If the subject is a short distance from either the foreground or background, either the foreground or the background will not be out of focus. Therefore, you should try to widen this distance and get closer to the subject in order to attain the desired amount of blur. Using a telephoto lens with a long focal length and a shallow depth of field works best. Using a low-sensitivity film and shooting where there is no direct sunlight will increase your chances of taking a very nice portrait. Sport mode Sport mode uses the fastest shutter speed possible.
Athletic events are perfect for practicing to follow the subject in the viewfinder.
By using a lens with a large maximum aperture, you can take photos using a faster shutter speed. For indoor sports, try using an ISO 1600 or ISO 3200 film. From a technical standpoint, the difference between shooting during the day and shooting at dusk or night seems like, well, night and day. The fact is, however, you really only need to adjust the aperture and the shutter speed to take beautiful pictures at night. It is the Night Scene mode that automatically adjusts for these circumstances, including regulating how much light is emitted by the speedlight.