The Sports Content Gameplan

(In Swedish) In this episode of The Sports Content Game Plan, host Isac Solinaw talks with Melinda Bergstrand about how sports communication, content, and marketing are increasingly intertwined, and how Swedish sport is shifting from a sponsorship-only focus toward fan dialogue and broader sports marketing. Melinda explains sports marketing as value creation for athletes, clubs, and federations that also drives societal and business impact. We discuss why many clubs lack an active communication strategy due to limited resources, and how involving younger members can help. Melinda offers three tips for athletes building personal brands, with examples like Ezra Frech and Walter Wallberg, and highlights the growth in women’s sports and athlete-generated content.Mentioned in this episode: Ezra Frech: https://www.instagram.com/ezrafrech/Walter Wallberg: https://www.tiktok.com/@walterwallbergJohanna Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/@johannajohnsongolf00:00 Intro00:49 Quick Question04:31 Sports Marketing Today06:15 How Melinda Found Her Niche10:07 Hybrid Days and Athlete Background13:59 Strategy and Lack of Resources In Clubs18:21 Project Work With Swedish Football Federation23:02 Communication on Club Level25:17 Athletes and Personal Brand29:25 Three Plays For Athletes To Start Create46:46 The Future of Sports Marketing50:17 Kreaturs, Authenticity and Ending

In this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, host Isac Solinaw talks with Esteban Gonzalez, digital content senior manager for FIBA 3x3, about building a global content strategy for a fast, constant-action sport. Esteban shares his path from early sports writing to joining FIBA 3x3 in 2015, helping grow it to over 10 million followers and managing content operations across 150+ events annually. They discuss how 3x3’s speed shapes storytelling, the need to be creative and different to stop the scroll, and how tools like real-time clipping and automation help scale distribution while protecting brand authenticity. Esteban highlights experimentation, player-led content to build stars, “posted is better than perfect,” maximizing Olympic momentums, and using AI for localization, reporting, and workflow support while avoiding inauthentic trends.00:00 Show Intro00:55 Meet Esteban01:26 Quickfire Social Habits05:26 Career Origin Story07:39 Biggest Career Moments11:20 Why 3x3 Works Online15:46 From Creator to Manager19:39 Scaling Global Content21:16 Encouraging Experimentation27:02 Three Content Principles28:33 Players As Influencers30:49 Beyond Metrics Legacy35:23 Staying Ahead Of Trends37:03 AI In The Workflow40:57 Trends To Watch44:28 Advice For Creators46:45 Podcast Guest Pick

In today's episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, host Isac Solinaw recaps the top plays and lessons from the first 11 episodes since the show's beginning, starting with English-speaking guests and then Swedish-speaking ones. Which tips and tricks were your favorite ones? Comment below!00:00 Podcast Intro00:52 Danine Cruz05:29 Jared Kleinstein08:34 Valentin Turgot12:51 Cedric Warlop14:45 Hannah Palpant24:59 Nick Rajacic26:30 Julia Edbom30:46 Artin Hojat38:00 Elias Desport40:48 Fredrik Andersson43:29 Hanna Karlsson

In the second installment of the Gameplan Breakdown solo episodes, host Isac Solinaw explains how user-generated content became the simplest and most effective way to receive highlights automatically and generate millions of views. I share my experience as digital content manager for the Swedish Basketball Federation, and how the challenge of capturing highlights from hundreds of Youth National Championship games across Sweden, created the simple solution - a Google Form.Listen in to learn how I turned the Google form into hundreds of posts and millions of views, and how you can capitalize on creating UGC sports content seamlessly within your own organisation. 00:00 Series Intro01:06 Why UGC Matters02:01 Swedish Basketball Challenge05:25 The Google Form System07:04 Top 10 Highlights Format08:14 Shift to Short Clips09:21 Rules Safety and Results11:54 Monetizing With Sponsors13:37 How You Can Copy This15:01 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Hannah Palpant joins the Sports Content Gameplan to discuss her path into sports photography. She describes defining moments from DM'ing hundreds of athletes, leading to an NFL field opportunity and later flying to Italy to shoot an F3 driver at the Italian Grand Prix. Hannah explains her storytelling approach - capturing in-between moments, emotion, and athletes’ humanity — along with her editing style. She shares how she moved from food photography to sports, her favorite sports to shoot, and challenges of switching between different sports speeds and anticipation. She offers three tips for new photographers to break into the sports industry, then outlines the grind, and motivation that keeps her going, and her goal to shoot an F1 race this year.00:00 Welcome and Warmup00:23 Quick Questions09:06 Storytelling Sports Photos14:46 From Food to Sports21:50 Favorite Sports to Shoot26:31 Switching Between Sports30:05 What Makes NFL Special33:41 Seahawks-49ers Rivalry Game36:20 Getting Sideline Access37:20 Just Start Shooting38:15 Use What You Have40:19 Post Daily on Instagram42:01 DM and Build Trust46:19 Three Tips Recap47:27 The Real Grind49:19 Finding Your Why53:43 Confidence and Industry Shifts59:09 Moving to England Goals01:05:22 Dream Guest and Wrap

