Soccer Training, Round One

“Huddle round team, and get a good look at one another,” Daphne, the Japanese captain says. “From today on, we’re Stonewall’s Coed team, and we are going to dominate.”

You meet eyes with the other players on the team, making a slow circle around the huddle. Five girls. Six guys. There are a couple familiar faces, and others that you don’t recognise at all.

“A lot of you haven’t had the chance to get to know one another yet,” Daphne says, seeming to pick up on your thoughts. “Let’s do some quick introductions—name, year, and position only, for now. I’ll start. As you should know by now, I’m Daphne, a senior. I’m a striker.”

“Jason,” a broad shouldered blond dude says. “I’m a junior, usually play up, midfield or winger.”

“Keegan,” your lanky acquaintance says. He stretches out his arms. “I was born to goalkeep, and um… a freshman.”

“Mars,” your hallmate chimes in. “I’m a freshman too, and I play midfield.”

“And I’m Valentine,” her friend says. “Like Mars, I’m a freshman midfielder too!”

“Charlie,” a stocky Hispanic dude says. “I’m a senior, and have always been a defender-type.”

“I’m Javier,” the Hispanic guy next to him says, fist-bumping Charlie. “I like being an attacker… oh, and I’m a junior.”

“Jack’s the name, scoring’s my game,” the familiar face says with a stupid smirk on his face. “I’m a freshman, but watch out, because I’m going hard.”

You roll your eyes, and decide to take your turn. “My name’s Alex. I’m a freshman, and I’m a solid defender.”

The last two remaining are the pair of blonde twins.

“Khloe,” one of them says, pointing to the other.

“And that’s Katie,” the other says.

“We’re sophomores,” the first says.

“And I guess we’re decent midfielders?” Khloe finishes.

“Fantastic,” Daphne says, clapping her hands together. “We’re jumping straight into it, so let’s get some drills going! I want cones here, here, and here, three times over the pitch, and let’s get dribbling!”

Everyone scrambles into motion, and within the minute, you’re driving the ball across the pitch, looping around cones, following close behind Charlie.

You spend the next hour or so drilling various skills, and you start to get a feel for the other players on the team. It’s a solid squad—one that would probably trounce your high school team. As the first hour comes to a close, Daphne calls you all in.

“Our first game’s on Saturday,” she says. “It’s a home game, against Kale University’s team, some friendly Mossy League rivalry. They weren’t great last year, but we’re a young team, so being completely honest—they’ve got a pretty decent chance against us. I think we have a lot of talent, but we’re going to have to work hard to bring this team to its full potential. Everyone with me? Good.

“Let’s move into some small game scenario work and play some ball. It’s going to be two groups of five, a 2 v 3 Attack vs. Defense kind of deal. Jason, you’re coming with me against Mars and Valentine to the far net. Javier, Jack, Khloe, Katie, you’re on the other side. Charlie, Alex, sort out amongst the two of you who’s going to go where, and Keegan—I want you to switch between the two goals for each round.”

The players scatter, heading to opposite sides of the pitch, and you share a look at Charlie.

“You care where you head?” he asks.

Daphne +1
Jason +1
Keegan +1
Mars +1
Valentine +1
Charlie +1
Javier +1
Jack +1
Khloe +1
Katie +1