Gotta Love Local Newspapers

[imthebackseatcoach]

I am sure a lot of you have stories to add to this subject. On January 31 the local papers called Coach Walker and interviewed him by telephone about the upcoming game with Opelousas. Tioga had not played Opelousas other than a friendly 3 years ago, the first year Coach took over the team. Walker stated scouting reports had indicated there were two players to watch out for. Interpretation: We have played Opelousas and there are only two good players on their team.

You can imagine why we were so puzzled at the attitude of Opelousas' coach, players and fans when they got to our field, as well as some remarks made pre-game. However, after the game, when Opelousas' coach did not want to shake hands and he was quizzed as to why, we found out the favor our local reporter had done for us.

Skip forward to February 5, an article on local teams through to the second round. Imagine our surprise on reading Coach Walker has been at Tioga 7 years (it's been 3, 1 as Assistant Coach and 2 as Coach) and that we played Neville 4 or 5 years ago. Tioga has never played Neville to my knowledge. However, both coaches have rec teams, and 4 or 5 years ago, when these girls were 11 or 12, the core of each team played each other in a tournament at Crossroads.

I can't wait to see what comes out next!

[Mung]

Well, even bad coverage is nonetheless coverage, which is nice as high school soccer is mostly ignored here. I don't think any of our local reporters ever played soccer, and thus you get strange articles evidencing a lack of understanding. Alternatively, never discount the paper's desire to stir things up a bit to create a controversy. Muckraking sells papers.

This lack of knowledge goes to many areas beyond soccer. I'm always perplexed when the legal reporter writes about a case, and gets it all wrong. Perhaps you should offer to write some articles for the Town Talk.

[FYSA Director of Coaching]

The golden rule for coaches when being interviewed is never talk about your opponent, spend more time talking about your team as that is what you know!
If you watch any interview on TV a coach will normally say, "They are a good side with some good players but our players ........" That's the way it's always been in the English game and it's all you need to say about your opponent.

[dhssoccermom25]

For a change DeRidder is getting pretty good and accurate coverage for girls soccer. My daughter has been writing the articles, and I guess because they are coming from a players perspective. The article he wrote for the last playoff game was okay, but it lacked the passion that someone that participated can give it. I told her to tell him that she wanted to write them all from now on lol

[Mung]

dhssoccermom25 said:

For a change DeRidder is getting pretty good and accurate coverage for girls soccer. My daughter has been writing the articles, and I guess because they are coming from a players perspective. The article he wrote for the last playoff game was okay, but it lacked the passion that someone that participated can give it. I told her to tell him that she wanted to write them all from now on lol

Is that in the Lake Charles American Press or does DeRidder have a local rag?

[dhssoccermom25]

local the Beauregard News.
you can check it out online, i think its deridderdailynews.com.

[tbone5471]

you know it wasn't the american mess....they only know how to cover football and basketball....and oh yeah, the softball weekend in sulphur.......

[swlasoccerfan]

when they do decide to cover soccer it's normally only St Louis boys, but when the girls of St Louis or Barbe have a game on a night the StL boys don't, and there's not a basketball game going on, these two teams have been known to find the front page of the sports section.