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Well I for one have not mastered it yet, things are getting better but always room for improvement for me.
I tried (association) football for the first time last saturday, all those years of suppporting/playing the game and I'd not really realised just how fast it moves, and how tough it is second guessing where a pass or free kick is going to end up, so I've got my focus there waiting for it to arrive. Post one image from the game on EPZ so far, might put another on later. At least the diving isn't limited to the game, it also applies to my votes 
Agree with Nev as well, but can't add a fancy smiley 
Sometimes it comes down to people being happy with a shot that we as photographers would be embarassed about having on our cameras and would beat ourselves up about & delete. I am sometimes amazed by what is called a brilliant shot.
Some basic rules of my sports photography:
1 Never chase the action ... you'll always be just that bit too late, or at least I am lol
2 Know the sport you are taking, it will help with angles etc
3 If I'm at a game I'll try and get a basic shot then once that's in the bag try being more adventurous. Eg at footie a corner/freekick is going into a crowded area so you you can anticipate more easily. Same with Rugby a scrum and lineout is another crowded area.
These are vey obvious but always good to serve as a reminder.
Tim
Know the game - you could be the best photographer in the world but you'll get nowt if you can't anticipate the play.
Don't chase the action / do your research - briefly take a look at the two teams playing, decide who is likley to win, who the key playmakers are and then sit in a place where you will be able to shoot them.
Know your GEAR, seems like a silly thing to say but if a player runs from a shady part of the pitch into bright sun then you may well need to alter your exposure compensation a bit, you need to be able to do it with the camera up to your eye. Know instinctively which way to twist your zoom to zoom in / out. Get to know the nuances of the AF, every system is a little different and every system has it's little custom tweaks that can make your life a lot easier in the heat of the moment.
Quote: Sometimes it comes down to people being happy with a shot that we as photographers would be embarassed about having on our cameras and would beat ourselves up about & delete. I am sometimes amazed by what is called a brilliant shot.
same can be said about a least [link removed - not fair on photographer] two dozen photographers on epz[/link]. Sports shots rarely get more than a dozen votes (even the really good ones), yet 24 people on here (and counting) seem to think there is something special about an out of focus shot
Quote: Sports shots rarely get more than a dozen votes (even the really good ones), yet 24 people on here (and counting) seem to think there is something special about an out of focus shot
couple name there that come up every time I (now rarely) post something as well
Another one you could add Tim, is not to overlook the bystanders, some of the best images come from the expression on a managers face or one in the crowd.
Quote: Don't chase the action / do your research - briefly take a look at the two teams playing, decide who is likley to win, who the key playmakers are and then sit in a place where you will be able to shoot them.
So that's where I went wrong with my first attempt at Rugby the other day, stuck with the end the home team were supposed to attack because they wanted the images for the website. The game ended up being played in mid field or the other half, it was 65 minutes in before I started to move around a little more.
The old 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' adage has never been truer than with sports photography. A competition to win a photo pass for an NFL game at Wembley was won by a photo that left a lot of people scratching their heads. If you've got access to Facebook, here it is - winning photo
It's a nice-ish photo but doesn't capture half the emotion or action that some of the others did (accepting that a number of the others were atrocious). The real punchline was that it was supposed to be a photo of a British American football game, but features a team from the Republic of Ireland!
I guess we all need to keep trying. 
It's not a case of the pictures not being supported; I think it's more a case of people not understanding the art of sport photography, and what it takes to get the good shots. For example, I'm not a racing fan, rugby, soccer, or tennis fan, and I don't like motor bikes or motorcycles, so those shots don't draw me in. That said, I really like Joe's racing shots.(Snapbandit) He has a knack for putting you in the action.
It's the same with many genres on here. Extremely difficult to get wildlife or nature shots don't get as much notice as pet or zoo shots most times. It's just the way it is, but don't stop posting; try a couple shots in the Critique Gallery, you might find out what people like and dislike.
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