The Left-Footed Goalie
Theo could only kick with his left foot. His right foot simply would not cooperate. It went the wrong way every time.
At practice Coach Mara watched him play. "Theo, I want you in goal today," she said.
"In goal?" said Theo. "But I want to score goals, not stop them." Coach Mara only smiled.
A soccer team has eleven players on the field. One of them is the goalkeeper. Only the goalkeeper can use hands and arms.
The match began on Saturday, and a whistle blew. The ball rolled out onto the grass.
The other team kicked hard. Theo leaped and caught the ball. He held it tight against his chest.
Now what? Theo could throw it, but he wanted to try something. He dropped the ball and swung his left foot.
Boom! The ball flew far down the field. It landed at the feet of Jess.
Jess was the fastest girl on the team. She raced up the field and scored a goal. The whole team cheered, and Theo punched the air.
It happened again in the second half. Theo caught another ball. His long left kick sent it flying down the field.
The match ended two to nothing. Theo's team had won the whole game.
"You are the best goalkeeper ever," said Coach Mara. Theo grinned. His left foot had found its place.
Questions
- His right foot
- His left foot
- Both feet
- In the crowd
- On the bench
- In goal
- Jess
- Coach Mara
- Theo
- Everyone can use hands
- He forgot the rules
- The goalkeeper may use hands
- Sad and tired
- Proud and happy
- Worried
- Jumped far
- Walked slowly
- Sat down
Words to know
- goalkeeper: the player who guards the goal
- match: a game between teams
- whistle: a tool that makes a loud sound
- leaped: jumped far
- practice: time to get better
- cheered: shouted with joy
Answer key: The Left-Footed Goalie
- B. His left foot
- C. In goal
- A. Jess
- C. The goalkeeper may use hands
- B. Proud and happy
- A. Jumped far
For the teacher: how this passage is levelled
“The Left-Footed Goalie” is a reading level 7 story. Every Peabody story at this level is written and checked to keep sentences to 10 words or fewer, to aim at an average of 6 words a sentence, and to show 12 to 30 words on a screen. At most 8% of its words may be off the familiar-word list. Children in 3rd grade start at this level.
| This passage | 226 words, 12 screens, 6 multiple-choice questions with an answer key, and 6 vocabulary words with kid-sized meanings |
|---|---|
| Longest sentence at this level | 10 words |
| Words on a screen | 12 to 30 |
| Skills practised at this level | phonics (sounding words out), sight words, spelling |
Reading level 7: the limits, a real sample and the free games. Peabody is a learning app, not an assessment: use the questions to talk about the story, not to grade a child.