Despite inexperience, Thibodaux High soccer is on the rebound

Central Lafourche, Terrebonne and South Terrebonne are the three powerhouses in District 8-5A soccer.

Just ask anyone.

For nearly the last decade the three have battled for first place.

But if the Thibodaux High Tigers and Lady Tigers get their way, they’ll be the fourth school in that powerhouse category.

Unlike the seasons experienced by the top of the pack, the Tigers’ teams have had an uphill climb. They’ve been in the district’s cellar the majority of the time. And coaching turnovers of the school’s teams could fill an entire roster.

It hasn’t been easy for coaches Arthur Bernard and Leslie Magee, but both are determined to bring the program back to respectability.

As first-year head coaches, both have had to overcome the typical obstacles every freshman coach faces, but it has been a challenge they confidently accept.

“There’s a mixture of players here,” Lady Tigers coach Magee said. “There are a few who’ve played youth league for a while and others who haven’t played at all. It’s our job as coaches to get all of them interested in the game.”

Doing that requires getting the players as many touches as possible, Magee said.

“The more those inexperienced players touch the ball, the more they will get comfortable with playing the game. The more they learn, the more excited they’ll be about the sport.”

In his short time as the headman of the Tigers, Bernard said he’s noticed the difference in play between the top-level teams and the rest of the district. However, the Tigers made the playoffs for the first time in 2006, and find themselves in the middle of the pack.

“We are real close to bursting into that top level,” Bernard said. “These boys know that and that’s what keeps them going. It keeps them committed. If we can keep it that way, we’ll continue to hang around with the top teams.”

Playing consistently is the Tigers biggest challenge, the coach said.

Bernard’s squad faced its toughest test of the season last week against Terrebonne, which is undefeated in district play. Thibodaux scored the first two goals before eventually dropping the match 5-2.

“We tend to do that a lot,” he said. “We’re either hot or flat. If we can put things together for an entire match, we’ll be competitive.”

However, Bernard said that playing the top teams allows him to evaluate how far along the team is.

Developing young players takes commitment, a factor both Bernard and Magee say has played against prior Thibodaux teams.

According to Magee, it’s harder to keep a team together, if they are not committed. She said players who joined soccer at an early age are generally more likely to stay with the sport.

“It all goes back to youth teams,” she said. “They have them in Thibodaux, but they’re not as strong and the commitment isn’t as big as the one in Terrebonne. It shows on the field.”

“Not that the leagues are bad in Thibodaux, soccer is just bigger in some places than others,” she added.

Weather is another turnoff for teens when it comes to soccer, according to Magee.

Louisiana is among only four of five states that play soccer in the winter, so players have to deal with the rain, cold and even sleet. Not the ideal conditions to attract people to play an outdoor sport.

“It’s just something the team has to learn to deal with,” the Georgia-native said. “This team has to like what they’re doing, enjoy what they’re doing and realize they are out there to have fun.”

“Wins and losses say a lot about a team but the things you learn and having fun are the most important,” she added.