news, individual players, etc.

8) Wrestling (WWE or NCAA)

Wrestling

Pro-wrestling is the USA’s 8th most popular sport. WWE wrestling is also followed by a large number of people worldwide. There are a lot of popular wrestling superstars and events to blog about if you decide to go this route.

9) Motor Sports

Motorsports, including motorcycle racing and auto-car racing, is the 9th most-watched sport in the U.S. NASCAR is the largest organization in America that organizes motorsports races. This is an excellent niche to consider if you love motorsports as it is second only to football, the most-watched sport in North America.

10) MMA/Boxing

While boxing isn’t as popular as it once was, MMA has increased in popularity and continues to expand its fan base with time. If you created a blog about MMA or boxing, you could cover the fighters, news, newly announced fights, rankings, equipment, etc.

Other Sports:

Anything you can come up with, even different leagues, local sports, or narrow topics or niches that you can focus on.

3. Choose Your Blogging Platform

When choosing your blogging platform, there are many options available to you. Some are free, such as Blogger, Wix, and Squarespace, while others are paid.

Each of these options comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, most bloggers are starting to choose free blogging platforms like Wix.

While this may be alright for someone who wants to get a feel for the blogging experience without investing any money, it’s not a good idea if you ever hope to make an income from your sports blog.

This is because free platforms like the ones mentioned above limit your ability to make money from the sale of products or ad revenue on your own website.

They have many restrictions, and these limitations will stifle what you may eventually want to grow into.

Furthermore, a free blogging platform is hard to customize and looks unprofessional, which makes it hard for people to take you seriously as a blogger. That’s why I recommend using WordPress (dot) org as your blogging platform.

Reasons to Use Self-Hosted WordPress

  • WordPress is free for anyone to download and use.
  • You can choose from thousands of free plugins (helpful tools that extend your website’s basic functionality).
  • WordPress offers affordable themes so you can customize your website without having to learn how to code.
  • You can monetize your blog in a number of different ways.
  • The platform has fantastic customer support for your WordPress blog.

As you can see, self-hosted WordPress is the logical choice if you want to build your sports blog on a firm foundation that will ensure future growth and success. 

It’s popular, easy to use, and does not require a lot of technical skills to get started. Still not convinced?

More Reasons to Choose WordPress

  • WordPress powers 60% of all CMS-built blogs online 
  • WordPress sites receive over 400 million visitors each month
  • The number of websites using WordPress continues to grow every year
  • Over 660 WordPress websites are created every day
  • Over 50,000 plugins in WordPress and a vast community of developers and users. 
  • I use WordPress for my entire portfolio of websites for one simple reason, it’s the best option available.

CMS

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should choose WordPress

There is no doubt that WordPress (dot) org is the best platform for your sports blog. Millions of businesses and individuals all over the world can’t be wrong.

Now that you’ve chosen your niche and know which platform is the best for starting a sports blog, it’s time to move on to the next step: choosing your sports blog’s domain name.

4. Decide on Your Domain Name

This step on how to start a sports blog involves coming up with a perfect name for your new sports blog. Although this is a vital part of the overall process, you don’t need to spend too much time on this. Instead, give yourself an hour or two to complete this section and then move on.

Steps to Choosing a Great Domain Name

1. Buy a .com Domain Name – You want your sports blog to be easily recognizable and memorable, and using a popular top-level domain like .com makes it easy to recall.

2. Stay Broad With Your Domain Name – This gives yourself room for expanding your sports blog down the line. If your name is focused on a too narrow topic, such as ‘ ChicagoBearsFans (dot) com ,’ you may find it hard to consistently produce engaging content on such a super-specific sport niche. 

3. Keep it Short and Sweet – When choosing a name for your sports blog , choose one that is short, sweet, and easy to remember. It should also make your blog stand relevant to your target audience. For instance, you could call your blog 24TennisNews , MySoccer365 , FootballLovers (dot) com , or something like that.

4. Use Alliteration – Alliteration is when you have two words in a row of similar-sounding words or begin with the same letters, like FootballFans (dot) com. This helps make your blog more memorable to your sports fans.

5. Get Creative – If the sports blog name you want is already taken, you can try using synonyms of the word instead. Try to find unique and weird words that mean the same thing, as these are more likely to be still available.

6. Add Extra Words – If you still can’t get the name you want, you can try adding words like HQ, hub, club, and other words o come up with a version of your blog name. 

7. Attach a Concept – When choosing a name for your sports blog, it helps to think of a concept you can add to the name. When you think of different branding ideas for your new blog, it will make it easier to come up with a name.

8. Use Domain Name Generators – If you find yourself stuck, simply use blog name generators like Instant Domain Search and Lean Domain Search to get some inspiration for naming your new sports blog.

9. Don’t Buy An Expensive Domain Name – No matter how good it looks, spending money on an expensive name is never good when a standard domain name works just as well. Later, as your blog grows and becomes profitable, you can buy any domain name you want. 

10. Don’t Spend Too Much Time Here – As previously stated, don’t get stuck here. This should be a reasonably fast decision, and you should not spend more than a couple of hours on this task. You don’t need to figure out the ‘perfect’ domain name. Simply pick a name you’re happy with, move on to the next step and be ready for your first blog post.

Examples of Popular Sports Blog Names

  • Bronx Pinstripes
  • The Athletic
  • Sports Rants
  • Bleacher Report
  • River Ave Blues

Each of the above blogs is a very popular and good example of how to name your blog memorably. Here’s a list of other sports blog name ideas if you need them.

Once you’ve got your sports blog’s name in mind, it’s time to move on to the next step: buying your domain name and hosting account registration. 

5. Buy Your Domain Name and Hosting

Now that you’ve chosen your platform and a name for your blog, the next step in understanding how to start a sports blog is to purchase your domain name and website hosting . Your blog’s domain name refers to the web address online visitors will type to come to your site. 

For instance, ESPN’s domain is ESPN (dot) com. You will also have to get a domain hosting account and your domain. This internet service will ‘host’ your website on its server so it can be found online. 

Here is a walk-through to help you get your domain name and hosting:

Below is a YouTube video and screenshots showing you the exact step-by-step process. Choose whatever tutorial works best for you.

Step 1:  If you haven’t yet, click on this link , and you’ll be brought to the WordPress Hosting page you see below. 

Bluehost

Step 2: You’ll be brought to the hosting plan page next. You could choose to get a “Plus” or “Choice Plus” plan, but that’s not a requirement.

The Startup plan is the cheapest at $2.95/month through my link vs. the normal $8.99/month.

This plan has everything you need including 50GB of web space (plenty of room for your files), a free domain for a year, plus other standard features like a free SSL, and you can install WordPress securely. After installing WordPress feel free to browse to decide on the right plan, but rest assured that Basic will work fine if you want to minimize your investment.

Bluehost plan

Step 3:  After clicking on the plan, you’ll be brought to the next page where you will type in your new domain, or you can just choose “I’ll create my domain later” if you haven’t decided yet. The domain is the URL people will type into a browser to view your website in the future.

set up your domain

Step 4:  Once you submit, the next page will ask for all of your information. That will start with your account information, which is self-explanatory.

account information

Step 5:  Next, you’ll have to input your Package Information. This is to choose how long you want the plan to go. I advise you to choose 24 months to get the discount and save some money, but you can go as low as 12 months.

package information

Step 6: You’ll have to choose what “Package Extras” you want. You can scroll over “More Information” to understand each of these items, but here is my advice.

I would get the “Domain Privacy + Protection.” This makes it so that no one can tie your name to the domain name you create. The only other one worth considering is “Codeguard Basic.” The other two I wouldn’t personally get. But choose what is best for you.

package extras

Step 7: The next step is Payment Information, which is self-explanatory.

payment information

Step 8:  The last signup step is to confirm that you read and understand the Bluehost Terms of Service, Cancellation Policy, and Privacy Notice. Click the check button and then click “Submit.”

Bluehost terms of service

Step 9:  Next, you’ll be prompted to create an account and a WordPress password. You’ll use this information to log in to the Bluehost platform to manage your site and account info.

Bluehost log in

Step 10: At this point, Bluehost puts you through a short questionnaire to better understand your scenario. You can answer all of these questions or click “Skip this Step” at the bottom. If you’re a newbie, I advise you to answer the questions as it’ll help your onboarding experience.

Skip this step

Step 11: After you’re done with that, you’ll be advised to choose a theme. For now, you can choose to use a free theme. Of course, you can always replace the theme later if you’d like.

use free theme

Step 12:  You’ll be brought into the backend of WordPress in the admin panel. This is where you’ll manage your site from. You can add posts/pages as you see fit, but when you’re ready, click on the blue button that says “Launch Your Site.”

launch your site

Step 13 (Final) : Your blog is LIVE. Just go to a browser and type in your domain name. Once you do this, you’ll be able to access your website!

your blog is live

Congrats! You officially have a website.

If you’re wondering how to edit things on the website, all you have to do from here is go to your website URL with /wp-admin at the end in a browser and log in.

Example: http://mostawesomewebsiteever (dot) com/wp-admin

And don’t worry, we cover how to edit things more in the rest of this guide. So please continue reading.

6. Choose and Install a Theme For Your Sports Blog 

After you install WordPress, you can now choose a theme for your sports blog. A theme is the design template that dictates the way your blog looks.

It will help you turn your vision into a reality by allowing you to make decisions regarding your blog’s menu layouts, logo, featured images, and many other design elements. 

There are thousands of WordPress themes for you to choose from, some free and others paid. Choosing an awesome theme is important because visitors to your site will judge your blog within the first couple of seconds based on the design. 

If you want people to stick around, you’ll need to have a blog design that is beautiful, unique, and professional-looking. This is not something you’re likely to get from a free WordPress theme.

NOTE: If you have your own sports team, you may need to create your website with a sports team website builder .

What to Look For in a Good Theme:

  • Mobile Responsiveness
  • Reliable Support
  • Beautiful Designs
  • Customization Features
  • Well-known Brand
  • Positive Reviews and Ratings

Sports Blog Theme Options for WordPress

  • Divi :   If you’re looking to design a stunning website with ease, Divi from Elegant Themes stands out as arguably the best WordPress builder available today. Its intuitive visual drag-and-drop interface empowers users to craft amazing sites quickly. What sets Divi apart is its vast array of customizable modules, real-time design feedback, and a responsive editing feature that ensures your website looks impeccable on any device.
  • Astra :   While Divi is renowned for its versatile design capabilities, the Astra theme offers a distinct set of advantages for those prioritizing speed, performance, and seamless integration. Astra stands out for its feather-light weight, ensuring that websites load at lightning-fast speeds—a critical factor for SEO and user experience. Moreover, Astra’s deep compatibility with major page builders, including Elementor and Beaver Builder, means that users aren’t restricted to a single design environment. The theme is also built with a focus on customization as well. You can read my Astra Theme Review if you want to learn more.
  • Themeforest.net :  Themeforest has a significant amount of themes far beyond other platforms out there.  There are over 48,000 total themes available on this platform, so you can find whatever you need.  
  • TrackStore Sport Shop
  • Goal Post Sports Blog Theme
  • Your Fitness Sports Blog Theme
  • GamePlay Sports Blog Theme
  • SportsTime Blog Theme  

These are really good theme options for a sports blog. They provide all the essential features that every great theme needs, including mobile responsiveness, speed, exceptional support, and beautiful, unique designs that are easily customizable.

These other sports blogs themes also come from well-known brands with longevity in the industry and countless positive ratings from satisfied users.

Search for and choose a theme (not necessarily free themes) you like, and install it in your WordPress dashboard in a few clicks to use it in any blog post (even with your first blog post). You can now proceed to change the fonts, colors, images, and more to customize the look and feel of your new sports blog.