Join us on this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan as we sit down with Cédric Warlop, multifaceted sports content creator with a diverse portfolio including basketball, soccer and cycling. Cédric discusses his journey from playing basketball to becoming a videographer and photographer for national teams and local clubs. Delve into his creative process, the challenges and rewards of creating long-form content like mini-documentaries and a full-length documentary on the Belgian Cats' back-to-back EuroBasket championship wins. Cédric also shares his tips for aspiring content creators and talks about the importance of storytelling, sound design, and maintaining a balance between professional rigor and personal growth.00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:13 Cedric's Sports Background00:30 Quick Questions and Favorites02:13 Journey into Sports Content Creation03:07 Creative Identity and Client Work03:45 Balancing Video and Photo05:35 Working with the Belgian Basketball National Team06:45 Evolution of Content Creation14:51 Documentary: Defending The Crown19:08 Challenges and Techniques in Content Creation32:37 Future Goals and Creative Evolution35:45 Closing Thoughts and Dream Guests

(In Swedish) In this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, Isac welcomes Hanna Karlsson, a passionate sports content creator who shares her inspiring journey. From her beginnings in social media at her local basketball club to her evolution into 'Hanna the Shooter,' she discusses her creative process, the importance of authenticity, and the impact of her work. Hanna reveals her favorite types of content, the challenges she faces, and her dedication to meaningful storytelling. She also offers valuable tips for aspiring creators and shares memorable projects, including her work with Swedish basketball teams and her involvement in the YouthLab initiative. Don't miss this insightful conversation on creativity, passion, and what it means to create for the people.Content discussed in this episode: Basketligan Special: https://www.tiktok.com/@svenskbasket/video/7293363585663716641Role models: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DJzstcxo5tl/Youth Lab: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRzcPSnDMfY/00:00 Introduction and Greetings02:02 Memorable Interactions and Content Style04:05 Career Beginnings and Challenges07:41 Balancing Passion and Profession09:44 The Importance of 'Why' in Creativity15:30 Building a Personal Brand21:04 Storytelling in Social Media26:45 Capturing the Essence of Basketball30:12 YouthLab: Empowering Young Voices36:15 Behind the Scenes at Major Championships42:13 Building Trust with Athletes48:38 Tips for Aspiring Creators51:06 Future Aspirations and Reflections

(In Swedish) In this episode of The Sports Content Gameplan, Isac sits down with Fredrik Andersson to dive deep into the world of sports content creation. Fredrik shares his journey, experiences in filming different sports, and his passion for creating cinematic and immersive content. We discuss the challenges and rewards of capturing the essence of bandy, the nuances of working in high-stakes environments like hockey, and the importance of authentic storytelling in sports. He also reflects on the impact of audience engagement and shares tips for smaller sports organizations to enhance their visibility through quality content creation.Whether you're a sports enthusiast or an aspiring content creator, Fredrik's insights on sports communication and content strategy are not to be missed.Content discussed in this episode: This is Bandy: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLpWCsWNpsZ/Edsbyn's Red Farmers: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHV-wK5o36R/Women's Bandy: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKL-dvIiFfm/Tre Kronor in Avicii Arena: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL4ue0QtvZb/00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:45 Discussing Favorite Social Media and Content02:02 Inspirations and Memorable Messages05:07 The Essence of Sports Communication08:14 Challenges and Experiences in Sports Filming11:08 Creating Impactful Sports Content13:38 Highlighting Bandy and Lesser-Known Sports23:41 Technical Aspects and Filming Challenges48:24 Future Projects and Aspirations50:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Welcome to the first episode of the Gameplan Breakdown! In these solo episodes, I share my journey and insights from 17 years in the sports content industry. In the first segment, we talk about how to get started. Starting from my beginnings as a web editor for a small basketball club in Sweden, to working at the national and international levels, I provide practical tips and strategies for young creators. Learn how to pick your lane, contact local clubs, build your portfolio, understand analytics, and the importance of continuous improvement. Whether you're interested in videography, photography, social media coordination, or writing, this episode offers valuable guidance to help you navigate and succeed in the sports content industry.00:00 Introduction to Game Plan Breakdown01:05 My Journey into Sports Content Creation05:02 Finding Your Path in Sports Content08:03 Building Experience and Portfolio12:47 Leveraging Analytics and Social Media17:14 Final Tips and Summary

