Characters
This is the protagonist who gets cut from the soccer team and later tries out for football.
Riley
Riley is cut from this team at the start of the story.
The Soccer Team
One major theme: stepping out of a comfort zone and trying something new.
Is trying new things
The position Riley tries out for in football
The Kicker
"After she gets cut from the soccer team…”, what does Riley do next?
Tryout for the football team
The sport Riley originally played, where she had the best kick but wasn’t fast enough.
Soccer
Despite her strong kick in soccer, Riley gets cut because she lacked this attribute.
Speed
Riley’s experience shows the importance of this over individual success.
Teamwork
Riley had the best one of these on the soccer team.
Kick
“Swapping a soccer ball for a football isn’t so easy.” What does Riley need to learn?
how to kick a football under pressure
This teammate of Riley’s is unhappy that she joins the football team as kicker.
Sean
What does Riley decide to do when the football team needs a kicker?
Tryout for the Football team
Dealing with disappointment and turning it into this.
Opportunities
What does Riley wear to practice that draws attention from some of her male teammates?
Soccer Cleats
When Riley nails a difficult kick, her coach says something that boosts her confidence. What kind of encouragement does he give?
Saying she earned the spot on this team for a reason.
The sport and team that has a sudden need for a new kicker, leading to Riley’s opportunity.
Football
Riley has to learn how to trade kicking a soccer ball for kicking this.
A football
The story challenges this by having a girl play on a football team.
Gender Equality
What school event is approaching that makes Riley’s performance on the football team more important?
The Homecoming game
Riley overhears this type of comment that makes her question if she belongs on the team.
Sexist comment about girls playing football.
This character becomes a key source of conflict for Riley due to his bullying.
Sean
Near the end, Riley must decide whether her natural talent will be enough or if she will do this under pressure.
Crack under pressure
The story shows that talent alone isn’t always enough
Hard Work
What is one way Riley earns the respect of her teammates during practice?
Making tough kicks under pressure.
At a key moment in the story, Riley mentally reminds herself of this to calm her nerves before a kick.
Soccer training and to focus under pressure.