Download your interview packets, review interview questions for each spotlight type, read the reporter guidelines, and access tips to help you write stronger stories. Everything here is built to help you do your best work — and build something you're proud of.
Open any packet in your browser, then use File → Print → Save as PDF to download a print-ready copy. Bring a printed copy to in-person interviews or use digitally on a tablet.
⭐
Athlete Interview Packet
10 standardized questions covering background, achievements, challenges, goals, and advice. Includes notes section and article planning.
How to print: Open the packet → use your browser's Print function (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) → select Save as PDF or send to a printer. The packets are formatted to print cleanly on standard 8.5×11 paper.
These are the standardized questions for each spotlight type. Memorize the core questions — then make them feel natural in conversation. Always listen more than you talk.
⭐ Athlete Questions
10 Core Questions
1When did you start playing your sport, and what first drew you to it?
2What or who inspired you to keep playing and get serious?
3What has been your most memorable sports moment so far?
4What challenge have you had to overcome — on or off the field?
5What accomplishment are you most proud of?
6What is the most important lesson sports has taught you?
7What does being a great teammate mean to you?
8What goals are you pursuing — in sports and in life?
9What do you enjoy doing outside of your sport?
10What advice would you give to younger athletes just starting out?
📋 Coach Questions
10 Core Questions
1How did you get started coaching, and what made you choose this path?
2What motivates you to keep coaching year after year?
3How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
4Beyond winning, what lessons do you most want athletes to take away?
5What has been your proudest moment as a coach?
6What challenges do today's athletes face, and how do you address them?
7How do you define success — for your athletes and for yourself?
8What advice would you give to the parents of athletes on your team?
9What would you tell someone who wants to become a coach?
10How do you hope your athletes remember you, long after they've moved on?
🏆 Team Questions
7 Core Questions
1What makes this team different from others you've been a part of?
2What goals did the team set at the start of the season?
3What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you get through it?
4What are this team's greatest strengths?
5What achievement are you most proud of from this season?
6What is the most important lesson this season has taught you as a group?
7What makes the people on this team special to you?
🏢 Organization Questions
8 Core Questions
1Why was this organization founded, and what need did it fill in the community?
2How would you describe your organization's mission?
3What makes your organization different from others in your sport?
4How many athletes and families do you currently serve?
5What values do you teach that go beyond wins and losses?
6What are you most proud of in your organization's history?
7Where do you see the organization in the next five years?
8How do you define the role your organization plays in the WNY community?
🌟 Legends Questions
8 Core Questions
1What sports did you play growing up, and what did those years mean to you?
2What is the most important lesson sports taught you?
3How did your athletic experience shape who you became — in business and in life?
4What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome, and how did you do it?
5What accomplishments are you most proud of — in sports and beyond?
6How do you personally define success?
7What advice would you give to young athletes in WNY today?
8What legacy do you hope to leave in this community?
These guidelines exist to protect you, your subject, and the credibility of 5-Star Sports Media. Follow them on every assignment.
01
Prepare before every interview
Read the submission form before you arrive. Know the athlete's name, sport, school, and achievements. Nothing damages credibility faster than asking someone to spell their own name twice.
02
Introduce yourself and explain the process
Tell them who you are, that you're a 5-Star Academy reporter, and that their story may be published on 5starsportsmedia.com. Get verbal confirmation they're comfortable before you begin.
03
Ask conversationally — don't read robotically
The questions are a framework, not a script. Make eye contact. Listen to answers. Ask follow-up questions when something interesting comes up. The best quotes come from natural conversation, not interrogation.
04
Write down key quotes word for word
When someone says something powerful, write it exactly as they said it — don't paraphrase in your notes. Put a circle or star next to any quote you might want to use in your article.
05
Verify all facts before you submit
Confirm the correct spelling of the full name, school name, team name, and sport. Double-check stats and scores. One factual error in a published story is one too many.
06
No private interviews with minors
All interviews with anyone under 18 must happen in a public location with a parent, coach, or other adult present. This protects both you and your subject.
07
Never publish without review
Submit your draft to your mentor before it goes anywhere. No story goes live without editorial review — that's how we protect everyone involved.
08
Represent 5-Star professionally at all times
How you show up — on the field, in the hallway, online — reflects on the Academy and the publication. Dress appropriately, arrive on time, and conduct yourself like the professional you're becoming.
Good sports writing is specific, emotional, and human. These tips will help you write stories that people actually read — and remember.
Lead with a moment, not a fact
Don't open with "Jordan Smith is a 16-year-old hockey player." Open with a moment — the overtime goal, the comeback, the thing that shows rather than tells who this person is.
Let quotes do the heavy lifting
Your job is to set up the quote, not repeat it. If your subject said something great, use it directly and get out of the way. Don't paraphrase a great quote into a mediocre sentence.
Be specific — always
"He scored a big goal" tells us nothing. "He scored with 14 seconds left to send the game to overtime" tells a story. Specificity is the difference between writing and storytelling.
Write short sentences when it matters
Long sentences slow readers down. Short ones hit hard. Use long sentences to build. Use short ones to land. Know the difference.
The best quote is usually the last thing they said
People warm up over the course of an interview. The most honest, vulnerable, and powerful answers often come near the end. Don't rush to wrap up — let the conversation breathe.
Read your draft out loud before submitting
If you stumble reading it, your reader will too. Reading aloud catches awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and missing words that your eyes skip right over when reading silently.
Every story needs a "so what"
Why does this story matter? What does the reader take away? If you can't answer that in one sentence, your story doesn't have a point yet. Find it before you write.
End with something that lands
Don't end with a stat or a schedule. End with a quote, a moment, or a sentence that gives the reader a feeling — hope, pride, admiration. That's what they'll remember.
Every Academy member formally acknowledges these standards. This is what it means to carry the 5-Star name.
01
Respect everyone in the sports community
Athletes, coaches, officials, parents, fans, and venue staff — treat everyone with dignity in every interaction.
02
Verify names, scores, and facts before publishing
Confirm spellings, check stats, and double-check school and team names. If you can't verify it, flag it to your mentor.
03
Do not publish rumors or unverified information
Accuracy matters more than speed. Never publish something you can't confirm through a direct source.
04
Do not harass athletes, coaches, or subjects
If someone declines to comment, accept it respectfully. Do not contact subjects through personal social media.
05
No private or unsupervised interviews with minors
All interviews with subjects under 18 must take place in public with appropriate adults present.
06
Editorial coverage is earned, not purchased
No story on 5-Star Sports Media is available for purchase. Coverage decisions are based on merit and community impact only. This is non-negotiable.
07
Report concerns to a mentor immediately
If you encounter any situation that makes you uncomfortable or unsafe — stop the assignment and contact your Academy mentor right away.