Soccer Show-Off

by Jake Maddox

  The referee blew the whistle, and the Raiders and Mariners gathered for the kickoff. Lara kicked the ball down the field, and Becca stopped it with her knee.

  “Keep on it, Becca!” Coach Grant shouted.

  Gina stayed close to Becca, making sure to keep herself open. When one of the Mariners’ players got close to Becca, she passed the ball to Gina.

  Gina dribbled the ball down the field and remembered to pass it to Lara. Lara stayed on the ball, bringing it in close to the net. She kicked it past the defenders. Goal!

  “That’s the teamwork I’m taking about!” Coach Grant shouted. “Keep it up, ladies!”

  The Raiders jumped up and down, but didn’t have long to celebrate. The Mariners took possession of the ball and got to work moving it down the field.

  Gina was impressed with their speed. The Tigers would have to stick to the Mariners like glue if they wanted to stop them. Becca made a move to steal the ball away, but the Mariners’ player was too quick. She did a swift backward pass, sending the ball to a teammate behind her with the sole of her cleat.

  They’re good, but we need to be better, Gina thought.

  Gina tried to get ahead of the Mariners’ player controlling the ball, but the other girl was too quick. Almost before Gina knew what had happened, the girl dodged around her and lobbed the ball into the Raiders’ goal.

  The rest of the Mariners cheered as the ball hit the back of the net. The game was now tied 1-1. Both Rachel and the defense looked irritated.

  “Shake it off,” Coach Grant called. “Focus, girls!”

  “We have the ball now,” Gina said to Becca. “Let’s make sure we keep it.”

  Becca grinned. “My plan exactly,” she agreed.

  The game was on again, and the Raiders stayed on the ball. They had their passing down, and Gina did her best to stay open. Lara passed the ball to her, and Gina dribbled down the field.

  “Pass, Gina!” Coach Grant shouted from the sidelines.

  Gina passed the ball up the field to Becca, who took off, weaving in and out of the Mariners. When a Mariner snuck up beside her and made a move for the ball, she passed it back to Gina.

  Gina could see the goal up ahead. She wanted to score and put the Raiders in the lead. Suddenly, a Mariners’ defender was at her side. Gina knew it was risky, but she refused to give up the ball. She wanted to make that goal.

  “I’m open!” she heard Amy yell.

  “Pass the ball!” Coach Grant shouted.

  Gina ignored them and dribbled faster. I can do it, she thought stubbornly.

  But suddenly a Mariners’ defender swiped the ball away and kicked it up the field in the opposite direction. A Mariners’ midfielder quickly ran after the ball and started dribbling toward the Raiders’ goal. The defense was there, but they weren’t fast enough. Goal!

  The first period was over. The Mariners were up by one, and the Raiders were glaring at Gina like it was all her fault.

  Chapter 6

  RIDING THE BENCH

  At the start of the second half, the Raiders did not look happy. Several of the girls glared at Gina.

  I don’t get it, Gina thought. All I want to do is help. Sometimes the ball gets stolen. It’s not like it only happens to me.

  Gina sighed and adjusted her shin guards. She had to do better this period.

  “Gina, wait a second,” Coach Grant said as Gina started to jog onto the field.

  Gina stopped. “What’s up, Coach?” she asked.

  “I want you to sit out the rest of the game,” the coach said.

  Gina couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What?” she said. “But why?”

  “This team isn’t about one person,” Coach Grant said. “It’s about teamwork. Everyone has skills they’re good at. The purpose of a team is to let everyone do her part.”

  Gina felt tears prick her eyes as she walked over to the bench and sat down. She’d never been asked to sit out a game before. She couldn’t believe it. Gina stared stubbornly at the ground, kicking the grass and refusing to look at what was happening on the field.

  But when she heard people cheering in the bleachers, Gina couldn’t stand it anymore. She looked up. The Raiders had control of the ball and were moving it down the field.

  Gina saw Carrie, a girl she’d never watched before, pass the ball to Lara. Carrie’s pass went straight to Lara’s feet like they were magnets.

  Gina frowned. Why haven’t I noticed how good Carrie is before? she wondered.

  Gina’s eyes stayed glued to the field as Lara kicked the ball off the ground and into the air in front of the goal. All of a sudden, Becca came charging to the center as well. She jumped up in the air and angled her body, heading the ball into the net. Tie game again!

  Gina glanced at the clock. There were only two minutes left. She looked back at the field. In the goal, Rachel looked ready for anything.

  Becca, Lara, and Carrie all stayed close to the Mariners’ players they were guarding, making sure they couldn’t pass the ball. It seemed like the Raiders had their system down pat.

  I wonder if it looks like that when I’m on the field, Gina thought. It sure doesn’t feel like it.

  Then it hit her. Things didn’t flow as smoothly because she was too busy trying to shine on her own.

  The clock was running down, and the Mariners still had the ball. They were getting closer to the Raiders’ goal each second.

  Gina watched as her teammates tried to surround the Mariners’ player with the ball, but she zoomed around them. The goal was inches away. The Mariners’ forward shot as the buzzer sounded. Goal! The Mariners won the game.

