Go for the Goal! by Fred Bowen Page B

said, splashing some water on his face. “Coach is always looking to get better. Lots of guys want to play on the United.”
    Tweeeet!
    “Okay, break’s over. Let’s hustle.” Coach Hodges looked at her watch. “We have time for a quick scrimmage. Nine on nine. C’mon, let’s go.” She grabbed a handful of yellow mesh shirts and called out names for the two teams.
    “Looks like we’re on different teams,” Aidan said as Josh pulled the yellow shirt over his head.
    “Yeah, I get to play with Mr. Red Shoes,” Josh said, eyeing Evan’s fancy footwear.
    “Lucky you,” Aidan teased. “Watch out. He might make you kiss his shoes.”
    “Well, at least he can play,” Josh said. “Did you see him in the drills? The guy’s got some serious skills.”
    “So does everybody on this team. Victor. Kadir. Mario. Patrick. They all can play.”
    “That’s why it’s going to be so much betterthan playing for the Flames,” Josh said.
    “Okay, let’s get started!” Coach shouted. “I want to see some hustle.”
    Josh studied the two teams on the practice pitch. Neither team was stacked with the best players.
Looks like Coach Hodges hasn’t picked the starting team yet,
he thought.
I better play well if I want to be a starter—or play at all.
    The scrimmage started fast. Evan chipped a ball into the offensive zone and Josh raced after it. A defender battled Josh with a grab at his shirt and an elbow to his ribs. Josh glanced at Coach Hodges, expecting a call.
    “Play on!” she barked. “Come on, Josh, get some space!” Coach kept after him. “I thought you were fast. Use your speed.”
    Josh noticed the United scrimmage was faster, tougher, and much more competitive than the Flames rec-league games.
I gotta start dishing it out instead of just taking it,
he thought.
    “Five more minutes,” Coach called out to the team. “Let’s see more ball movement, more passing.”
    Evan made a steal and dribbled upfield. Seeing an opening, Josh darted up the wing, stretching out his hand, trying to get Evan’s attention. But Evan ignored him and kept charging forward.
    Aidan stopped Evan with a perfect tackle and his team took possession.
    Josh couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was the heat, but he was getting tired of Evan hogging the ball. He turned and hustled back on defense. A few minutes later, the scrimmage ended. No goals. No more scoring chances.
    “Good work, guys!” Coach Hodges shouted. “Not bad for a first practice. Especially in this weather.”
    “Any news about the tournaments?” Victor asked.
    “Not yet. Don’t worry. I’ll e-mail everyone about the first tournament. See you Thursday.”
    The players headed straight for the water jug and one last cold drink. Aidan and Josh held back and let the others go first.
    “We didn’t look so great,” Aidan said as he picked at his sweaty T-shirt to keep it fromsticking to his skin.
    “It’s gonna take time,” Josh said, using his own T-shirt to wipe his face. “It’s just our first practice and it was super hot. We’re not with the Flames anymore where we knew everybody. We gotta get used to these guys. Our timing was off.”
    “There was a lot of pushing and grabbing out there,” Aidan said.
    Josh laughed. “Maybe that’s why our timing was off.”
    The players trudged through the steamy air and toward their parents, who waited in their air-conditioned cars.
    “Hey, Evan,” Josh called ahead to the United midfielder. “I thought you were going to pass me the ball on that play. I was open on the wing. Didn’t you see me?”
    Evan turned. He looked surprised. “Yeah, I saw you,” he said. “But you didn’t do much with the first ball I chipped to you. So why would I …”
    Evan didn’t finish his sentence. He got distracted when he spotted his dad waving and calling for him to hurry up.
    Josh stopped short and shot a glance at Aidan.
    “Ouch,” Aidan said.
    “What’s with that guy?” Josh asked, his eyes blazing. “He acts