7. Create Essential Pages  & Logo

The next step in understanding how to start a sports blog is to create the essential pages for your blog, install WordPress, and publish your blog so your audience can easily find important information on your website and blog page.

Go to Pages > Add New on your WordPress dashboard to create a new page. Enter the name of your page and its contents, and then click Publish on the WordPress site.

Essential Pages for your Sports Blogging Include:

About Page: This page tells your readers a little about you. Don’t worry about going into too much detail at the beginning. Instead, give them the basics, such as who you are, why you’re starting a sports blog, what you hope to achieve, etc.

Contact Page: This page should have your contact information, such as your address, email, phone number, etc. It should also contain a contact form to make it easy for anyone to get in touch. You can also include your social media information on this page.

Privacy Policy: This page is important in your WordPress site for various reasons, but the most important is that your blog might attract a reader from a jurisdiction with privacy laws. In such a case, your privacy policy ensures that you comply with the laws protecting your readers’ privacy rights.

You can look at how other sports bloggers structured their essential pages to get ideas for your own blog. After adding these basic elements to your blog, it’s time to begin blogging.

Check out my list of privacy policy generators for free and paid options to help.

Create a Logo: In addition, it’s also an excellent time to focus on creating a logo for your sports blog. There are many different ways to do this, but I’m a big fan of using a logo maker .

8. Begin Blogging

Now the fun begins: writing your first post! This is where you will set the tone for your new sports blog and get your readers excited about what’s to come. But where exactly do you begin your content creation efforts? 

What Blog Post to Write About

It’s good to start writing about what you’re most passionate about. Whether it’s specific teams or games, player profiles, or sports history – whatever interests you the most, start with that. The most important factor here is to ensure that your content is more valuable, unique, and engaging than other popular sports blog.

Here are a few blog types to provide you with some inspiration for the kind of content you can create:

  • Create lists of some of your niche’s best-ever players or sportspeople.
  • Conduct interviews with popular players within your sports niches.
  • Write about the latest sports events from around the world.
  • Blog about the sports events that are worth watching.
  • Create behind-the-scenes posts focused on the daily lives of players.
  • Write the story of how your favorite team was founded and how it became successful over the years or even over a decade of ups and down.
  • Focus on game recaps.

Blogging about sports isn’t that different from any other type of blogging. Although the details may be different, the writing techniques are the same, for the most part. Keep the following tips in mind for every blog post that you create:

Tips for Creating Great Blog Posts

  • Craft a catchy and compelling title that will make readers want to click through and read your article. 
  • Do keyword research (not just Google searches) to find relevant keywords and phrases on your chosen niche or topic. Then, use these within your posts, titles, and subheadings. 
  • Always follow best practices for creating content that is engaging and optimized to rank high in Google and other search engines (e.g., use short paragraphs, include eye-catching images, etc.)
  • Drop links to various reputable sports websites in your writing. 

Consistent Writing is Key 

If you ever hope to succeed as a sports blogger, you must keep producing content consistently. No one wants to follow a sports blogger who is inconsistent.

Whether success means monetizing your blog, making a name for yourself in the industry, or being chosen as a sports journalist, the way to the top is to consistently write epic posts that will get your own sports blog noticed.

Produce Relevant Content

Always stick to the niche you’ve chosen, and write about the topics your target audience and new readers will expect on your blog. For instance, if your sports blog is focused on a particular topic like Football, your readers will be confused about getting to your site and finding a post about Muay Thai Boxing.

Create an Editorial Calendar

Plan your first post and make an editorial calendar to ensure you’ll post content regularly. Whether you post once a month or three times a week, the important thing is that you do it consistently on your chosen blogging platforms.

This is particularly true in the beginning when you’ll need to have frequent entries to help you build up your content stores and cultivate an audience.

It would also be a good idea to give thought to at least three months’ worth of content in advance so that you don’t have to scramble to create content when it’s due. 

Publish at least 10 Posts Before Promoting Your Blog

You should write at least ten posts and have them published on your blog before you start promoting. Each entry should be at least 300 words, but longer entries are even better. 

Of course, this will depend on your niche and your particular audience. For example, some readers prefer long, in-depth posts, while short posts are more popular in other niches (like news and sports). Research what works for your niche, and go with that. 

Remember to include lots of high-quality visuals in each post, including images, videos, infographics, stats, etc. 

9. Promoting Your Sports Blog

It’s possible to write awesome posts constantly and never see significant results from your efforts. So, in addition to creating great content, you also need to get that content in front of the eyes of your ideal readers. 

That’s where blog promotion comes in. It’s all about building attention in the most effective ways. So, rather than publishing multiple times a day, a better way is to ensure that each piece of content you create gets the attention it deserves to get a good ROI on your time investment.

Here, we look at the different ways to promote your sports blog. 

1. Tell Your Family and Friends

This is usually the first thing every blogger does after their blog is live. Sharing your sports blog with your family, friends, and everyone else in your network is a great way to get the word out there and get people to visit your new blog. Ask everyone you share it with to share it with their network to give you even more exposure. 

2. Social Media

As long as you keep producing well-optimized content for search engines, you are on the path to success. However, social media will undoubtedly help you get there much faster by allowing you to promote your content to a wider audience than just your blog readers. 

Share each post you create on your social networking profiles and include a link back to your sports blog. Social platforms are also great for interacting with your sports fans and keeping them engaged. 

3. Guest Posting

This is a particularly effective tool to help beginners grow their blog traffic. If you’re new to the industry or have no connections, this can be a great way to get your name out there and leverage other people’s existing audiences to build your own. 

Simply write amazing pieces of content and then ask reputable sports bloggers to publish it on their websites with a link back to your sports blog. 

4. Email Marketing

This type of promotion includes collecting emails from your readers in exchange for something valuable, like a free ebook, audiobook hosted on Audible , or report. You can then send an email to each of your blog subscribers whenever you publish a new post (or when you have other news/promotions to share). Include a link in each email that will send them to your blog. 

5. Online Forums

Online forums are a great way to promote your blog. You must find forums or groups in your specific sports niche and then leave insightful comments, questions, or feedback that others will find helpful. Include a link in your bio or link to your blog posts within discussions. Just make sure to do so in a way that is non-spammy and adds value.

10. Start Making Money

And now, we come to the part you’ve been waiting for. In this section, we’ll look at how you can start making money with your sports blog. 

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you get paid a commission each time a customer buys a product or service you recommended. For example, you can sign up on ticket websites, sports companies, or affiliate networks like Amazon Associates and find sports-related merchandise to recommend. 

Once you do, simply include your affiliate links to those products within the content you create on your blog and social media.

Google Adsense

Displaying Google Ads on your site is one of the most popular means of monetizing a sports blog, and is extremely simple to set up. When readers click on an ad, you’ll be paid a small amount of money. 

Alternatively, you could simply use an Adsense alternative or sell ad space on your blog to businesses within the sporting industry that will pay you whether people click on the ads and create a successful blog.

Selling Merchandise

Find merchandise that your readers will appreciate and sell on your sports blog. Any sports blog has massive potential for making lots of money selling sports-related items with the team’s logo or photos of players on it, like sports equipment, sell an online course , t-shirts, mugs, pens (and, these days, face masks) – basically anything that can be printed on, you can sell on your blog and increase search engine optimization of your blog page.

Sponsored Posts and Product Reviews

This is another great way to profit from your sports blog. It involves writing posts or product reviews for other businesses or websites for a fee. Just ensure that the topics are aligned with your chosen niche, so you don’t alienate your readers. 

Members-Only Content

Create a special ‘members-only’ blog section where your followers can access valuable, exclusive content for a minimal fee. Of course, this works only if you can create content that is not easily found elsewhere on the internet. 

Or, you can curate content from many different sources in your specific niche and make it available in one convenient place. Readers will gladly pay a small price to avoid spending hours searching online for the information they need. 

Refer Visitors to Sports Betting Sites

This is something that can make you a lot of money from your blog traffic . Sports betting referrals work the same way as affiliate marketing and Search Engine Optimization. Each time you refer a visitor to a gambling site, you get rewarded for the actions they take on that site, such as registration, making deposits, and so on.

How to Start a Sports Blog: The Final Word

Now you have within reach everything you need to get started building your very own sports blog. 

If you follow the tips and strategies outlined in this article, you can create and monetize your blog within a relatively short time. Before long, you could be the proud owner of a successful and profitable sports blog. 

Thanks you for a list of nice websites and good blogs. it,s an excellence job.

Glad you enjoyed it Haroon!

a list of nice websites and good blogs

Hi – thank you for this information. Do you know someone who can design a sports blog for me? I would add the content, I just need help building the site because I want to add spreadsheets and algorithms. Thank you!!

No problem! I don’t personally know anyone, but if you use Thrive Themes like I recommend you can pretty much click/drag and do it yourself. I recommend you take my IGNITION course to learn more as it’ll walk you through setup: https://onehourprofessor.com/courses/

But, if you REALLY don’t want to do it, hire someone on Upwork for it.

How can I take interviews of popular sports figures?

You’d have to find a way to contact them directly. You might have better luck reaching out to retired athletes though.

This article was really helpful but can you tell me, can I start live streaming of football matches on my website?

If you have the rights to show them, yes. Or, if you can embed a stream of someone who has the rights, yes. But finding a place for that? I have no idea.

This acritical is very informational and very helpful but one of my Question can we start at the same time live stream on Facebook , Instagram and Website.

Wonderful I must say I like every bit of it

Glad you found it helpful!

I watch your video it is very helpful but I have a question can I start uploading videos on my blog??

Glad it helped you, Eran! Technically yes, you can do that. But your videos will need a player. While your hosting may have a default player for your site, it may be best to upload to YouTube and then embed the videos.

This acritical is very informational and very helpful but one of my Questions is can we start at the same time live stream on Facebook

Yes, I don’t see why not.

You’re talking about adding relevant images, videos etc…but how can we find free images of pro players? (Tennis, hockey are my target sports) Do their management provide some?

I’m really not sure about specific players. I’d say your best bet is to embed Instagram images or Embed Pinterest images.

Wow…so insightful…

Glad it helped!

Thank you for the help buddy.

No problem!

Thank you for this insightful, thoughtful and informative write up. It has opened my eyes and given me the push to start my dream sport blog.

Great! Glad I could help 🙂

Awesome! What a valuable information I got here.

AM IMPRESSED WITH THE PROCEDURE. I BELIEVE ITS WORKABLE.

It is 🙂 Thanks for the kind words.

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How to write sports articles & get paid.

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If you consider yourself a sports fan and also have strong writing ability, you may wish to combine the two by becoming a sports writer. With the maturation of the Internet as a medium, opportunities abound for sports writer. You can carve out a full-fledged career or use sports writing to supplement your primary income. By choosing a career path and following some basic steps, you can turn the written word into a rewarding paycheck.

Newspaper Staff Writer

One path to earning money as a sports writer involves landing a newspaper staff writer job . Newspapers employ one or more sports writers to cover local sports. These reporters cover prep, college and professional athletics by writing game stories, opinion columns and human interest stories. Newspapers look for writers who have experience. A college degree helps too. To prepare yourself for a job as a newspaper sports writer, attend a college or university and work on the school's newspaper staff. Cover as much sports as possible. Additionally, you should seek out internship opportunities. Newspaper internships are available at most newspapers for fall, spring and summer semesters. After graduation, search for jobs using various resources, including JournalismJobs.com, which lists openings across the United States. You must include a cover letter, resume and clips of your work when you submit an application for a newspaper reporter job. Salaries for full-time sportswriters begin at $20,000, and some veteran sports writers earn more than $75,000 per year.

