Bring your passion for sport and we'll teach you how to report it

Meet Matthew Broadbent, Shaun Daly and Robyn Cowen, three of this year's BBC Kick Off trainee sports reporters - new to the BBC and new to sports journalism. They have been given eight weeks over the summer to discover how it feels to be a reporter at the BBC.

I caught up with them half way through the scheme. Matthew (first below) is based at BBC Gloucestershire. "I had always wanted to link my background in Paralympic sport and coaching with an interest in the media," he said. "The scheme has given me a better opportunity to learn and become involved in day-to-day aspects of life at BBC Radio Gloucestershire than I ever believed possible."

Shaun, 22, a qualified physical education teacher and University of Birmingham graduate, is based in BBC Northampton. 

"BBC Kick Off has finally given my life some direction," he said. "As a person who loves sport, what better way is there to get involved than be a part of the experience live?

"I applied to be a Kick Off sports reporter to learn more about how the various types of media are put together." said Robyn, now based at BBC Oxford. "I'm an avid sports fan and have been a fan of the BBC Sports website for some time."

The scheme is a placement at the BBC that gives people with a passion for sport the chance to learn reporting skills. It has been recycled from the late BBC Blast which closed in 2010. The scheme was rebranded as BBC Kick Off by Charles Runcie, Head of Sport in England.

"I've always been interested in finding out where the next generation of BBC sports broadcasting talent is coming from and giving them as much help as possible to realise their ambition," said Charles. "There's no excuse why the BBC shouldn't be making every effort to discover the sports presenters and producers of the future. The BBC Kick Off trainee sports reporter scheme is part of that process."

I have helped produce the scheme since 2008 and have seen its success, as most of the reporters go on to develop careers in the industry. Some are working for BBC Radio 1, Radio 5 Live and across a number of BBC Local radio stations and the BBC Sport website as reporters, broadcast assistants or producers.

As a scheme mentor, BBC Bristol's Sports Editor, Geoff Twentyman, has taken a reporter each year: "I am a huge fan of the scheme - which is fantastic in that it provides bright people with a valuable insight and hands-on experience as to what the BBC is about and what we do. Historically, BBC Bristol has had some great Kick Off reporters, some of whom have gone on to secure work in the media either in the BBC or elsewhere. Long may it continue."

Reporters start their placement after two days training at the BBC College of Journalism, where they have a crash course in reporting and interviewing skills alongside BBC procedures, health and safety and editorial guidelines. They then begin at their chosen location, currently 23 BBC offices across England. What they get up to next is entirely up them.

Shaun (right) explained how he co-produced radio shows, made radio items and created website content while on the scheme: "I have been lucky enough to meet famous sports people such as ex-England goalkeeper Tim Flowers, Olympic silver medallist Daniel Keatings and football manager Gary Johnson. The real enjoyment, however, is making raw stories and new features - things that are a creation of yours that the BBC has decided are a great idea."

Equally inspired by the scheme, Matthew explained how he's had opportunities to interview world-class sportspeople both in and out of competition, while recording news reports and writing online articles. "Amongst the projects still in the pipeline are radio diaries focusing on the experience of disabled fans and following myself as an official at an international sports event in Belfast. And there are still a few weeks to go!"

Robyn (left) was surprised by the responsibility she has been given, interviewing local sportspeople, editing audio for sports bulletins and writing stories for the BBC Sport website. "I gave live updates throughout the day of football and cricket matches. This was most enjoyable because of the buzz of being on live radio and sharing the experience with the listeners. Kick Off has been one of the most absorbing and rewarding experiences in my life."

During the training I told the reporters that we were looking for their passion for sport rather than their ability as a journalist. I explained that, working with their mentors, we can teach them reporting skills but we can't teach them passion. This, in my opinion, is why the scheme works in finding new, fresh and, above all, good talent.

The Kick Off Reporters' Facebook group. 

Rachael Smith is a broadcast journalist for BBC English Regions New Media in Birmingham. She has produced Kick Off and the former Blast reporter scheme since 2008, co-ordinating and providing advice to mentors and reporters. Rachael also manages and mentors for BBC News School Report and BBC Connect & Create.

Photographs by Martin Barber, SBJ, Norfolk