Pre-game interview
A pre-game interview is a short interview with a player, coach, or analyst before a sporting event. In Sports Reporting and Production, it gives viewers context, quotes, and storylines before the first whistle.
What is pre-game interview?
A pre-game interview in Sports Reporting and Production is a planned conversation before the game starts, usually with a coach, player, or analyst. The goal is to give your audience context they need before they watch or read the coverage, such as injuries, lineup changes, team mood, or the main matchup to watch.
This is not the same thing as a full feature interview. A pre-game interview is shorter, faster, and tied directly to the event that is about to happen. You are usually asking questions that help set the tone for the broadcast or article, like how a coach thinks the team matches up, what adjustments matter most, or how an athlete is approaching the moment.
Timing matters a lot. These interviews often happen right before kickoff, tipoff, or first pitch, so the information has to be fresh and relevant. You might conduct one on the sideline, in a locker room, or in a press area, depending on access and the production setup. Because the game is about to begin, the interview has to be efficient and focused, not long and rambling.
The style also changes based on who you are interviewing. Coaches may give you practical details about game plan, injuries, or matchups. Athletes may talk more about energy, confidence, nerves, or the chance to respond after a loss. An analyst might use the interview to frame what viewers should pay attention to once play starts.
In practice, this term shows up when you are preparing questions that get useful answers quickly. Strong lead-in questions can bring out a quote that fits neatly into a broadcast intro or a game preview package, while weak questions only produce generic hype. The best pre-game interviews sound natural, but they are built on research, timing, and a clear purpose.
Why pre-game interview matters in Sports Reporting and Production
Pre-game interviews shape how the audience enters the event. In sports reporting, they are one of the main ways you gather fresh quotes that can frame the matchup, explain a lineup decision, or show what the team is thinking before the action starts.
They also connect directly to the writing and production side of the course. A useful pre-game interview can become part of a game preview, a live broadcast intro, a social clip, or a highlight package. If you get one strong line about a quarterback return, a pitcher’s confidence, or a coach’s adjustment, that quote can anchor the whole piece.
This term also teaches you how sports coverage works around deadlines. You are often working with limited access, limited time, and little room for vague questions. That means you have to research first, choose sharp lead-in questions, and listen for details that sound specific enough to use on air or in print.
It matters because it separates surface-level hype from actual reporting. Instead of just saying the game is exciting, you collect information that gives viewers a reason to care about what happens next.
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open one-pagerHow pre-game interview connects across the course
lead-in questions
Pre-game interviews depend on lead-in questions because the first question often sets the whole tone. In sports reporting, a good lead-in question is open enough to draw a useful quote but specific enough to keep the answer tied to the matchup, lineup, or storyline. Weak lead-ins usually get you filler answers like “we’re ready to go.”
sideline reporter
A sideline reporter is often the person gathering a pre-game interview right before the event begins. That role is built for speed, clarity, and live context, since the reporter may need to hand off information to the broadcast team almost immediately. Pre-game interviews are one of the main tools that reporter uses to add energy and context.
game analysis
Pre-game interviews feed game analysis by giving reporters and analysts fresh information before play starts. If a coach mentions a lineup change or an athlete talks about a specific adjustment, that detail can shape the analysis viewers hear during the broadcast. Without the interview, the analysis can feel more generic.
post-game interview
Post-game interviews and pre-game interviews often use similar people, but they serve different purposes. A pre-game interview is about expectations, preparation, and strategy, while a post-game interview reacts to what actually happened. Comparing the two helps you see how sports coverage moves from prediction to reflection.
Is pre-game interview on the Sports Reporting and Production exam?
A quiz question may ask you to identify what kind of interview happens before a game, or to explain why a reporter would use one in a broadcast package. If you are given a scenario, look for timing, setting, and purpose: the interview happens right before competition and is meant to give viewers context, quotes, and storylines.
In a writing task, you might use a pre-game interview quote to build a preview paragraph or a lead for a recap package. In a production task, you may need to choose which soundbite best fits a live segment or highlight reel. The key move is to connect the interview to the event itself, not treat it like a random conversation.
Key things to remember about pre-game interview
A pre-game interview is a short, event-focused interview done before a sporting event starts.
Its main job is to give the audience context, quotes, and a storyline before the action begins.
The best pre-game interviews are based on research and use lead-in questions that get specific answers.
You will often hear them from coaches, players, or analysts in sideline, locker room, or press-area settings.
In sports reporting, a strong pre-game interview can shape a preview, broadcast intro, or live update.
Frequently asked questions about pre-game interview
What is a pre-game interview in Sports Reporting and Production?
A pre-game interview is an interview done before a game starts to gather context for the audience. It usually focuses on team strategy, injuries, matchups, mindset, or other details that make the upcoming event easier to follow.
Who is usually interviewed before a game?
Reporters often interview coaches, players, or analysts before a game. Coaches can speak to game plan and roster decisions, while players may talk about preparation, confidence, or how the team is feeling before the matchup.
How is a pre-game interview different from a post-game interview?
A pre-game interview looks ahead and frames expectations before the contest begins. A post-game interview reacts to what just happened and usually focuses on results, turning points, and reflections after the final whistle.
What makes a good pre-game interview question?
A good question is specific, timely, and easy to answer without sounding generic. Instead of asking, “How do you feel?”, ask about the matchup, a lineup decision, or one adjustment the team is making, so you get a quote you can actually use.