Newspaper Stringer

If you lack the work experience or degree requirements to gain full-time work as a newspaper sports writer, you can take an alternate route. Many newspaper editors, and especially sports editors, farm out stories to freelance writers, who work on contract. Sports editors pay freelancers, sometimes called stringers, per assignment. Most stories require you to cover a prep or college game in the area. Sports editors maintain a short list of responsible, high-quality freelance writers, and these individuals often receive regular assignments. Some freelancers write two or more stories per week. To launch a career as a sports freelance writer, contact sports editors at local newspapers. You can call or send email. Express your interest in writing freelance stories and provide your name and contact information. Also include information about your writing experience, sports knowledge and other qualifications. Attach a digital file, preferably a Microsoft Word document or PDF, with copies of sports articles that you've written. If the sports editor likes what he sees, he will call you or send an email explaining the process. Ordinarily, you must sign paperwork, including an IRS Form W-9 and a contract. Once approved to do freelance work for the newspaper, pitch story ideas to the sports editor. You also must provide the editor with information about your availability. If you do good work, you'll receive additional story opportunities.

Freelance Magazine Work

National and regional sports magazines provide opportunities for anyone to earn money writing sports articles. Publications such as Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine are very selective about the freelance writers and materials they publish, but lesser-known publications, including those focused on a particular sport, provide greater opportunity for freelancers. Send query letters to editors at sports magazines expressing your interest in writing a specific story. Include your name, contact information and samples of your work. In the letter, detail what the story will report, why it's of interest to the publication's readers and why you're the best person to write the story. If an editor likes a story idea, you'll receive a phone call or email with an offer stating pay, length of the article and deadline. You'll need to fill out paperwork and write and submit the story by the deadline. Magazines usually pay within three months of publication.

Website Work

The Internet provides ample opportunity for sports writers to earn money. Some online publications, such as MaxPreps.com and Rivals.com, hire freelancers to provide sports coverage. In addition, some sports news sites accept freelance work. You must solicit online freelance work in the same way you would if you were attempting to write for a magazine. Alternatively, you can create your own website and earn money by hosting ads from Google's AdSense and other Web advertising services. Ads appear on your site, and you earn income based on site traffic and the number of visitors who click on the ads.

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Based in Central Florida, Ron White has worked as professional journalist since 2001. He specializes in sports and business. White started his career as a sportswriter and later worked as associate editor for Maintenance Sales News and as the assistant editor for "The Observer," a daily newspaper based in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. White has written more than 2,000 news and sports stories for newspapers and websites. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Eastern Illinois University.

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10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

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According to a research post by BusinessWire , the global sports market is expected to hit a whopping $501.43 billion this year (2022).

With so millions of sports fans across the globe, numerous sports agencies are positioning themselves to spread the news.

As we speak, numerous sports companies offer writers a wide range of opportunities.

From football to basketball, cricket, Rugby, etc., the sports niche is limitless with numerous opportunities along the value chain.

Thus, sports websites often need the services of skilled writers to keep up the pace of the industry.

Today, this article will take you through a list of the top 10 sports agencies that pay you well to write.

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Key Highlights

 🎯 The global sports market is expected to hit a whopping $501.43 Billion in 2022.

write sports articles for money

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 🎯 Defector pays $500 for short pieces and $1,000 for lengthy essays.

 🎯 Adventure Cycling Association pays between $0.25-$0.50 per word.

 🎯 Research reveals that Athlon pays from $25 depending on the length of an article.

 🎯 You can start your career as a sportswriter on any website mentioned.

 🎯 Writing for ‘Defector’ is the dream of most sportswriters.

SEE ALSO: 8 Travel Blogs That Pay Well To Write

SEE ALSO: 12 Best Health Niche Sites That Pay Well To Write

SEE ALSO: 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

SEE ALSO: 6 Websites That Pay You Money To Watch Videos

1. Defector

Defector - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $500 for short essays , up to $1,000 for more extended essays .

Submission: You can send pitches to [email protected] .

To learn more, visit the guideline page of Defector here .

When it comes to the payment of writers, Defector never fails to provide the most lucrative offers.

Defector is a media company and blog network that focuses entirely on the sports niche.

As a vast website, they receive thousands of pitches.

Thus, writers often must try as much as possible to stick to the outlined rules.

With pay of up to $1,000 per extended sports essay accepted, writing for Defector is the dream of most sportswriters.

Moreover, not many sports agencies pay that much.

If you are new to the system and have never written a piece for Defector before, we advise pitching for shorter pieces first.

2. SimpliFaster

Simplifaster - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $0.06c Per Word (Typically 1,500-2,500 words)

Submission: To see the complete article requirements and guidelines, visit the official writing page of Simplifaster here .

SimpliFaster is one of the top sports websites on the internet today.

Just as the name implies, this website is dedicated to the speed development of athletes.

They cover various topics like coaching, athletic skills, team management, weight training, equipment and technology, and many other issues.

As a skilled writer, you can make lots of cash on SimpliFaster, as they are open to all writers across the globe.

So long as you can provide original sports articles with correct and straightforward structures, you stand a chance of getting accepted on SimpliFaster.

Unlike some sports agencies, SimpliFaster does not pay a fixed price for articles.

Instead, they pay writers $0.06c per word written.

3. Adventure Cycling Association

Adventure Cycling Association - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $0.25-$0.50c Per Word (1,200-3,500 words).

Submission:

You can email your article ideas to [email protected] .

However, it is worthy to note that the submission process for Adventure Cycling Association is done via Submittable.

Find out more here .

Adventure Cycling Association is an online publication that focuses on articles about recreational cycling and other related topics.

In a bid to get riders’ experience, they offer a feature called ‘The Final Mile’.

Via this feature, writers can submit short stories of their experiences while on cycling trips or other related trips.

These final miles typically average 1,200-1,500 words.

For the main features on ACA, stories are expected to be about 2,000-3,500 words long.

As seen in the payment area, Adventure Cycling Association pays between $0.25-$0.50.

The sports agency specifies that first-time writers receive $0.25c while returning writers receive $0.50c.

4. Cross Country Magazine

Cross Country Magazine - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: €300 Per 6-Page Article

Submission: Visit here to make submissions.

Cross Country Magazine is a global magazine that focuses on hang gliding and paragliding.

Just like every other sports magazine on this list, they also accept external writers on their platform.

However, they publish only ten times in a whole year. Thus, the competition is significantly higher.

As specified on the Cross Country Magazine page, articles have to be about 1,500-2,000 words and contain 20-30 well-chosen photos to fit the website’s style.

You must feature at least 30 photos for photo essays to accompany your story.

Although Cross Country Magazine publishes only ten times per year, you have good chances of getting featured if you follow the guidelines correctly.

5. Fansided

Fansided - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $20,500 Per annum (approx.)

Submission: You can send a topic proposal to Fansided via this page .

Fansided is a significant basketball website that provides a massive amount of quality content on the basketball sub-niche.

This sports website is quite different from the others on this list.

Unlike the other sports websites, it is best to work as a full-time writer on Fansided to maximize earnings.

While most writers write on a per article basis, this is often paid according to a shared percentage from the clicks your article receives.

Due to this substandard content payment structure, Fansided has received several negative reviews online.

However, this website pays you well if you become a full-time writer.

You can send them a pitch or apply to become a contributor via the link given in the submission area to start earning.

6. Endgame360

Endgame360 - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $56,668 per annum (approx.)

Submission: You can send your requests to [email protected] or visit the contact us page for more information.

Writing for Endgame360 is quite different, as they mainly accept only writers who intend to work with them on a full-time basis.

This sports agency’s preference is given to college graduates who are residents of specific locations in the United States.

By producing quality sports articles, writers become eligible for lucrative monthly bonuses, which are increased based on performance.

Although Endgame360 pays according to the qualifications and level, most writers bag up to $40,000+ per year from this sports agency.

7. Front Office Sports

Front Office Sports - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $0.17 per word (900-2,000+ words)

Submission: You can make a writing request to Front Office Sports via this page .

Also featured on this list is Front Office Sports.

This agency is a sports and business organization that produces content in both fields.

They accept writers both in the sports and business field as expected.

In the sports section, Front Office Sports covers many topics related to sports brands, leagues, athletes, teams, and more.

As shown in the payment section, writers are paid $0.17c per word.

8. SBNation

SBNation - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: Currently Undisclosed

Submission: Access the ‘contact us’ drop-down menu on the homepage of SBNation, and select ‘I Want To Pitch A Story’.

For a complete view of their requirements, read here .

SBNation is one of the most extensive sports blog networks globally as of 2022.

Even as they have a large team of sportswriters, they often hire the services of external contributors.

Although there are numerous false speculations online, SBNation has not disclosed how much they pay writers.

However, the positive reviews from writers show that the payment rate is quite okay.

Thus, SBNation makes it to our list of sports agencies that pay you to write in 2022.

Athlon - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $25+ Per article (Depending on word length)

To submit a proposal to Athlon Sports Magazine, fill in all the required fields in this form .

The Athlon Media group is a huge NFL and college football agency that produces a wide range of quality content for sports fans.

Although their pay rate is not fully detailed on their page, our research reveals that they pay from $25.

To start as a writer on Athlon, you need to fill out the request form and submit two sample articles written by you.

10. Hand And Paragliding Magazine (USA)

USHPA - 10 Sports Agencies That Pay Well To Write

Pay: $35-$150 (100-2,500 words)

Submission: Read this page for the complete editorial guideline and submission process .

Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazine is an initiative introduced by the USPHA (United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association).

As expected, this magazine shuttles through content in the fields of activities related to free flights and more.

With good research skills and the ability to make well-structured articles, you can make money in this magazine.

As typical of most sports magazines, you must feature well-illustrated images or artworks in your articles to maximize acceptance.

Final Thoughts

Having seen this list, you can confirm that many sports agencies online can pay you well to write.

As an aspiring or experienced sportswriter, you can select any sports website that suits you from our list.

They all have good records for paying sportswriters, and they all have good reviews on the internet.

Thus, you can start your career as a sportswriter on any website mentioned.

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How to Start a Sports Blog (And Make Extra Money)

how to start a sports blog

A re you wondering how to start a sports blog? Keep reading. In this article, we’ll show you how to create a sports blog that will help you earn extra money online. 

Blogging is a popular way to turn your passion into a side hustle or even a full-fledged online business. 

So, if you love sports, creating a sports blog is the perfect way to share your love of the game with the world—and make money doing it!

Plus, starting a blog is easier than you might think. But, if you want your blog to be successful, then you need to set it up correctly. 

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to start a sports blog, step-by-step. 

In This Guide:

1. Choose a Niche

2. pick a name for your sports blog, 3. set up a wordpress blog, 4. design and customize your blog, 5. write your first blog posts, 6. promote your sports blog, 7. monetize your blog, what is a sports blog .

A sports blog is a type of website where you can write about the latest sports news or share your opinions on sports-related topics. 

As a sports blogger, you can describe what happens on the field or court during games. You can also share your thoughts on trades, coaching tactics, draft picks, sports scandals, and much more. 

To get a better understanding, here are some sports blog examples:

fansided sports blog example

FanSided is a family-owned sports blog started by two brothers that wanted to write about their favorite football team, the Kansas City Cheifs. 

Now, FanSided creates editorial content that goes beyond football. It covers everything from basketball to racing to mixed martial arts and even lifestyle topics . 

Bleacher Report

bleacher report sports journalism blog

Bleacher Report is a successful sports journalism blog that covers all of the latest major sports news including rugby, tennis, golf, and much more. 

The Bleacher Report shares game highlights and scores along with expert analysis and opinion pieces.

Raptors Cage

raptors cage sports blog examples

Raptors Cage is a sports blog that writes features, opinions, game coverage, and news all about the Toronto Raptors basketball team. 

Raptors Cage also has a podcast so that fans can listen to the latest news on the go. 

Now that you have a better idea of what a sports blog is, we’ll show you how to make your own. 