  After the Raiders finished shaking hands with the Mariners, Gina snuck off to the bus. She picked a single seat in the back and put her headphones on. She didn’t want to talk to anyone on the team. Not when she knew she’d cost the Raiders the game.

  Chapter 7

  ODD GIRL OUT

  The next morning, Gina thought about staying home sick. It wouldn’t have been a lie. The thought of facing her teammates made her sick to her stomach.

  Maybe I can pretend to be sick and go to the nurse’s office if they’re as mad at me as I think, Gina decided.

  Gina’s stomach was filled with butterflies as she walked into school. As she got closer to her locker, she saw Becca waiting for her.

  I hope she’s not here to yell at me, Gina thought nervously. Or that she at least gets it over with quickly.

  “Hey,” Gina said quietly.

  “Hi,” said Becca. “I came to see how you were doing. You didn’t sit with us on the bus ride home.”

  Gina felt her eyes fill with tears. “I didn’t think you’d want me to,” she said. “I know everyone hates me. I let the whole team down.”

  Becca shook her head. “No one hates you, Gina,” she said. “They’re just frustrated.”

  Gina wiped at her eyes and looked down at the dingy floor of the hallway. “I know,” she said. “Because we lost. It’s all my fault. I’m really sorry.”

  Becca put her hand on Gina’s arm. “It’s not because we lost,” Becca said. “I mean, no one was thrilled with that, but it’s not like it was the first time. We’re upset because we all like to play.”

  Gina was confused. “I just want to help,” she said.

  Becca sighed. “I know, and that’s great. But we’re all on the team because, duh, we love soccer!” she said with a smile.

  Gina smiled back. “Yeah, I get it,” she said. “I wasn’t giving anyone else a chance to do what they love.”

  “Exactly,” Becca said. “One person can’t carry the whole team. It’s too much pressure and work. If we win, we do it together.”

  Gina laughed a little. “And if we lose, we do that together too,” she said.

  Becca laughed in agreement. “You got it,” she said.
>
  “Thanks,” said Gina. “You’re a good friend.”

  “Sit with us at lunch today,” Becca suggested, “and you’ll see that the other Raiders are good friends too.”

  Chapter 8

  PLAYING AS A TEAM

  Gina felt nervous as she walked over to join her teammates at lunch. But she shouldn’t have worried. They seemed to have forgiven her. They gave her a hard time about hogging the ball, but they laughed while doing it.

  But practice that afternoon was a different story. Not all the Raiders had been at the lunch table. Gina would have to face them for the first time since yesterday’s loss.

  As she walked toward the soccer field with Becca after school, Gina noticed some of the other players glaring at her.

  “I don’t think the rest of the team is quite as ready to forgive me,” Gina mumbled. “They look mad.”

  Rachel ran up beside her. “What are you talking about?” she asked as she joined them.

  “Gina is worried the team is still mad at her,” Becca explained.

  Rachel put her arm around Gina’s other shoulder. “That’s crazy talk,” she said. She made her voice deep like Coach Grant’s. “Besides, that’s not how we work as a team.”

  All the girls giggled, and Gina felt relieved.

  “Now let’s show everyone what working as a team can do,” Becca said. She grabbed Gina’s hand and pulled her onto the field.

  The girls split up into two lines and worked on the give-and-go drill. One player from each line ran toward the goal, passing the ball back and forth as they ran. Rachel took her place at the goal while the rest of the Raiders took turns shooting.

  After they finished their drills, the girls split into two teams for a scrimmage. Gina focused on her footwork but made sure to keep an eye on her teammates as she played. Whenever she was cornered, she passed the ball to an open player.

  At the end of practice, no one gave Gina the cold shoulder. Coach Grant gathered the girls and smiled wider than Gina had ever seen.

  “I’m really proud of all of you,” she said. “That was the best teamwork I’ve seen in a long time. At Friday’s game, I have no doubt we’ll show just how good our skills are.”

  Chapter 9

  BACK IN THE GAME

  The rest of the week flew by. Before Gina knew it, it was time for Friday’s game. She couldn’t wait to play again. She met Becca, Lara, and Rachel by the gym, and they all walked to the field together.

  “I can’t wait to get out on the field!” Gina exclaimed.

  “We’re so going to win,” Rachel added.

  “Don’t forget the teamwork, ladies,” Coach Grant said, walking up behind them.

  “Can’t forget that!” Gina agreed.

  The Raiders saw the other team, the Panthers, already on the field. Everyone hurried to get into position as well.

  The Raiders took the kickoff, and Gina dribbled the ball down the field. The heat was on, and the Panthers’ players were on her heels.

  Gina quickly looked around the field and made eye contact with Becca. Gina kicked a chip pass over the other players to her. Becca knocked the ball down to the ground with her chest.

  The crowd cheered as Becca moved closer to the goal. She was almost there, but the Panthers’ defense blocked her. Lara was on it, swooping in from the outside to kick the ball in. 1-0, Raiders!