(In Swedish) In this episode of The Sports Content Gameplan, Elias Desport, professional basketball player and host of the podcast Between the Lines, discusses his journey into podcasting during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to provide a platform for athletes to tell their stories. Elias delves into his favorite social media content, the inspiration behind his podcast, the importance of athletes controlling their narrative, and his thoughts on the current media landscape in sports. He highlights the value of authentic, raw storytelling and shares insights from some of his memorable podcast episodes. Additionally, Elias offers advice for new podcasters on creating a comfortable interview environment and reflects on the impact his podcasting experience has had on his perspective as an athlete.00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:25 Social Media Preferences and Inspirations03:12 Podcasting Journey and Challenges06:29 Creating a Player-Led Platform10:57 Insights from Podcasting14:21 The Future of Sports Content23:44 Favorite Podcast Episodes and Guests28:16 Tips for Aspiring Podcasters40:13 Reflections and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Sports Content Gameplan podcast, we sit down with Valentin Turgot, the creative force behind the viral sports content channel 'Hoopsidia.' Valentin shares his journey from copywriting in advertising to becoming a full-time sports content creator and establishing his own production company, Hoopsmakers. Learn about the origins of his online name, his inspirations, how he creates viral sports content, and his advice for aspiring creators. Valentin also dives into the importance of authenticity, the role of AI in content creation, and his community impact through renovating basketball courts. A must-watch for anyone interested in sports content creation and digital storytelling.Content talked about in this episode:Luka Doncic viral assist: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiIG2-HKgdp/French All-Star Game dunk contest: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmxLgXtJmdg/Muurinen - most viral video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOi_KZnj6xH/Muurinen alley-oop: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DObfHDFjyXC/00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:14 The Origin of Hoop Sidia01:01 Quick Questions and Inspirations02:56 Journey to Full-Time Content Creation06:15 Videography and Creative Process08:11 Going Viral and Adapting to Trends11:02 Euro Basket 2022 Experience18:53 Tips for Fast Editing23:56 Expanding Horizons and Future Plans30:10 Giving Back to the Community34:50 AI and Technological Innovations41:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, we sit down with Jared Kleinstein, founder and CEO of Fresh Tape Media and Gondola, to discuss Jared's incredible journey in the world of sports content. Jared shares his beginnings with the Tebowing meme, his leadership role in sports at Vine, and founding Fresh Tape Media, a creative powerhouse. The conversation delves into the launch of Gondola, a platform giving creators due credit, and offers invaluable advice for those looking to break into sports content creation. They talk about the importance of athlete buy-in, the evolution of sports content, and emerging trends like AI in creative processes. Jared also highlights the success and vision behind the Gondola Sports Summit and reflects on the personal and professional balance required to run both a creative agency and a tech company.00:00 Introduction to Jared and His Journey01:20 Early Forays into Sports Content02:24 Building Fresh Tape Media04:24 Key Moments and Inspirations05:46 Favorite Social Media and Content Types07:51 Creators and Impactful Messages09:36 Personal Content and Creative Challenges10:36 Evolution of Sports Content17:45 The Role of AI in Content Creation19:09 The Birth of Gondola22:51 Brand and Creator Content Dilemma24:07 Shifts in Sports Content Creation25:22 Gondola Sports Summit28:19 Balancing Creative and Tech Worlds30:01 Favorite Content and Nostalgia32:10 Pet Peeves in Content Creation34:15 Advice for Aspiring Creators39:04 Future of Sports Content and Gondola40:38 Upcoming Projects and Recommendations

(In Swedish) Join us for an insightful and engaging conversation with Artin Hojat on the Sports Content Gameplan. In this episode, Artin shares his journey and experiences as a personal trainer for high-level athletes and now an NBA expert on HBO Max. Learn more about his approach to content creation, his inspirations, and his commitment to delivering educational, scientific, and interactive content. Discover how he seamlessly integrates his passion for basketball into his professional life, the challenges and rewards of being a content creator in a saturated market, and the importance of staying true to oneself. Whether you're a sports content creator, a basketball enthusiast, or someone looking to be inspired, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in to hear Artin's valuable tips, anecdotes, and reflections on maintaining work-life balance and the future of digital content in sports.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:55 Quickfire Questions04:06 Journey into Coaching07:36 Content Creation and Social Media20:15 Highlighting Players and Technical Details24:55 Scientific and Psychological Aspects of Training35:05 Balancing Content Creation and Consumption35:52 Strategies for Disconnecting from Work39:13 Meditation and Mindfulness Practices40:56 Tips for Aspiring Content Creators44:20 Handling Negative Feedback56:09 Pride in Positive Impact58:01 Becoming an NBA Expert01:04:36 Future Goals and Digital Era Reflections01:06:43 Recommended Content Creators