How to Start a Sports Blog and Make Money (Step-by-Step)

The first step to starting a sports blog is to choose your niche. A niche is simply the topic you’re going to write about on your blog. 

You can choose to write about various types of sports on your blog like baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey, etc. 

But, following all of the teams, events, and players can be difficult. 

So, you might want to narrow it down to a specific sport when you’re first starting out. You can also narrow it down even further to a certain league, team, or major sporting event. 

By picking a specific niche, you’ll be able to better manage your blog, present yourself as an expert, and attract loyal readers more easily. 

Here’s a quick list of sports blog niches for inspiration:

  • Major League Baseball Blog
  • Minor League Baseball Blog
  • Olympic Games Sports Blog
  • Formula 1 Blog
  • English Premier League Blog
  • Indian Premier League Blog
  • Chicago Bulls Blog
  • New England Patriots Blog
  • Extreme Sports Blog (Motocross, Free Climbing, Base Jumping)
  • Specialized Sports Blog (Archery, Chess, Equestrian Sports)

Think about what you’re most passionate and knowledgeable about to help you decide on a niche. 

Next, you need to pick a good name for your blog. 

The name of your sports blog should fit with the niche you decided on in the first step. For example, if your niche is skateboarding, a name like World of Skateboarding makes more sense than a name like Team Sports News . 

The name that relates to skateboarding will help visitors immediately understand what your blog is about. 

Plus, by using keywords related to skateboarding in your name, it tells search engines what your blog is about. This gives you a better chance of showing up in search results and helps people find your website easier. 

If you need help coming up with a great blog name, you can use a blog name generator like Nameboy . 

nameboy free blog name generator

With this free tool, all you have to do is enter one or two keywords related to your niche and click the Submit button. 

Then, Nameboy will automatically provide you with potential names for your blog. 

nameboy blog name generator results for sports blog

Nameboy will also tell you if your desired name is available through Bluehost so that you know whether or not you can get that domain name for your blog. We’ll explain more about that later…

Need more tips? Check out this guide on how to come up with a blog name .

Once you’ve decided on your niche and a name, it’s time to set up your blog. 

To set up a blog, you need three things:

  • A blogging platform
  • Blog hosting
  • A domain name

This might seem complicated and expensive. But, we’ll go over each part and show you that it’s easy and affordable with the right tools. 

Pick a Blogging Platform

First, you need to choose a blogging platform . 

Many new bloggers think that choosing a free blogging platform is the easiest way to get started. But, there are a lot of downsides. 

With a free platform, you won’t be able to get a professional domain name, you’re limited as far as the customizations you can do to your blog, and you won’t be able to make money from it. 

That’s why we always recommend using WordPress.org for your blogging platform. 

WordPress.org best blogging platform

WordPress.org is the most popular blogging platform in the world, powering more than 43% of all sites across the web. 

With a self-hosted WordPress.org blog, you have complete control. You can customize your blog in any way you want with free WordPress plugins and themes. Plus, you can make money from your blog without limitations. 

WordPress.org is also easy to install and it’s 100% free to use. All you need to pay for is blog hosting and a domain name, which we’ll go over next. 

Be careful not to confuse WordPress.org with WordPress.com. To learn the differences, check out our post on WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org .

Choose a Blog Host

Blog hosting is the service that will store your website on its servers. This is what makes it possible for your blog to be online and get visited by users. 

There are many blog hosting services on the market, but we recommend Bluehost. 

bluehost blog hosting service

Bluehost offers the best and most reliable web hosting service. In fact, it’s officially recommended by WordPress.org. 

Bluehost is also easy to use, thanks to its one-click WordPress installation. This takes all the hassle out of setting up your blog. 

Plus, Bluehost is affordable and Blog Tyrant readers get a special discount of 60% off, which comes with a free domain name , free SSL certificate, and more!

Exclusive offer for BlogTyrant readers

We have partnered up with Bluehost to get 60% off for our readers! You also get to register a FREE domain for a year which normally costs around $14.99 per year.

This Bluehost deal comes with everything you need to start a successful sports blog. 

How to Set up Your Blog with Bluehost

To get started, click on the exclusive Bluehost offer link above. Once you’re on the website, click on the Get Started button, as shown in the screenshot below:

get-started-bluehost

On the next page, you can choose a pricing plan. Pick whatever pricing plan suits your needs and budget. 

Next, you need to choose your domain name. You can either create a new domain name or use an existing domain name that you own. 

bluehost create a domain name

If you haven’t already purchased a domain name previously, type the domain name you decided on in step #2 under the Create a new domain option. Then, click Next to continue. 

In the next step, enter your account information and choose your account plan. The 36-month account plan will give you the best value.

bluehost package information

Then, enter your payment information to complete the purchase. After that, you’ll get an email with your login details. 

When you’re logged into your Bluehost account, go to the My Sites tab. Click Log into WordPress and enter your login credentials. 

bluehost log into wordpress

Next, click on Create Site . 

bluehost create site

This will launch the WordPress installation wizard. Simply follow the steps in the wizard to set up your site. 

If you want step-by-step instructions, check out our guide on how to install WordPress on Bluehost .

Now that your blog is set up, let’s customize it and make it look amazing…

As we mentioned before, you can use WordPress themes and plugins to customize your sports blog. 

We’ll go over both in this section and share some recommendations. 

Choose a WordPress Theme

WordPress themes will handle the design of your blog and give it a professional look in an instant. This is important because if your blog doesn’t look nice, a lot of people won’t even bother reading it. 

There are tons of free and premium WordPress themes to choose from. So, to help you out, we’ll share a few of our favorites. 

Astra (Free)

astra theme for sports blog

Astra is one of the most popular themes of all time. It’s fast and lightweight so it won’t slow down your site. It also comes with a variety of ready-made website templates that you can import in one-click. Then, you can easily customize the template images, text, and other elements to match your brand. 

OceanWP (Free)

oceanwp sports template

OceanWP is another popular WordPress theme with over 5,000,000 downloads. It comes with lots of pre-made WordPress website templates you can use, including templates designed specifically for sports websites. It’s also beginner-friendly and easy to customize. 

SeedProd (Premium)

seedprod theme builder for sports blogs

SeedProd isn’t just a WordPress theme, it’s a complete theme builder. That means that you can create a custom theme for your sports blog that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. 

It’s super easy to use. You can get started with one of the 120+ professionally-designed theme templates. Or, you can start from scratch using the drag and drop theme builder. SeedProd comes with ready-made page blocks, smart sections, and template tags that make designing your blog a breeze. 

Read this tutorial to see just how easy it is to create a custom WordPress theme with SeedProd . 

Check out our list of the best WordPress themes for bloggers for more recommendations.

Installing Essential WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins let you add additional features and functions to your sports blog. 

Just like themes, there are many free and premium WordPress plugins to choose from. 

Here are a few must-have WordPress plugins you need to improve your blog: 

All in One SEO (Free)

aioseo lite

All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is the best SEO plugin on the market. This plugin will help you optimize your entire website for better search rankings in less than 10 minutes. 

It also comes with other powerful features to help you increase your website traffic such as XML sitemaps, local SEO, rich snippets schema , TruSEO on-page analysis, and much more. 

Find out more in our detailed AIOSEO review . 

MonsterInsights (Free)

monsterinsights plugin

MonsterInsights is a popular plugin with over 3,000,000+ downloads. It lets you install Google Analytics on your WordPress blog so that you can easily monitor your website traffic. 

You can also view easy-to-read reports about other important metrics like new vs. returning visitors, your most popular posts and pages, how people found your site, and more. 

WP Super Cache (Free)

wp super cache plugin

WP Super Cache will help you speed up your blog and make it load faster for a better user experience. With this plugin, you no longer have to worry about having a slow blog, which could drive readers away. 

WPForms (Free)

wpforms lite

WPForms is the best drag and drop form builder for WordPress. As a blogger, you should have a contact form on your site so that your audience can easily get in touch with you.  

WPForms comes with ready-made form templates, tons of form fields you can use, entry management, spam protection, and much more. 

If you upgrade to a premium version of WPForms , you can also create surveys and polls for your readers. 

Sucuri (Free)

sucuri security plugin

Sucuri is a popular security plugin that will scan your site regularly to protect it from hackers and malware. It comes with features like file integrity monitoring, remote malware scanning, blocklist monitoring, and more. 

After putting so much work into your blog, you’ll want to be sure it’s protected. 

If you’re new to WordPress, take a look at our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin for step-by-step instructions.

Alright, now it’s time to start writing content. After all, you want the people that visit your blog to have something to read!

If you’re new to blogging, we have multiple guides you can follow to learn how to write amazing blog posts:

  • How to Write a Good Blog Post
  • How to Structure the Perfect Blog Post
  • The Ultimate Blog Post Checklist

And if you’re not sure what to write about, think back to the niche you chose for your sports blog. 

If you chose to create a blog about professional ice hockey (NHL), start watching some games and writing recaps. 

You can also look at other relevant blogs to get some ideas for your own blog. For example, this professional hockey blog called Pro Hockey News has blog posts about the top players of the season, trade rumors, industry news, and more. 

look at competitor blogs for topic ideas

There are also many free blog topic research tools that will help you find blog post ideas that your audience is already interested in and searching for. 

Use these tips to create a list of blog post ideas and then start writing them!

Your blog is now set up and you’ve started writing posts, awesome!

But, how will people discover your content? 

Instead of sitting around and waiting for people to find your blog, you need to promote it so that you can get more traffic and readers. 

Marketing your blog might sound expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Here are some free and affordable ways to promote your blog : 

Post on Social Media

Lots of sports fans are active on social media platforms, especially Twitter, searching for news about their favorite team and talking about the latest game. 

So, you should be there too, sharing your opinion and promoting your posts. 

Here’s how The Athletic UK promotes its latest blog post on Twitter:

promote your sports blog on social media platforms like twitter

Your social media posts should include an eye-catching image to grab attention, a caption that describes what the post is about and why people should read it, and relevant hashtags to make it easier for people to find. 

Take a look at our social media marketing guide for more tips.

You can use a plugin like Smash Balloon to grow your social media following and engagement. Check out our Smash Balloon review to learn more.

Join Sports Forums

Aside from social media platforms, you can also join sports forums to promote your blog. Forums are online discussion boards where fans can ask questions, share their thoughts, and more. 

Depending on the rules of the particular forum, you may be able to add a link to your blog posts when you participate in conversations. 

You can find forums to join by doing a simple Google search. For example, when you search “golf forums,” a ton of active forums will show up in the search results. 

Guest Post on Other Blogs

Guest posting is also a great way to introduce your blog to a whole new audience. 

Guest posting is when you write a blog post on someone else’s website. Typically, the guest post you write will have an author bio in it with information about you and a link to your website.  

Just be sure to guest post on a blog that’s in a similar niche to yours. For example, as a sports blogger, you shouldn’t guest post on a fashion blog because the audience there won’t be interested in your content. 

For more information, check out our guide to guest posting . 

Create an Email Newsletter

Instead of only promoting your blog posts to new people, remember to promote them to your existing readers as well. 

Your existing readers are already fans of your blog so they’re the most likely to read your posts, comment on them, and share them with family and friends. 

So, we recommend creating an email newsletter . With an email newsletter, you can send a direct message to your fans every time you publish a new post. This will help you increase repeat visits to your blog. 

To encourage people to sign up for your email newsletter, you can use a lead generation tool like OptinMonster .

use optinmonster to grow your email list

OptinMonster lets you create beautiful lead capture forms and popups to turn website visitors into subscribers. In the popup example below, users receive a coupon in exchange for their email address. 

optinmonster pop up example

OptinMonster comes with professionally-designed templates, multiple form types, drag and drop functionality, exit-intent technology, powerful campaign triggers, and much more. 

