ESL Sport Writing

Doing the ESL sport writing exercises on this page will help you get better at using and understanding sport vocabulary.

This page has 4 exercises for you to do. When you do them you will have plenty of time to think and use the best word for each option. This will mean you can learn the sport vocabulary well as you have the time to identify the most suitable word. If you need any help with choosing the vocabulary you can use the list on the ESL sport vocabulary page.

The 4 task are as follows:

• A list of writing topics.
• Writing a summary of a passage.
• Write a description of a picture.
• Write a role-play.

ESL Sport Writing Exercises

Exercise 1 – Writing Topics

In this ESL sport writing exercise you need to write a passage. There are three topics below and you should pick one of them. Then try to write as much as possible; you can look at the vocabulary list to help you chose the best words. The more you write the better you will get at writing. Once you have finished you can try the other two topics.

• What is your favourite sport and why?
• Would you like to a play a sport professionally?
• What are the benefits of playing sport?

Exercise 2 – Write a Summary

For this ESL sport writing topic you need to read the following passage and then write a summary of it. The summary needs to contain the same information as in the original but using fewer and new words. This will help you improve your vocabulary and is a valuable exercise.

Equipment used for different sports 

It can be easily observed that nearly all sports make use of different equipment. The sport known as darts uses a dart board and three darts while the area used for throwing the dart is known as an oche. The area needed to play such a sport is small and so participants do not usually need to be physically fit but rather very well skilled in order to participate. Tennis uses an area that can be made up of grass, clay or concrete known as a court and a net that is placed in the middle. A ball and racquets are necessary to play tennis. 

Cricket is a sport that is often seen as one that requires a lot of equipment. The object of the game is for one side to bowl the ball to hit the three thin pieces of wood and displace the bails that sit on top. A huge area is required to play cricket and a helmet is also necessary as the ball that is used it especially hard. Most players also wear protective clothing to avoid injury. 

In golf a lot of heavy equipment, known as golf clubs, needs to be carried around a very large area for the player to complete the 18 holes and finish the game. It is often the case that an individual is employed by the player to carry the heavy equipment to allow the player to concentrate on the game itself. This is usually only for professional competitions, while people who play for fun during their free time rarely have the luxury of having someone to carry their equipment and must hire a golf buggy to assist them.

Exercise 3 – Describe a Picture

The following picture shows a sport scene. You should describe what the picture shows and then go on to describe what is also happening around the edge of the picture, in the parts that are not being shown. Include lots of detail and write as much as you can.

Exercise 4 – Writing Role-plays

For this fourth ESL sport writing exercise there are two outlines of role-plays. You need to write a role-play for each of them. Each situation gives you the location of the role-play, the situation and the people in the role-play. Write what each of the participants would say to each other.

Role-play 1

• Location: At a sport center.
• Situation: Deciding what sport to play.
• Participants: A group of 3 friends deciding what sport to play.

Role-play 2

• Location: At a sporting match.
• Situation: Discussing what is happening at match (you chose the type of sport being played).
• Participants: 2 friends.