  The Panthers wasted no time getting their feet on the ball. Gina watched as they used fancy kicks and footwork to move the ball toward the Raiders’ goal. The defenders worked to block the goal, but the Panthers’ forward managed to kick it in. The game was tied 1-1.

  As they moved into the second half, Gina could tell the rest of the Raiders were anxious too. They wanted to win as much as she did. And they’d have to work together to do it.

  The Raiders took turns dribbling the ball down the field. They got close to the Panthers’ goal several times, but the Panthers’ defense always managed to deflect the ball. Luckily for the Raiders, the Panthers were in the same position. The Raiders’ defense stopped them cold.

  With only two minutes left in the game, the Raiders had possession of the ball again. This time, Carrie dribbled the ball down the field. Her feet moved quickly as they pushed the ball, but the Panthers swarmed in.

  Carrie kicked the ball over to Gina, who knocked it to the ground with her chest. The seconds ticked away, and Gina ran down the field.

  The goal loomed before her, and Gina could taste the win. The Panthers could too. They swooped in to steal the ball away, but Gina did a backward pass to Lara before that could happen.

  Lara pulled her leg back to kick the ball into the goal, but a Panthers’ defender stood in her way. She quickly passed the ball back to Gina.

  The clock flashed ten seconds. Gina looked around to see if there was an open teammate to pass to.

  “Shoot!” yelled Becca. “There’s no time.”

  Gina swallowed, pulled her leg back, and shot the ball high into the air. Goal!

  Gina barely registered what had happened before the other Raiders swarmed her. Everyone was cheering with excitement.

  “You did it!” Rachel hollered.

  Gina grinned. This was what she’d wanted from the moment she joined the Raiders. But something was different now. She looked at her teammates and Coach Grant. She hadn’t scored that goal alone. They’d worked together up until the last second.

  “No,” Gina said, “we did it — together!”

  AUTHOR BIO

  Margaret Gurevich has wanted to be a writer since second grade. She has written for many magazines and currently writes young adult and middle grade books. She lives with her husband, son, and two furry kitties and fondly remembers her cheerleading days.

  ILLUSTRATOR BIO

  Katie Wood fell in love with drawing when she was very small. Since graduating from Loughborough University School of Art and Design in 2004, she has been living her dream working as a freelance illustrator. From her studio in Leicester, England, she creates bright and lively illustrations for books and magazines all over the world.

  GLOSSARY

  celebrate (SEL-uh-brate) — to do something enjoyable on a special occasion

  determined (di-TUR-mind) — feeling firm in your decision to do something

  dingy (DIN-jee) — dull and dirty

  enthusiastic (en-thoo-zee-ASS-tik) — very excited about or interested in something

  focus (FOH-kuss) — to concentrate on something or somebody

  pressure (PRESH-ur) — strong influence, force, or persuasion

  scrimmage (SKRIM-ij) — a game played for practice in sports

  strategy (STRAT-uh-jee) — a clever plan for winning a military battle or achieving a goal

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  How would you feel after the first game if you were one of Gina’s new teammates on the Raiders? Talk about it.

  Do you think it was fair of the coach to bench Gina because of how she played? Talk about why or why not.

  Why do you think Gina was so determined to show off in the beginning of this book? Discuss some possible reasons.

  WRITING PROMPTS

  Gina is nervous on her first day at her new school. Have you ever started a new school? Write a paragraph about how you felt.

  Imagine that you’re Becca. Write a paragraph about what kind of advice you would give to Gina.

  Which position would you like to play in soccer? Write about your choice.

  SOCCER POSITIONS

  defender — this player plays in front of the goal and is focused on stopping the opposing team from scoring

  forward — the player in front of the rest of the team who takes the most shots and is responsible for most of the team’s scoring

  fullback — a rear defender

  goalkeeper — the player positioned in the goal to block the opposing team�
��s shots

  midfielder — the player in the middle of the field between the forwards and defenders; this position links defense and offense through ball control and passing

  striker — a team’s main scoring player; similar to a forward

  sweeper — a single defender who plays directly in front of the goal

  Discover More:

  VIDEOS & CONTESTS

  GAMES & PUZZLES

  HEROES & VILLAINS

  AUTHORS & ILLUSTRATORS

  www.capstonekids.com

  Find cool websites and more books just like this one at www.facthound.com. Just type in the book I.D. 9781434241443 and you’re ready to go!

  Jake Maddox books are published by Stone Arch Books

  A Capstone Imprint

  1710 Roe Crest Drive

  North Mankato, Minnesota 56003

  www.capstonepub.com

  Copyright © 2014 by Stone Arch Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Maddox, Jake, author.

  Soccer show-off / by Jake Maddox ; text by Margaret Gurevich; illustrated by Katie Wood.

  pages cm. -- (Jake Maddox girl sports stories)

  Summary: Gina tries to be the star of the soccer team at her newschool, but her teammates do not like her showoff moves.

  ISBN 978-1-4342-4144-3 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-1-4342-7932-3 (pbk.)