You can find out more in our OptinMonster review . 

Lastly, you might be asking yourself questions like: How do sports bloggers make money? And, are sports blogs profitable? 

Well, simply having a sports blog doesn’t mean you’ll earn money. You need to take the proper steps to monetize your blog if you want to make money online . 

So, how do you do it?

Here are some proven monetization methods you can use: 

Google Adsense

Displaying ads with Google Adsense is one of the easiest ways to monetize a new blog. 

All you need to do is sign up for a free Google Adsense account. Then, Google will display ads on your site that are targeted to your audience and content. The more clicks the ads get, the more money you make. 

Follow this tutorial to learn how to properly add Google Adsense in WordPress . 

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular money-making strategy for bloggers. It involves promoting and/or reviewing a company’s products on your blog. Every time someone clicks on one of your affiliate links and buys the product, you earn a commission. 

As a sports blogger, you’ll want to promote products that are relevant to your readers, like athletic wear or sports equipment, in order to maximize your earning potential. 

To become an affiliate marketer, you can join affiliate networks to connect with a wide range of merchants in one place. Or, you can go to one of your favorite brands and sign up to become an affiliate directly on their site. 

join affiliate programs for sports related products

There’s usually an “Affiliates” page, like the one above from Gainful, linked in the footer area of the website. 

Memberships

Another great way to make money from your blog is by creating memberships. With memberships, users have to pay a subscription fee in order to access your premium content, exclusive products, online courses, or members-only forums.  

In this example, The Chess Website is selling monthly and yearly memberships that give users exclusive chess videos, puzzles, and practice boards:

sports blog selling membership subscriptions

To create a similar membership feature on your own blog, you can use MemberPress . 

MemberPress membership plugin

MemberPress is the best membership plugin for WordPress. It’s used by thousands of website owners who together have sold over $1 billion in memberships . 

MemberPress is beginner-friendly and easy to set up. It has powerful access rules that make it simple to control who sees your content and what content they can see, based on the subscription plan they’ve purchased.  

Other features include customizable coupons, pre-made pricing pages, automated billing, an online course builder, and more. 

If you need help setting up memberships, follow along with this tutorial on how to start a profitable membership site . 

Also, remember that it takes time to earn money from your blog. But, with these strategies and hard work, you’ll soon start to see a profit. 

That’s a wrap! 

Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you learn not only how to start a sports blog, but how to make money from it as well. 

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out our post on 101 blogging tips for beginners . It’s the perfect post to bookmark and refer back to during the early stages of your blogging journey.

And don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter for more helpful blogging tips!

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Good to learn such a valuable information

' src=

I love to write a blog on cricket because I love cricket and I’m a cricket addict. I just wanted to know how to write a blog on sports and now I know how to do it so I’m going to write blogs on cricket from now. Thanks to you

' src=

Hey Hania, that’s great! Glad you found the tutorial helpful!

' src=

Hi Dear, Starting a sports blog can be a thrilling journey, and this comprehensive guide provides valuable insights for beginners. From content creation to monetization, it covers it all. Highly recommended! Thanks for Sharing!

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10 Winning Examples: How to Write a Sports Article in 2024

10 Winning Examples How to Write a Sports Article in 2024

1. Introduction: The Art of Sports Article Writing

1  introduction  the art of sports article writing

Writing a sports article in 2024 requires a unique blend of creativity, knowledge, and strategic thinking. In this article, we will explore 10 winning examples that will help you master the art of sports article writing . Whether you are a seasoned sports writer or just starting out, these examples will provide valuable insights and techniques to enhance your writing skills

1.1 The Importance of Sports Article Writing

Sports article writing plays a crucial role in keeping sports enthusiasts informed and engaged. It allows readers to stay up-to-date with the latest news , analysis, and commentary on their favorite sports. Additionally, sports articles provide a platform for writers to showcase their expertise and share their unique perspectives with a wide audience.

1.2 Understanding the Target Audience

Before diving into the examples, it is essential to understand the target audience for your sports article. Are you writing for die -hard fans, casual followers, or a general audience? Tailoring your writing style and content to the specific needs and interests of your readers will greatly enhance the impact of your article.

2. Example 1: Game Recap

2  example 1  game recap

In this example, we will explore how to write a compelling game recap that captures the excitement and key moments of a sports event. Start by providing a brief overview of the game, including the teams involved, the venue, and the date. Then, highlight the most significant plays, goals, or scores that shaped the outcome of the game. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture for your readers, allowing them to relive the action.

Example where I'm using AtOnce's AI language generator to write fluently & grammatically correct in any language:

AtOnce AI language generator

2.1 Crafting an Engaging Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph of your game recap should grab the reader's attention and set the tone for the rest of the article. Consider starting with a captivating anecdote, a surprising statistic, or a thought-provoking question. This will entice readers to continue reading and create a sense of anticipation for what's to come.

2.2 Providing Context and Analysis

While it is important to capture the excitement of the game, don't forget to provide context and analysis. Explain the significance of certain plays or decisions, and offer insights into the strategies employed by the teams. This will help readers understand the broader implications of the game and deepen their understanding of the sport.

3. Example 2: Player Profile

3  example 2  player profile

A player profile is an excellent way to showcase the skills, achievements, and personality of a specific athlete. Start by introducing the player and providing some background information, such as their age, position, and team. Then, delve into their career highlights, notable performances, and any personal anecdotes that highlight their character and dedication to the sport.

3.1 Highlighting Key Stats and Achievements

When writing a player profile, it is essential to highlight the player's key stats and achievements. This could include their career goals , assists, batting average, or any other relevant statistics. Use these numbers to quantify the player's impact and showcase their talent.

3.2 Including Quotes and Interviews

To add depth and authenticity to your player profile, consider including quotes and interviews from the athlete or their teammates, coaches, or fans. These firsthand accounts provide unique insights into the player's mindset, work ethic, and personality, making the profile more engaging and relatable for readers.

4. Example 3: Opinion Piece

An opinion piece allows you to share your personal views and perspectives on a specific sports-related topic. Whether it's a controversial decision, a hotly debated issue, or a trend in the sports industry , an opinion piece gives you the freedom to express your thoughts and spark meaningful discussions.

4.1 Presenting a Clear Argument

When writing an opinion piece , it is crucial to present a clear and well-supported argument. Start by stating your opinion and providing a brief overview of the topic. Then, back up your argument with relevant facts, statistics, or examples. This will lend credibility to your piece and make it more persuasive.

4.2 Acknowledging Counterarguments

While it is important to present a strong argument, don't forget to acknowledge counterarguments. Addressing opposing viewpoints demonstrates that you have considered different perspectives and adds nuance to your piece. However, be sure to refute these counterarguments with logical reasoning and evidence to strengthen your own argument.

5. Example 4: Feature Story

5  example 4  feature story

A feature story goes beyond the game and delves into the personal lives, struggles, and triumphs of athletes. It provides readers with a deeper understanding of the human side of sports and allows them to connect with the athletes on a more personal level. When writing a feature story , focus on telling a compelling narrative that captivates readers from start to finish.

5.1 Choosing a Compelling Angle

The key to a successful feature story is choosing a compelling angle that resonates with readers. This could be an athlete's journey to overcome adversity, their impact on the community, or their unique training regimen. Find a story that evokes emotion and offers a fresh perspective on the athlete's life.

5.2 Incorporating Descriptive Details

To bring your feature story to life, incorporate descriptive details that engage the reader's senses. Use vivid language to describe the sights, sounds, and emotions surrounding the athlete and their environment. This will transport readers into the story and make them feel like they are experiencing it firsthand.

6. Example 5: News Analysis

A news analysis article provides an in-depth examination of a recent sports event, decision, or development. It goes beyond the basic facts and offers insights, interpretations, and predictions based on expert analysis . When writing a news analysis article, focus on providing valuable context and shedding light on the implications of the news.

6.1 Researching the Background

Before diving into the analysis, it is crucial to research the background of the news event or development. Understand the historical context, relevant statistics, and any previous related incidents. This will provide a solid foundation for your analysis and ensure that your insights are well-informed.

6.2 Offering Expert Opinions

To enhance the credibility of your news analysis article, consider including expert opinions from coaches, players, or industry insiders. These insights add depth and perspective to your analysis and demonstrate that you have consulted multiple sources. Be sure to attribute these opinions properly and provide a balanced view of the topic.

7. Example 6: Trend Report

7  example 6  trend report

A trend report focuses on emerging trends, innovations, or changes in the sports industry. It provides readers with valuable insights into the future direction of the sport and allows them to stay ahead of the curve. When writing a trend report, focus on identifying key trends, explaining their significance, and offering predictions for their impact.

7.1 Identifying Key Trends

Start by identifying the key trends that are shaping the sports industry. This could include technological advancements, changes in player recruitment strategies, or shifts in fan behavior. Conduct thorough research and consult industry experts to ensure that you are capturing the most relevant and impactful trends.

7.2 Explaining the Significance

Once you have identified the key trends, explain their significance and potential impact on the sports industry. Discuss how these trends are reshaping the game, the fan experience, or the business side of sports. Use data, case studies, or examples to support your analysis and make your predictions more compelling.

8. Example 7: Historical Analysis

8  example 7  historical analysis

A historical analysis article explores significant events, milestones, or eras in sports history. It allows readers to gain a deeper appreciation for the sport's rich heritage and understand how it has evolved over time. When writing a historical analysis article, focus on providing accurate information, engaging storytelling, and insightful analysis.

8.1 Researching the Historical Context

Before delving into the analysis, it is crucial to thoroughly research the historical context of the event or era you are exploring. Consult reputable sources, books, documentaries, or interviews with experts to ensure that you have accurate information. This will lend credibility to your analysis and provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

8.2 Analyzing the Impact and Legacy

Once you have established the historical context, analyze the impact and legacy of the event or era. Discuss how it has shaped the sport, influenced future generations of athletes, or changed the way the game is played. Offer insights into the broader cultural, social, or political implications of the event or era to provide a well-rounded analysis.

9. Example 8: Interview Feature

9  example 8  interview feature

An interview feature allows readers to gain exclusive insights into the thoughts, experiences, and perspectives of athletes, coaches, or industry insiders. It provides a platform for these individuals to share their stories and offers readers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world of sports. When writing an interview feature , focus on asking thought-provoking questions and capturing the interviewee's voice.

9.1 Preparing Thought-Provoking Questions

Before conducting the interview, prepare a list of thought-provoking questions that will elicit insightful responses. Avoid generic or cliché questions and instead focus on topics that will provide unique insights into the interviewee's experiences, challenges, or successes. This will make your interview feature more engaging and valuable for readers.

9.2 Capturing the Interviewee's Voice

When transcribing and writing the interview feature, strive to capture the interviewee's voice and personality. Use direct quotes and avoid paraphrasing whenever possible. This will make the feature more authentic and allow readers to connect with the interviewee on a deeper level.

Here's an example where I've used AtOnce's AI paraphrasing tool to rewrite articles without plagiarism:

AtOnce AI paraphrasing tool

10. Example 9: Event Preview

An event preview article builds anticipation and excitement for an upcoming sports event. It provides readers with essential information about the event, such as the teams involved, the venue, and the date. Additionally, it offers insights into the key storylines, players to watch, and potential outcomes. When writing an event preview, focus on creating a sense of anticipation and providing valuable analysis.

10.1 Highlighting Key Storylines

Start by highlighting the key storylines that will shape the upcoming event. This could include rivalries between teams, individual matchups, or recent developments that have a significant impact on the game. Discuss the implications of these storylines and offer predictions for how they might unfold during the event.

10.2 Providing Valuable Analysis

In addition to highlighting key storylines, provide valuable analysis that goes beyond the basic facts. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the teams or players involved, and offer insights into their strategies or playing styles. This will enhance the reader's understanding of the event and make your event preview more informative.

11. Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Sports Article Writing

Writing a sports article in 2024 requires a combination of creativity, knowledge, and strategic thinking. By studying these 10 winning examples, you can enhance your writing skills and captivate your readers. Remember to tailor your writing style and content to the specific needs and interests of your target audience. With practice and dedication, you can become a master of sports article writing and make a lasting impact in the world of sports journalism

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What are the key elements of a sports article?

The key elements of a sports article include a catchy headline, an engaging introduction, a clear and concise body, relevant statistics and quotes, and a strong conclusion.

How do I structure a sports article?

A sports article should follow a typical news article structure, with the most important information at the beginning (who, what, when, where, why), followed by supporting details and analysis in the body, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points.

What are some tips for writing a compelling sports article?

Some tips for writing a compelling sports article include conducting thorough research, using descriptive language to paint a vivid picture, incorporating quotes from players or coaches, focusing on the human interest aspect, and proofreading for grammar and spelling errors.

Asim Akhtar

Asim Akhtar

Asim is the CEO & founder of AtOnce. After 5 years of marketing & customer service experience, he's now using Artificial Intelligence to save people time.

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How to wrote sport stories

Some people think that us sports writers somewhat rely on the same things. It’s all just reviewing sports matches, posing questions about athletes and ranting about what our favourite teams are doing wrong (which as an Everton fan I know all too well). 

However, sport is so much more than that. It’s a huge part of British culture. Any major category of writing can be associated with the sporting world. It’s an economic powerhouse. You could talk about some of the biggest sports fashion faux pas (which believe me, there are a lot of). We’ve got Marcus Rashford making huge waves in the world of politics. We’ve had football songs make it to No.1 music lists around the world, no more recent than 2018 when “3 Lions On A Shirt” was in everyone’s head. As a Head of Sport at Newcastle University’s paper I’m passionate about the world of sport writing. I want to show you how something that you might view as a niche can actually give way to some of the most impactful journalism you’ll ever produce.

What kind of articles can one write for sport?

Debate/Opinion 

These definitely give way to some of the more hard hitting and impactful pieces I’ve had the pleasure of reading over the last 3 years. If you think you’ve got a hugely unpopular opinion you’d like to share, or if you want to stir the pot with a difficult question, these are the ones for you. They’re often more personal, rather biased, and give way for some great persuasive writing. It’s important to back up the majority of your claims with some form of evidence. Stats and figures are always a good way to persuade readers!

When trying to formulate a potential article, I like to think of some of the queries that come to mind when watching sport. For example, when we see the 100th VAR blunder while watching football, we have to question whether it’s killing the sport we all know and love.

And if you’re not keen on sports, these are the best ways to branch out into sports writing. Considering why you don’t like sports and the things that make it so is, in itself, a pretty interesting article topic! Match Reviews These are perhaps one of the greatest ways to develop your skills as a sports journalist. If you’re at University, chances are at some level you have sports teams that play on a regular basis. It’s critical that you gain a great relationship with these clubs, and more often than not, just as you might want to go out to watch them, they’d love to have their games reviewed in a print newspaper. Sure, the quality is hardly that of what you might see on TV, but grass-roots and local sports are some of the grittiest competitions that you’ll get to see with your very own eyes. You can discuss the atmosphere of the game, as well as giving your readers a run down of the events as they come through. Consider some of the stand out moments of the game. And be sure to take lots of photos. Not only is this a great way to expand your CV from journalist to photographer, and I’m sure the team would love to see your fantastic photos, but they’ll also provide your readers with a key insight to the visual aspects of the games. Very important in helping form as clear a review as possible. 

However, if you’re lucky, you may be able to interview some sporting legends… Interviews Interviews are the bread and butter of world sports journalism. Every sports media outlet you see is built on the basis of interviews. Whether this is Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, Gary Lineker over at BT, or the BBC hosting Match Of The Day every single week, interviews are not only guaranteed, but they’re the fabric that holds the show together. So, if you’re given the chance to speak to a sporting star, there are a few key things to consider. Be sure to do your research. The worst thing an interviewee could consider is that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Be sure to stay calm, clear, and truly LISTEN to their response. Perhaps most importantly, think of questions which will spark engaging and reader-friendly answers. Don’t just stick to the game, consider how the future will be impacted by it. Tips for sports writing

  • Read as many articles as you can. This is a great tip for any budding new journalists. The best way to improve your own writing is to see what other people are doing, to learn of their methods and hopefully be inspired in your own work.
  • Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. After a big football game there’s going to be hundreds of articles talking about it, but maybe there’s a certain angle you could discuss which others might not think of. Think of the headline you’d see scrolling through your Twitter feed and think: “I want to read that!”
  • Try not to generalise too much. This might seem like some anti-advice, as obviously the broader you are in your writing the more readers you’re reaching. However, if there are a select few sports that you’re a massive fan of, and want to write content on, then reach for the stars. Sometimes finding your niche can give way to exciting experiences in the world of sports journalism.
  • Talk to other sports journalists/enthusiasts you find online. Whether they’re students, amateurs or industry titans, the community out there is extremely supportive. Make sure to market yourself openly as a fan of certain sports, and be sure to tweet regularly to keep your connections growing, as this will ensure you’re engaging with interesting and up-to-date news to make your stories standout. 

Great student outlets with some stellar sports articles I wouldn’t be doing my job as Head of Sport at The Courier (Newcastle Universities newspaper), if I didn’t give our section a shout-out. You can check us out here: http://www.thecourieronline.co.uk/category/sport/sport-features/ Here are a few other Universities that offer some fantastic and engaging sport related content! Forge Sport: http://forgetoday.com/sport/

The Mancunian : https://mancunion.com/category/sport/

The Gryphon : https://www.thegryphon.co.uk/category/sport/

SCAN: https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/category/sport/

For those of you feeling unsure about sports writing…

First of all, congratulations on deciding that you want to give it a go! If you haven’t before, I hope that this guide has exposed you to how broad the world of sport really is. It isn’t as narrow as just talking about the footy, sport is a world-wide powerhouse and has it’s ties in every major journalism category one could think of. However, if you want to start writing but are unsure if it’s up to scratch, which is a completely understandable feeling that every new writer gets, then my email is completely open. My email is a non-judgmental safe space where I can provide in-depth feedback on how to really hone in on your ability as a writer, and provide some great insights.

Tom Moorcroft

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How to Write a Sports Article

Last Updated: March 5, 2023 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 14 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 107,479 times. Learn more...

For many aspiring journalists and writers, as well as seasoned veterans, sporting events provide a fruitful ground for practicing their craft. Sports are exciting, familiar, popular, unpredictable, and always happening somewhere. Be they for newspapers or websites or blogs, there are several typical forms of sports articles, from straight-up event recaps to feature profiles. Regardless of article type or sport covered, there are several methods, “do's" and “don’t's", and examples that can help someone who is new to sports writing.

Tackling Your Topic and Style

Step 1 Know the type of article you are writing.

  • A “straight lede” (or “lead”) is a basic recap of a sporting event, providing the essentials on who played, who did what, and who won. They can be (but need not be) so formulaic that a computer can write them, [2] X Research source and are most common today for youth-level, high school, and small college events that are not shown or covered on TV/radio/internet.
  • A “feature lede/lead” is more common for larger college and professional events where most of the readership already knows the score, but wants a more in-depth view of what happened and who made the difference in the result.
  • A “profile” focuses on a colorful character or key figure such as a coach, star quarterback, or journeyman backup catcher with a love for practical jokes.
  • A “season preview or wrap-up” either prepares the reader for the season to come or takes them on a tour of the highs and lows of the just-completed season. For instance, a baseball writer might file a preview during spring training and a best/worst summary after the end of the regular season (or playoffs).
  • A “column” is an opinion piece where the sportswriter gets to express his/her opinions on (mostly) sports (mostly) freely. Aspiring sportswriters are likely to have fewer opportunities to write opinion columns than old pros who have proven their mettle over the years.

Step 2 Consult good examples of sports writing.

  • Search websites for classic and modern examples of exceptional sports writing. [3] X Research source

Step 3 Know as much as you can about the sport you are covering.

  • When you’re starting out, if you have the choice, cover the sport you know best. Master writing effectively about it before moving on to less familiar sports.

Step 4 Think about the reader.

Shooting for a Successful Sports Recap Article

Step 1 Go to the game, and make the most of being there.

  • Local sporting events are a good place to start for an aspiring sportswriter. You’ll find passionate fans/parents, eager participants, and a good environment for covering a sporting event from several angles.

Step 2 Talk to people there.

  • Contact coaches to see if they have a player who would make a good story. Watch the subject play the game, and set up a brief interview. Figure out what makes his or her story distinctive.
  • Talk to players and coaches to get quotes about the game. Even asking boilerplate questions like “What contributed to you winning the game?” will give you some material with which to work.
  • Ask permission to record your interviews. Also, try talking to people close to the person, such as parents and friends to create a well rounded view of the person.

Step 3 Sort out the essential details.

  • Leads focus on the 5 “W’s” and “H” (who, what, when, where, why, and how). In a sports context, the score is always a great place to start. For example: “Last night in Falcon park, the air as crisp as winning quarterback Joe Smith’s passes, the Redview Falcons stunned the first-place Washington Coyotes in overtime, 56 to 54.”

Step 5 Flesh out the rest of the essentials.

  • Consider the 4-step approach to a sports recap that begins with the lead, follows with more essential information, then adds a quote for flavor, then pushes out the rest of the details. [6] X Research source
  • News article writing relies on an “inverted pyramid” structure, where the most substantial elements are found at the top of the article, and the information becomes less weighty and important as one approaches the bottom. [7] X Research source Readers always start but don’t always finish an article, so make sure they get your best stuff up front.

Step 6 Keep it concise.

Scoring with Other Kinds of Sports Articles

Step 1 Meet expectations.

  • If you are covering your alma mater in a basketball game or interviewing a pro golfer who happens to be a childhood hero, let your fan-dom be revealed. Sports are about passion, enthusiasm, and often silly biases. Be impartial with the facts but let readers see you as a sports fan as well as sports writer.

Step 3 Transport the reader.

  • For example, draw from interviews to place the reader at the foul line with the game on the line: “As she looked at the basket, trying desperately to block out the crowd behind it and the emptiness in front, Jane Davis could swear she caught a glimpse of her old garage wall holding up the hoop, felt the crumbling driveway beneath her feet, and sensed her Dad at her side.”

Step 4 Be a writer.

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  • ↑ http://journalism.about.com/od/writing/a/sportsstories.htm
  • ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/bury-the-lede-versus-lead
  • ↑ https://ngscsports.com/2022/10/30/three-excellent-examples-of-sports-writing/
  • ↑ https://www.viasport.ca/communications-toolkit/module-4-how-write-engaging-sports-article
  • ↑ https://www.esu.edu/writing-studio/guides/hook.cfm
  • ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nra6ez9HZEk
  • ↑ https://www.nngroup.com/articles/inverted-pyramid/

About This Article

To write a sports article, start by writing a short, catchy lead, or opening sentence, that mentions the final score and introduces key information that will compel the reader to go deeper into the article. Next, cover essential information like team names, the location of the game, the standout players, and a few other highlights. Then, sprinkle in a couple of quotes from the coaches or players and finish up by covering some of the important plays and any other interesting details. For tips on taking good notes at the game, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Football writing jobs

Write Football Articles for Money in 2023 (+ Video)

Football content writers may find it challenging to find a football website or blog that pays writers. Truly, the challenge is real because most football websites do not pay. The truth is that there are a few Football Blogs looking for writers, and you can get football writing jobs. On these blogs, you can write Football articles for money.

In this article, you’ll see websites where you can write football articles for money.