In this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, Danine Cruz, the social media lead for youth and women's basketball at FIBA, shares her journey from a sports-obsessed childhood to working in international sports content. Danine discusses her favorite social media channels and content types, her transition from sports writing to content creation, and her experiences working at FIBA during major events like the World Cup. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, honoring athletes, and making content fun and relational. Danine also touches on the challenges and rewards of creating content for a global audience and offers valuable insights for aspiring content creators.Content talked about in this episode:Camerman: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNR8YoHwo/USA / Germany: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNR82M2uQ/Luka & fans: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNR821wF7/00:00 Introduction and Quick Questions01:34 Early Influences and Career Beginnings03:15 Transition to Content Creation05:14 Creating Viral Sports Content07:54 Working with Slam and Sneaker Era11:36 Joining FIBA and First Assignments15:23 World Cup Experience and Viral Success23:59 Relatability and Recognition in Content Creation24:14 Building Quick Relationships with Athletes26:33 Three Key Tips for Content Creators31:36 Challenges and Strategies in Content Creation34:29 Adapting to Generational Differences in Social Media39:27 Creating Authentic and Global Content47:30 Future Goals and Reflections

(In Swedish) In this episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, Julia Edbom, content creator for Luleå Hockey, shares her journey and insights on content creation in the sports industry. Julia discusses the challenges and excitement of filming and producing engaging content, the importance of capturing raw emotions, and the strategic thinking behind it all. She reflects on her work with different sports, including hockey and basketball, and how her local patriotism fuels her dedication. Julia also discusses the personal struggles and triumphs she faces as a creator stepping in front of the camera. Additionally, she shares invaluable tips for anyone looking to delve into sports content creation. Tune in to gain inspiration from Julia's experiences and her passion for storytelling through powerful visuals. (This episode is recorded in Swedish)Content talked about in this episode:The dream shot: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLVFdW0q0Co/?igsh=NHZ2dmEzNGZjZ2l5Luleå Basket (Part 1): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrqfE0QqLyd/LHF/MSSKs Champions 2024: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4v0yfIKhP6/Luleå Slow-Motion Champions 2025: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJKJSF2K58X/00:00 Welcome to The Game Plan00:58 Discussing Hard Drive Woes02:52 Quick-Fire Questions06:27 Journey into Content Creation09:07 Challenges in Sports Content Creation16:23 Building Trust with Players19:22 Impact of Quality Content on Team Performance27:12 Pride in Representing Luleå28:55 Behind the Content: Iconic Shots30:34 Capturing the Perfect Moment32:14 Documentary Filmmaking for Sports35:30 Creating Engaging Content for Sports Teams38:42 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome50:01 The Thrill of Working at Major Sports Events55:06 Pursuing a Degree in Graphic Design59:01 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In the debut episode of the Sports Content Gameplan, Nick Rajacic, aka Mr. Burek Report, joins the show to discuss his multifaceted career as a basketball blogger, commentator, and content creator. Nick, who is SVT's and Expressen's basketball expert, shares his journey from an elite player to one of Sweden's most influential YouTubers. He opens up about his unique approach to content creation, blending basketball insights with humor and general entertainment, which has captivated a diverse audience. The conversation delves into the challenges and motivations behind maintaining consistency and authenticity in digital content, the impact of AI on social media, and the importance of having fun while engaging with the audience. Nick also reflects on his significant milestones, media presence, and future aspirations. (Episode in Swedish).Nick's favorite piece of content: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zw-e5azqtjQ00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:08 Nick's Many Titles and Roles01:04 Quickfire Questions02:43 Nick's Unique Approach to Commentary04:54 Nick's Journey from Player to Blogger06:50 Transition to Social Media and Content Creation11:15 The Rise of Burek Report18:10 Balancing Content Creation and Personal Life32:44 Consistency and Growth in Social Media37:56 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

In this pre-episode of 'The Sports Content Game Plan' podcast, host Isac Solinaw introduces himself and shares the inspiration behind starting the podcast. With 16 years of experience in sports content creation, Isac aims to connect with other creators, share knowledge, and foster a community. He discusses the format of the podcast and recounts his journey from starting a basketball blog in 2006 to working at international events, emphasizing his goal of providing educational and inspiring content.My old NBA Mixtapes: https://www.youtube.com/@Sacke12/videos00:00 Introduction to the Sports Content Game Plan00:30 Why This Podcast?00:50 Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone02:07 Connecting with Other Creators03:01 Goals and Vision for the Podcast03:44 Building a Community04:42 Podcast Format and Accessibility06:55 My Journey in Sports Content09:51 Conclusion and Next Steps