The Big Game

Coach R was the best coach. His hair was thin. He always wore his “best coach” jacket. We never saw him without it. He wore his blue sweat pants and his white shoes. He never got mad at us. He just looked funny if we did something wrong. His face would get red. He would put his board in his bag.

“Girls, it is all about the basics—just the basics. We win as a team, we lose as a team.”

We all smiled. Before every game he said the same thing. “Remember the basics.”

When we were on the field, we had to do what he said. Trap. Control. Pass. Dribble. Shoot. That is the way he wanted it done.

Today was no different. We all wanted to win. It was the last game of the year. Our team wanted the trophy. If not the trophy, we wanted the medals. It was our day. The prize was for us to have.

The sun was shining. We were getting hot. We gave our mittens to our moms and dads. Our team went on the field to play soccer.

“Trap. Control. Pass. Dribble. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.”

We shot. We scored. Our team listened to Coach R and we won. It was a great day. He is the best coach a team could have!