To emphasize again, getting football writing jobs might be a challenge. It is usually better to write football content for free if you have little experience.

Why? This will help you build your reputation and garner experience.

You can also build your portfolio when applying for football writing jobs.

Related Article: How To Start A Soccer Jersey Business & Make Money

So, if you want to build your reputation in writing football content to make money, it may be smart to visit our write for us page to learn how.

You should consider writing football content because it is one of the ways to make money from football without betting .

Without wasting time, let’s dive into the real deal – where to write football articles for money or get football writing jobs.

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Related Article: How to Make Money from Football without Betting

Nine ( 9)Websites Where you can Write Football Articles for Money

There are so many football websites out there but only very few pay writers (e.g. Goal.com, BBC, Squawka, etc.)

The very few that pay writers hire experienced writers who have awe-inspiring portfolios.

That is why it is vital to start writing for free to build your portfolio and prepare yourself for the real paying gig.

However, we will focus on other smaller websites that can pay you for this content. Why? They are relatively easier to join, unlike the big ones cited above.

Read Also: 5 Ways To Make Money Playing Football Video Games

So a few Football Blogs looking for writers are:

1. Soccernews

SoccerNews is a football website that focuses primarily on the English Premier League.

However, writers also focus on Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, and Major League Soccer.

Nevertheless, they are also very flexible. They accept writing about other leagues that interest you. But you need to inform them ahead.

On soccer news, you can write a football article for money.

The positions for paid writers are minimal. So make sure that if you apply for this position, you need to have real experience when it comes to writing for football content.

Contact Soccer News

If you want to apply as a writer at Soccernews, visit them here .

Read Also: How to Make Money From Football Local Tournaments

2. TouchlineViews

Touchline View s pay a few writers who are their contributors. This means that you need to write for free before you can get a chance to write football articles for money.

Note that these positions are minimal.

Thus, if you are applying for the paid writer position, you’ll need to show them your prior experience writing for other soccer/football blogs.

Contact Touchline Views

So if you are interested in writing for Touchline Views, visit th is page .

Read Also: Best Football Defenders of All time .

3. Sportkeeda

SportKeeda is a sports blog based in India and constantly looking for writers ready to write Football content for money. They actually have a section for just football.

Their payment policy is transparent, so what you see is what you get.

As a contributor, you can make as much as $500-$1000, and there is no limit to how much you can earn.

Writers have access to their unique dashboard to view their earnings and how it is calculated daily.

However, making a living by writing for Sportkeeda would be tough because you need tons of views to make money.

Read Also: Messi vs Ronaldo: A Classic H2H Battle

Contact SportKeeda

Visit this page to get started as a Football content Writer on Sportkeeda. It is effortless to set up.

Read Also: How to Be A Professional Footballer

4. Readfootball

This website forms part of the  Read Everything  network, where you can write football articles for money. Within their network of websites, they have one site for each Premier League team and many more.

They do not pay writers per article; however, they pay a few writers who have the best content at the end of each month a token.

Contact ReadFootball

To join their team of writers, visit their write for us page , compose and submit for a review right on the page.

Read Also: How to Be A Football Scout – The Step-by-step Guide

5. Football Fan Cast

Football Fa n Cast considers all types of football content, from thought-provoking opinion pieces to player profiles, to tactical analysis and beyond.

So, if you’re a football fan looking for a platform with a global audience, you should consider Football Fan Cast.

They have a habit of hiring their contributors and giving them prizes at the end of each month.

Contact Football Fancast

To better understand the content they create and submit, you need to visit this page .

Related Article: How to Predict a Football Match Correctly

6. Eye Football

Eyefootball.com is a football news site that reports the latest football transfer news from the Premier League and other top European divisions.

Since mid-2007, their news and transfer section offers an extensive selection of expertly researched football transfer stories.

They regularly hire paid football writers, contributors and interns.

Contact EyeFootball

To get started as a writer, contact them here

Other Websites

If you really want to earn money by writing football content, it may be a smart approach to look beyond the above-mentioned websites.

Why? Many Football Blogs looking for writers hire writers on other freelance platforms, as highlighted below:

Read Also: How to Apply For Football Scholarship Online

7. Freelancer.com

As the name implies, Freelancer.com is a website dedicated to freelancers looking for opportunities.

You can get football writing jobs on the platform and earn money.

8. Upwork.com

Just like Freelancer.com, Upwork is another top website for Freelancers generally. But Upwork is a bit bigger.

Football Content writers are always needed on the platform, and that’s a plus for you.

Feel free to check them out because there are many Football Blogs looking for writers on the platform.

9. Fiverr.com

Fiverr is very similar to Upwork. All you need to do is signup as a seller and set up your writing gig, stating your services and rates.

Football content writing is one of the most ordered gigs on Fiverr.

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Sports Museum is accepting entries for the 2024 Will McDonough Writing Contest

Will McDonough's photo hangs in the sports department at the Globe's downtown Boston office.

The Sports Museum at TD Garden is accepting entries from students in Grades 4 to 12 for the 2024 Will McDonough Writing Contest, an annual event held in honor of the late Boston Globe sportswriter.

This is the 20th year of the contest. More than 1,000 students participated last year.

Students may choose to submit a fiction or nonfiction essay about a sports topic of their choice, or write using one of the following prompts: great moments in sports, game changers, sports rivals, or looking back on the past 20 years of sports coverage and how it has changed.

Entry deadline is March 6. Winners will be announced March 18.

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The Sports Museum and Boston Globe sports reporters and editors judge the contest.

Winning essays will be featured in the Will McDonough Exhibit in The Sports Museum. First-place winners will receive a Kindle and be invited to participate in an award ceremony with Boston Globe writers and editors, members of the McDonough family, and other special guests.

Online entry forms can be found on the contest’s web page , or printed entries can be mailed to Caroline Flynn at The Sports Museum at 100 Legends Way Boston 02114. Full guidelines for the contest are also available on The Sports Museum’s website .

McDonough was a sportswriter at the Globe for 41 years, covering everything from high schools to Boston’s pro teams, before retiring in 2001. He died in 2003 at age 67.

Matt Pepin can be reached at [email protected] .

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Seven surprise NFL trade candidates for the 2024 offseason, plus ranking best receivers in free agency

Here's everything you need to know about the nfl for feb. 22.

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Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Pick Six newsletter!

It's a good thing I was off yesterday, because it took me 24 straight hours to go through Pete Prisco's ranking of the top 100 free agents. We had the full list in yesterday's newsletter , and today, we'll be breaking down the ranking on a live episode of the "Pick Six NFL Podcast" that will be coming to you at 2 p.m. ET (You can watch here ). 

If you don't feel like watching the show, I won't hold it against you, but I will hold it against you if you don't read the rest of today's newsletter. We're going to look at seven possible trade candidates, plus we're going to figure out which quarterbacks will likely be getting a huge contract extension this offseason. 

Here's your daily reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. To get them signed up, all you have to do is click here . 

1. Today's show: Two former NFL players break down the latest NFL news

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For today's episode of the Pick Six podcast, we did what we do every Thursday: We brought on two former NFL players to break down all of the latest NFL news. 

Those two players were Brady Quinn and Leger Douzable and they were joined by Will Brinson, who was back in the host's chair this week. For today's episode, the three of them decided to rank every coaching staff in the NFL. 

The twist here is that they ranked each coaching staff by division. Here's how Quinn ranked the coaches in the AFC North: 

1. John Harbaugh ( Ravens ) 2. Mike Tomlin ( Steelers ) 3. Kevin Stefanski ( Browns ) 4. Zac Taylor ( Bengals )

"I'd say it's 1A and 1B," Quinn said of trying to decide between Harbaugh and Tomlin. "They're both going to make the Hall of Fame."

Quinn ended up giving Harbaugh the nod over Tomlin because of how the Steelers coach handled the 2023 season. "I think he wasted last year because he hung on to Matt Canada. We all knew that was their big issue and he waited so long [to fire him]."

As for the rest of the list, putting Taylor at the bottom is definitely a BOLD move by Brady. Since being hired in 2019, the Bengals coach has more playoff wins (5) than every other coach in the division COMBINED (3). However, in Brady's defense, Taylor has struggled against the AFC North coaches, going 10-20 in the division over his five seasons in Cincinnati. 

If you want to hear Quinn explain why he has Taylor at the bottom or if you want to hear their rankings for the seven other divisions, then be sure to click here so you can listen to today's episode . If you prefer your podcasts in video form, you can watch today's episode on YouTube by clicking here . 

2. Seven big names who could draw trade interest this offseason

This is the time of year when trade rumors usually start to spread around the NFL, and sometimes those rumors turn into reality. With that in mind, Cody Benjamin decided to try and spark some rumors of his own by taking a look at seven players who could draw some serious trade interest this offseason. 

Let's take a look at four of the players on Cody's list: 

  • QB Geno Smith ( Seahawks ). "The Seahawks have already guaranteed $12.7 million (or 40%) of Smith's base salary for 2024, but that hardly means he's locked into place. The team is starting fresh with a new coach, sniffed around top QB draft prospects a year ago and can still save an immediate $13.8 million by dealing him prior to June 1."
  • RB Alvin Kamara ( Saints ). "Despite a few down years in rushing efficiency, the former Pro Bowler remains an all-purpose weapon, which should also make him appealing to new coordinator Klint Kubiak, who enjoyed Christian McCaffrey's versatility in San Francisco. But the Saints are also dead-last in 2024 cap space, can save $1.5 million by dealing Kamara, who's owed a whopping $29 million in 2025."
  • WR Davante Adams ( Raiders ). "The Raiders will never say they're shopping Adams, who just two years ago inked a five-year, $140 million deal to headline their offense. But with a new coach and general manager, plus a respectable Jakobi Meyers under contract out wide, there might not be a better time to sell."
  • WR Stefon Diggs ( Bills ). "Fellow wideout Gabe Davis is an impending free agent, so obviously Buffalo would need a serious plan to restock the position if it dealt the 30-year-old Diggs, but a trade would save an instant $9.7 million, helping get the club back under the 2024 cap."

To check out Cody's full list, be sure to check here . And remember, although teams aren't officially allowed to make any trades until March 13, they can agree to terms on a deal before that. For instance, back in 2021, the Rams and Lions agreed to the Matthew Stafford trade on Jan. 31 , but the deal wasn't allowed to go through until the new league year started in March. 

3. Show me the money: Quarterbacks who could get paid in 2024 

Less than six months ago, the Bengals made Joe Burrow the highest-paid player in NFL history when they gave him a five-year, $275 million contract extension . According to former NFL agent Joel Corry, there's a good chance we could see Burrow's reign as the highest-paid player come to an end this offseason. 

Corry made a list of all the quarterbacks who could be in line to land a huge contract this offseason and he has one of them topping Burrow. 

Let's check out the top three names on his list: 

  • Dak Prescott . "The Cowboys really aren't in a position to handle Prescott's $59.455 million cap hit.... The 2023 NFL MVP runner-up is scheduled to make $34 million in 2024 consisting of an unsecured $29 million base salary and a $5 million fifth day of the league year roster bonus due on March 17. A contract extension before the roster bonus vests is Dallas' most viable option to significantly lower Prescott's 2024 cap number. ... It wouldn't be surprising for Prescott's camp to use Burrow's average over his first three new years to justify $60 million per year. Overall, the top of the quarterback market increased in 2023 by 9.41% from 2022. A $60 million-per-year extension would be a 9.09% increase over Burrow's deal."
  • Jared Goff . "Goff's 2023 season was statistically comparable to his 2018 campaign that led to the Rams making him the league's third-highest-paid player ... Goff's camp may feel that putting him in the same place in the NFL salary hierarchy as his first extension is warranted. Lamar Jackson is the league's third-highest-paid player. He agreed to a five-year, $260 million deal, averaging $52 million per year."
  • Jordan Love . "The expectation is the Packers and Love's camp will start working on a contract extension after the 2024 Draft in late April. It wouldn't be a surprise for Love to target more than the $50,271,667 per year ($150.815 million over three years) Rodgers got in 2022 in his final deal with the Packers."

