By Teri Wilson
From football to hockey to Formula One racing, readers are devouring sports romance right now. Sports romance blends the thrill of competition, the fire of rivalry, and the vulnerability of falling in love into powerful, unforgettable storytelling. But writing about sports also comes with unique challenges. How do you balance the action on the field with the emotional stakes off of it? How do you make the game just as compelling for readers who may not know the difference between a touchdown and a field goal?
These are some of the questions I wrestled with when I wrote The Perfect Pass, the first book in my new Texas Forever After football romance series. My goal was to introduce readers to a brand-new fictional town in Texas while telling the story of Jackson Knight, an NFL player sorely in need of an image overhaul, and Calla Dunne, a sports reporter who happens to loathe football. During the story, the two main characters are forced to navigate their growing attraction amid the drama of small-town Friday night lights in a state where football isn’t just a sport. It’s practically a religion.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
Let the Game be More Than a Backdrop:
In sports romance, the game isn’t just scenery. It’s a catalyst for moving the plot forward. To be an effective sports romance, the book needs to have the actual sport on the page. A pivotal play, a rivalry, a cutthroat game, a press conference, or even an unexpected trade or injury can change the direction of your story on a dime. In The Perfect Pass, the decisions Jackson makes as temporary head coach of the local high school football team ripple throughout the entire town, creating tension both on and off the field. Sports instantly raise the stakes and add urgency that heighten the romance part of the plot.
Focus on the Characters First:
Readers aren’t turning the pages for the playbook. Their true loyalty lies with the characters. They want main characters they can root for, so what matters most isn’t how many yards are gained on a certain play, but how that moment affects your characters’ choices, fears and goals. Jackson isn’t just in Texas to coach a bunch of high school kids—he’s a man struggling to step out of the shadow of past mistakes. Calla isn’t just a journalist—she’s a woman trying to prove herself in a town that only thinks of her as a fallen football hero’s sister. Their romance works because their personal journeys are tied to tightly to the world of the game.
Highlight the “Band of Brothers” (Or Sisters) Dynamic:
The true heart of sports romance extends beyond the main couple. It’s also about the relationships between teammates, coaches, and the support staff that form a kind of family. The television show Ted Lasso is a perfect example of how these bonds can be just as moving and memorable as the romance itself.
Make Sports Accessible:
Not every reader is a die-hard fan, and that’s okay. Use sensory details like the roar of the crowd or the pounding of cleats to immerse readers into the action without drowning them in sports jargon. Focus on the emotion of the moment rather than technicalities. A reader doesn’t need to understand every rule of football to feel the tension of a last-second play.
At its best, sports romance captures more than competition. These books celebrate community, loyalty, and love in all its forms. That’s what I set out to do in The Perfect Pass, and it’s why the genre continues to inspire both readers and authors alike.
The Perfect Pass, the first in Teri Wilson’s new Texas Forever After series, is available now!
The new head coach is about to get schooled…
A hero’s welcome awaits NFL bad boy Jackson Knight in Bishop Falls. The Texas town lives and breathes football, and they’re thrilled to have Jackson as their temporary high school coach while he rehabs his torn ACL—and his battered image. But one person isn’t rolling out the red carpet. Journalist Calla Dunne knows the damage football can do, and she’s not cutting the coach any slack. Jackson’s trained all his life to push through every obstacle stacked against him. But conquering Calla’s heart will take a fight like none he’s ever faced…to claim a reward sweeter than any prize.
