Going easy on preps?

Why is jargon appropriate at any level?

 

I've always been a call-'em-as-I-see-'em kind of guy. I'm not going to mention that kids screwed up just to say that they screwed up, but when it comes to a situation on which the game hinges, then absolutely I mention it.
And don't get me started on baseball and softball coaches, who've actually asked me not to mention the names of kids that make errors.

 

Give them the benefit of the doubt in what way? Not write anything negative about their play or team? There's definitely a line to be drawn with preps, but you still have to accurately report the game. If the offensive line dominated, then it dominated.

And as for kids quitting because of a reporter or newspaper, someone here wrote a while back in a similar thread that kids don't start playing sports because of what people will write about them, so they shouldn't decide to stop playing because of it either.

 

On the other side, never a fan of the word "upset" in high school. There's no betting (legally), and it's just a matter of opinions anyway.

 

I agree to some extent.

But they are also getting their name in the paper over and over again when they do well, and to some extent, there's a balance off to that when they do poorly.

I think it more comes into play when they get arrested, though.

 

"Jones picked off an underthrown pass by Smith to secure the win."
or
"Terwilliger finished 3-of-30 with four interceptions"
are fine. You've got to mention those because odds are they were an important factor in determining the outcome.
You don't say, "With the game on the line, McBeezelbeck choked like President Bush eating a pretzel."
or call for a kid to be benched, place the loss all on one kid's shoulders, etc.
You do treat them with kid gloves a bit, because they are kids. But don't get too carried away with it and let it keep you from telling the story.

 

Just tell what happened and let the readers make up their own minds.

 

Situation like that, it always helps to interview the kid after the game, too. Give them a chance to say what went wrong, even if it's as simple as "I missed the kick" or "I was imagining boning three cheerleaders after we finished this game-winning touchdown drive, took my eye off the ball and fumbled the snap."
It gives a story a kind of even-handed feel, and lets you explain what happened in the kid's own words without slamming him.

 

Might work for you and many others on the board, but where I work, a kid signing to play NAIA is our highest-caliber athlete.

 

One word I try to avoid in preps is star.
I like standout better.
Moddy has the right advice, be fair, let the facts speak for themselves, don't go overboard negative or positive.