Corry took a look at several potential contracts that could be handed out to quarterbacks this offseason and you can see his full projections here . If you click over, you'll see projections for a list of players that includes Tua Tagovailoa , Baker Mayfield , Kirk Cousins and Trevor Lawrence . 

4. Ranking the top receivers available in free agency and their best fits

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We've already gone over the top available quarterbacks and running backs in free agency, so today we're going to move on to wide receivers. This year's free agent class isn't exactly stacked, but there are some big games, so Garrett Podell decided to take a look at those names and take a stab at where they might end up. 

Here's a look at the top five receivers on his list: 

1. Tee Higgins (Bengals) Best fits:  Bengals, Patriots , Titans

2. Mike Evans ( Buccaneers ) Best fits:  Buccaneers, Panthers , Chiefs

3. Michael Pittman ( Colts ) Best fits:  Colts, Texans , Buccaneers

4. Calvin Ridley ( Jaguars ) Best fits:  Jaguars, Lions, Titans 

5. Marquise Brown ( Cardinals ) Best fits:  Cardinals, Panthers, Bears

If you want to check out Garrett's full top 10 list of free agent receivers, then be sure to click here . 

5. Free agency needs for every NFC team

Over the next two months, every NFL team is going to be looking to fill multiple needs in free agency and the draft. Since it's hard to keep track of every need that every team has, we decided we're going to do it for you, and we're starting that today by going over the needs for every NFC team. 

COWBOYS Team needs:  C, RB, CB, DT, OG Cap space:  -$19,740,700 (Yes, that's a negative sign) Outlook:  "The looming Dak Prescott decision awaits in Dallas. Prescott carries a $59.46 million cap hit next season, so he has the Cowboys in a bind. An extension of up to $60 million a year could be in play, but Dallas could save $26.2 million in cap space with an extension. There's also the pending free agent decisions of Tony Pollard , Jayron Kearse and Stephon Gilmore . Can the Cowboys keep any of them? This critical offseason starts with Prescott."

RAMS Team needs:  OT, RB, CB, S, EDGE Cap space:  $27,699,574 Outlook:  "The Rams will need to find a tight end with Tyler Higbee's knee injury and add some more depth at tackle. They also have to decide if Carson Wentz is good enough to be the No. 2 quarterback to Matthew Stafford another season and find a No. 2 running back to Kyren Williams . Good signings to add depth at certain positions could transform the Rams from good to great."

PACKERS Team needs:  S, OG, C, EDGE, RB, QB Cap space:  $2,857,641 Outlook:  "The Packers were the youngest team since the 1970 merger to win a playoff game, so where do they go from here? Green Bay appears set at the skill positions, even though the Packers will likely lose A.J. Dillon in free agency... Green Bay will have to address a defense that was 20th in yards per play (5.4) and 25th in third-down situations (41.1%). The safety position could use a revamp with Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage hitting the open market, with a top-heavy free agent class."

EAGLES Team needs:  RB, EDGE, LB, CB, TE, S Cap space:  $19,923,513 Outlook:  "The Eagles will have to make decisions on James Bradberry and Kevin Byard , part of a pass defense that allowed 35 pass touchdowns (31st in NFL) and a 97.6 rating to opposing quarterbacks (29th in NFL). The secondary and linebacker position will be revamped. Of course the Haason Reddick situation will have to be handled, and the Eagles have to add more depth on the edge regardless. Then there's the looming Jason Kelce decision at center. D'Andre Swift may not be back either as the Eagles don't give multiyear contracts to running backs. The Eagles will be changing aplenty this offseason, but they also will be very active."

Actually, we're only going to cover the needs for the four teams above. If you want to see the needs for EVERY NFC team, you'll have to check out Jeff Kerr's full story here . 

6. Extra points: Bijan Robinson wants to rush for 2,000 yards

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It's been a busy 24 hours in the NFL, and since it's nearly impossible to keep track of everything that happened, I went ahead and put together a roundup for you. 

  • Falcons running back sets lofty goal for 2024. After rushing for 976 yards as a rookie, Bijan Robinson wants to more than double that total for 2024. The Falcons running back told SI.com that he wants to hit 2,000 yards this year. "I want 2,000 yards rushing," Robinson said. "I know those are big expectations, what we can do as an offense, with all the weapons, our O-line, with [new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson ] being at the helm, it can be something special." You can read more about Bijan's comments here . 
  • Justin Fields explains why he unfollowed Bears on Instagram.  During an interview with "The 33rd Team,"  Fields finally explained why unfollowed the Bears on Instagram . "I'm just trying to take a little break [from football content]. I unfollowed the Bears and the NFL," Fields said. "I'm just trying to not have football on my timeline. ... Just because you don't follow the girl on IG, don't mean you not messing with her." I have read that quote seven times and it clears up nothing. 
  • Caleb Williams has not hired an agent . The USC QB, who is currently projected to be the top pick in the NFL Draft this year, has not yet hired an agent . This is definitely unorthodox, but not completely unheard of. Lamar Jackson is the only prominent QB who doesn't have an agent, so Williams could be going that route. Of course, it's also possible that he ends up hiring an agent before the draft, which is still more than two months away. 
  • Two former NFL head coaches to coach in UFL .  The UFL is the new spring league that was created after the XFL and USFL merged, and the new league announced the full coaching staffs this week for each of the eight teams. Former 49ers coach Mike Nolan will coach the Michigan Panthers while Wade Phillips will coach the San Antonio Brahmas. 
  • Travis Kelce lands in Australia. Taylor Swift showed up at multiple Chiefs games this season, and now, Travis Kelce is returning the favor. The Chiefs tight end is in Australia with Swift where he's expected to attend several concerts this week. Swift has four shows that run from Feb. 23-26.  

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Jessica Grose

Why so many kids are priced out of youth sports.

An illustration of youth soccer player pulling apart the panels on a soccer ball as bills and coins fall out of it.

By Jessica Grose

Opinion Writer

Ever since my 2022 interview with Linda Flanagan, the author of “Take Back the Game,” about how money is ruining youth sports , lots of parents have come to me with their complaints on the topic. I hear most frequently from readers and friends about the expense and time-suck of travel sports. I can’t open a social media app without seeing posts joking that you might need a mortgage broker to pay for a tech suit for swim meets, or about how “having kids involved in sports is fun, if you like coming home & eating dinner at 10 p.m.”

The typical grouse goes something like this: My kid loves soccer, and I want her to have an opportunity to play through high school. For that to happen, I have to start her in travel soccer in third grade, because all the other kids trying out for the high school team will have started travel soccer in third grade. But travel soccer costs thousands of dollars a year, my child is exhausted and traveling to games almost every weekend is putting strain on my other kids. Don’t even get me started about schlepping to practices all week long.

The parents who voice this lament tend to acknowledge that they’re lucky to be able to barely afford youth sports in the first place: According to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, in fall 2022, the average amount spent on a single child’s primary sport per season was $833. For families with household incomes at or above $150,000 a year, the average is $2,068. No wonder that around half of those who’ve played or have children who’ve played youth sports say they’ve struggled to pay for it, according to a 2023 Project Play report . That doesn’t even address the difficulty parents have getting their kids to practices, particularly in families where all the adults work outside the home.

I thought that the Covid era might have forced a reset in which parents realized that the expense and effort was untenable, and lobbied for change. But the dynamics that Flanagan outlined seem to have become even more entrenched. When I called her back to get her take on the past couple of years, she told me she senses that the intensity around youth sports is even greater now because “parents feel like they’ve fallen behind during the pandemic and now they have to catch up.”

To recap my 2022 discussion with Flanagan, since the 1970s, we’ve cut funding for parks and recreation departments, with a notable drop during the Great Recession. With the potential for billions of dollars to be made, the youth sports industrial complex became more expensive and demanding. As private travel leagues with high fees and top-caliber coaches have skimmed off the best players, it’s become a vicious cycle, with underfunded local rec leagues struggling to compete.

In defense of the parents sacrificing so much for those travel leagues, they are making a rational decision in an absurd market, one that’s particularly acute in larger suburbs.

“This is absolutely, positively 100 percent a suburban thing,” said Rick Eckstein, a professor of sociology at Villanova University and the author of “How College Athletics Are Hurting Girls’ Sports: The Pay-to-Play Pipeline.” “Rural areas, like urban areas, there aren’t these kinds of opportunities. So those folks are also left out of the mix.”

The difference between the haves and have-nots when it comes to youth sports are bracing: 34.1 percent of kids from the poorest families were on sports teams or had coaching outside of school, compared with 67.7 percent of the wealthiest families, according to the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children’s Health.

Wealthier families may also see the investment in sports as a boost into elite colleges. Last year, in an opinion essay for Inside Higher Ed, Flanagan and Eckstein called for ending admissions preferences for athletes because they are one of the reasons that there is so much money spent on youth sports. Athletes at elite schools are “disproportionately white, suburban and wealthy,” and notably, at Harvard, they argued, athletes tended to have lower academic credentials than the average admitted student. Broadly, they wrote:

This racial, geographic and socioeconomic bias feeds off the expensive and largely suburban pay-to-play pipelines dominating youth sports. College athlete recruitment at all levels now takes place almost exclusively through these channels. Children lacking resources (or accessibility) to enter or remain in the pipelines are invisible to college recruiters and are denied the astounding admissions advantages offered to recruited athletes.

Tom Farrey, the executive director of the sports and society program at Aspen, agrees that getting rid of admissions preferences for athletes “would turn down the temperature in a lot of youth sports.” It wouldn’t fix the system entirely, because “parents with money that can put their kids on these expensive teams and in these expensive programs at a very early age that have created the mania that the rest of us end up marinating in,” but if “you remove that potential return on investment down the line, I think you begin to add a little more sanity to the system.”

I’m not optimistic that this will happen, because pay-to-play youth sports are an estimated $30 billion to $40 billion industry . And despite increased risk of injury and burnout among ever younger athletes from early specializing and year-round play , many families are committed to the status quo, no matter how over-the-top it is (even though a very small percentage of high school athletes will play at the collegiate level, and an even smaller percentage will get scholarships). But Farrey pointed out some positive changes that have been happening over recent years that have increased access to physical activity for kids regardless of family income.

He highlighted Cambridge, Mass., which reinvigorated its rec soccer league, doubling the number of registered players from 2014 to 2022. The city invested in better uniforms and coaching, he said, and provided more avenues for players from wealthier families to support their less well-off teammates. The parks and recreation department also tried to make sure that the rec leagues could use the city’s fields at preferred times, rather than travel teams getting those choice slots. But this kind of change takes a concerted effort from parents, local governments and, hopefully, private businesses that can contribute to the cause. There’s not one silver bullet, as Farrey put it.

We should make that effort, because all children deserve an opportunity to get exercise, develop a lifelong love of physical activity and experience on-field competition. We live in a country where only around a quarter of adults get the recommended amount of exercise a week. If we don’t provide better access to play at younger ages, kids will be less healthy as adults. The well-being of our population is something we should all care about, whether we have kids or not.

Jessica Grose is an Opinion writer for The Times, covering family, religion, education, culture and the way we live now.

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    6. Writing Sports Articles. You can make some extra dough by writing about your experiences as a college athlete — personal stories or articles about your triumphs and challenges or an insider's scoop on the big match. Check with local newspapers or online sports publications for submission requirements and pay scale. 7. Working Seasonal Jobs

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  24. Sports Museum is accepting entries for the 2024 Will McDonough Writing

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  27. Opinion

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