Chapter 2
The next day at school, Gina’s stomach was in knots. The team list was supposed to be up at the end of the day. As soon as the final bell rang, Gina bolted from her classroom. When she got to the gym, Rachel, Lara, and Becca were already waiting.
“You’re as antsy as we are,” said Lara.
“I could barely focus all day,” said Gina.
Becca laughed. “That makes four of us!” she said.
Finally, the gym doors swung open, and the girls all pushed inside to look at the list.
Rachel got there first, and Gina heard her squeal excitedly.
“We all made it!” said Rachel. “I knew we would!”
Rachel pulled Gina, Becca, and Lara into a huddle, and the girls jumped up and down. Just then, Coach Grant walked into the gym.
“Welcome, Raiders!” the coach said. “I’m very excited about the new faces on the team this year.”
Gina and the others cheered.
“But,” continued Coach Grant, “we have lots of practice to do before our first scrimmage this week.”
The coach kept talking, but Gina was only half listening. She was already picturing herself running across the field, passing the ball, and scoring goals with her power kicks.
In the distance, she heard the coach talking about teamwork and helping each other, but Gina kept daydreaming. Suddenly, she felt a sharp elbow poke her in the ribs.
“Wake up,” Rachel whispered. “Coach wants us to run through some drills.”
Gina blushed and followed Rachel into the locker room to get changed. She didn’t want Coach to think she couldn’t focus.
Once they were out on the field, Rachel and Gina paired up again.
“Ready?” asked Rachel.
Gina nodded. “Yep, let’s go!” she called back.
Rachel bent her right knee slightly and used the inside of her foot to strike the center of the ball. She made sure to follow through with her kicking foot so that the inside of her foot ended facing Gina.
The ball zoomed quickly toward Gina, and she moved toward it to trap it with her toe.
“Nice!” Rachel called from the opposite end of the field.
Just then Coach Grant made her way to the girls.
I’m going to show her my special moves, Gina thought. She’ll have to be impressed when I show her how high I can kick the ball with the chip pass.
Gina placed her right toe at the bottom of the soccer ball and put her other foot against its side. Then she lifted the ball with her toe and sent it soaring through the air toward Rachel.
Rachel gave Gina a questioning look but stepped back and let the ball bounce off her chest. “Take it easy,” she called.
“Good job, girls,” Coach Grant said. “But I want you to focus on a simple dribbling and passing routine for now. Those are the most important skills in our games.”
Gina frowned, but did what the coach wanted for the rest of the practice.
Besides, I’ll have plenty of time to help the team at Friday’s game, Gina thought confidently.