Read Online Goalkeeper in Charge by Matt Christopher - Free Book Online Page A

Danielle said, “we have to remember that we’re a team. That means there’s never any place for anger or yelling.
     Teammates support each other. Arguing hurts the team. I hope I won’t have to bring this up again.”
    Tina knew that this was aimed at her, at least partly. As she unlaced her soccer shoes, Meg nudged her and pointed. Tina saw
     Danielle talking to Cindy, who was red-faced.
    “I knew the coach wouldn’t let Cindy get away with that stuff,” Meg said.
    As Cindy walked away from the coach, Danielle beckoned to Tina.
    “Now it’s my turn,” sighed Tina.
    Before Danielle spoke, Tina said, “I’m sorry I yelled. I won’t do it again.”
    “That’s all right,” said the coach. “I’m sure you won’t lose your temper. But there are times when it’s not only okay for
     you to raise your voice to teammates— it’s necessary. You need to start doing that when it’s called for.”
    Tina was startled.
    “Pepper talked to you and Andrea about goalkeepers being field generals,” Danielle went on. “That means, when a player is
     blocking your view in the penalty area, or when you want a player to move so you can pass her the ball or for any other reason,
     you have to tell her. You have to tell her loud enough to be heard. That isn’t yelling because you’re angry, that’s part of
     a keeper’s game. Don’t be afraid to do your job, okay?”
    “Okay,” Tina said. She knew it was something she would have to work on.
    Later on, Tina and Meg sat on Meg’s front porch. “It was good to see Danielle talk to Cindy,” Meg said. “She deserved it.”
    Tina curled her legs under her on the porch chair. “I never though I’d say this, but I feel bad for Cindy, now.”
    Meg stared at her friend, then laughed. “You’re amazing! After what happened today?”
    “Yeah, but Cindy’s mom must give her a lot of grief,” Tina replied. “Cindy must feel that if she isn’ta star, her mom will be all over her. With most of us, if we do well, fine, and if we don’t do well, it’s too bad but it’s
     no big deal. If Cindy doesn’t do well, it
is
a big deal. I think she’s afraid not to be a star.”
    Meg was quiet for a minute. “I guess,” she finally said. “What did Danielle tell you?”
    Tina smiled. “She says I
have
to yell more — it’s part of what goalkeepers do. They have to let players know they’re out of position, move them around.
     So, yelling can be a bad thing, or it can be a good thing, and I have to figure out which is which. Soccer is complicated
     sometimes.”
    Meg smiled. “
Life
is complicated sometimes.”
    “That’s the truth,” said Tina.

9
    T ina was doing some stretches while waiting for practice to begin the next day, when she heard someone say, “I’m sorry I yelled
     at you yesterday.”
    Startled, Tina looked up to find Cindy standing in front of her, looking grim, as if she were doing something she really disliked.
    For a moment, Tina was stuck for a reply. Cindy waited a moment, then turned and began to walk away.
    “Wait!” Tina called, and ran after her. She got in front of Cindy, who stopped and looked at her, unsmiling.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything just now, it’s just that I… anyway, I’m sorry too. For yelling. I mean. It won’t happen again.”
    “Okay,” Cindy said, without a smile. Tina was sure that Cindy hadn’t apologized because she felt she’d been wrong, but because
     she’d been told to.
    “You know,” Tina said, “I —” She stopped just before blurting something out about how rough it must be for Cindy to deal with
     her mother’s demands. She suddenly realized that this would be a bad idea. Once again, she stood there without knowing what
     to say next.
    Finally, Cindy shook her head and left.
    “What did
she
want?” asked Meg, who had arrived just in time to see Cindy and Tina together.
    “She apologized for yelling,” Tina explained.
    “Huh,” Meg said. “She didn’t look really sorry, did