Volunteer Match Reporter
Match reports are a key element of any sport, they are found on the BBC, in newspapers and on social media, providing everyone with a way to engage with a missed match, or re-live the action. We are very keen as a club to provide match reports for home games.
We are hopeful that the reports would be used on the website, on Ashdown Radio and in local newspapers, meaning your name on reports visible county-wide!
About the Role
In order to provide match reports, we are seeking an enthusiastic volunteer(s) to join our rugby club as a match reporter, capturing the excitement and key moments of our home games through engaging written coverage. This role offers an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about rugby and creative writing to contribute to the club’s community and help showcase our teams’ achievements. The reporter doesn’t necessarily need to be an adult, ages over 16 being considered.
Match Schedule
– Senior Men’s (First XV and Second XV) matches take place on a Saturday afternoon, with kick-off at 2/230/3PM usually (these change as the days get shorter over winter).
– Ladies matches take place on Sunday afternoons, kicking off at 2PM, though for special teams (like Guernsey where they fly over), these may be earlier.
We are keen to try and get reports for junior matches too, like the Under 16 Girls or Under 15 Boys age groups, but senior matches are our priorities at present.
Key Responsibilities
- Attend home matches for First XV, Second XV, and Ladies XV teams.
- Write engaging match reports capturing key moments, scoring plays, and overall game progression.
- Submit reports in a timely manner (within 24 hours of match completion) for website publication and distribution to radio etc.
- Work collaboratively with team coaches and captains to gather post-match insights.
- Capture the spirit and atmosphere of each game while maintaining professional reporting standards
- (Nice to have) Opportunity to develop feature articles about team progress throughout the season.
- (Nice to have) Opportunity to develop player profiles (such as an interview with a captain or coach).
Required Skills and Qualities
- Strong written communication skills with attention to detail
- Reliable and committed to attending scheduled matches
- Ability to work independently and meet quick turnaround times.
- Basic computer literacy for submitting reports.
- A knowledge of rugby is preferred; however, not critical as support can be given for laws and help provided to understand intricacies of passages of play.
Time Commitment
There are approximately 8-10 home league matches for the men per season and 5-7 for the women. We estimate that 2-3 hours of your time would be required per match to watch and write the report.
Benefits
- Direct involvement with the club’s teams and community
- Opportunity to build a portfolio of published sports writing
- Access to matches and behind-the-scenes club activities
- Valuable experience in sports journalism
- Contributing to the club’s history and online presence
- As match reporter, you would get 1 free drink and a portion of the delicious post-match meal!
Support Provided
- Initial orientation to club operations and reporting requirements
- Access to match statistics and team information
- Guidance from club officials and team management
- Template for consistent report formatting
How to Apply
Interested candidates should contact [Club Contact Details] with:
– A brief introduction about yourself
– Any relevant writing experience or samples
– Your availability and preferred teams to cover
– Your connection to rugby (playing, watching, or general interest)