First Draft Academy
Write on Sports
About Write on Sports
Write on Sports (WoS) is First Draft Academy’s signature program, which started in 2005. It is a literacy program created to inspire students from under-resourced communities to improve their writing skills, critical thinking, and self-confidence through a topic they are passionate about: sports.
We define sports broadly to include sports students play and/or watch, as well as the intersection of sports with topics such as fashion, music, and societal issues.
In Write on Sports, we approach each of our programs by individualizing our instruction based on students’ interests and abilities, allowing each student to benefit from the program and grow as a writer and learner.
Our delivery models include two or three-week summer sessions, multi-week after-school programs, and single- or multi-session workshops.
For additional information, contact
Shannon Schmitt
Executive Director
shannon@firstdraftacademy.org
Write on Sports
Summer Session
Projects
Students choose a theme and identify a project, including a feature article, video, or podcast.
Mentorship
The small student-teacher ratio allows for support and feedback on projects during scheduled small group or one-on-one meetings.
Guest Days
Guest athletes and journalists visit to speak about their profession and allow students to interview them directly, further developing their literacy and writing skills.
Field Trips
Students go on a sports-related field trip, such as the NJ Jackals home games and a special Q&A with Harold Reynolds (MLB Network).
Showcase
Students present their final projects on the last day of the program to their peers, family, and friends. Their work is also shared online for a wider audience.
Write on Sports
Summer Session Dates and Locations
Click on each location below to learn more and apply for summer session.
Colorado
July 13 – Jul 24, 2026
Write on Sports
After School
The Write on Sports after-school program focuses on two main projects.
The first is a research-based video story, where students choose a topic, conduct research, storyboard, film interviews, and edit their final video, which is showcased at the end of the program.
The second project involves a guest event featuring a journalist or broadcaster and an athlete or coach. The journalist demonstrates an interview, and students then ask questions in a group setting and individually. Based on their experience, students write a spot story, a brief piece similar to a beat writer’s report on a game.
Each after-school program cycle lasts about 15 hours, with flexible scheduling for the district.
Write on Sports
Workshops
Write on Sports brings the excitement of sports journalism into schools through a hands‑on, project‑based learning model. Students are immersed in a world of sports journalism through a dynamic, project-based learning model.
There are two ways we structure our workshop programs.
- Drop-In Workshop: Two-day workshop that gives students a taste of the WoS experience.
- Single-Day Workshop: Five-hour workshop built around live sports events.
Finished videos are published on the First Draft Academy YouTube Channel, giving students a platform to share their work with a wider audience.
Drop-In Workshop
Our drop‑in workshops give students a taste of the WoS experience in a flexible, two‑day after‑school format.
Day One: Meet the Athlete
Students prepare for and participate in a live interview with a guest athlete. Guided by WoS teachers, they learn how to craft thoughtful questions, practice interviewing techniques, and engage in both group and individual Q&A sessions.
Day Two: Create the Story
Building on the interview, students script, record, and edit short video spot stories using iPads provided by WoS. These quick reports highlight the angles that interest them most, turning their reflections into compelling multimedia pieces.
Single-Day Workshop
Our Single Day workshops are five‑hour experiences built around live sports events, giving students the chance to practice real‑time reporting and storytelling.
Game Prep
Students study team rosters, stats, and season standings, then learn from a professional journalist how to watch the game with a reporter’s eye.
In the Action
Guided by WoS teachers and journalists, students take notes, craft interview questions, and prepare story ideas. When possible, they participate in post‑game interviews with athletes, practicing both group and individual Q&A.
Create the Story
Students reflect on the game, choose their angle of interest, and script short video spot stories. Using iPads provided by WoS, they record and edit their reports, transforming observations into compelling multimedia pieces.
Great futures start here: YOU can make a difference!
First Draft Academy works with under-resourced communities and school districts, focusing on middle school students, to improve their literacy skills by tapping into their passion – sports, the arts or whatever makes them tick!