It was Saturday morning, Danny and Tom had just arrived for their football training.  They have been playing in their junior football team for almost a year now and are really enjoying it.

 

For the last 2 weeks a girl called Priya had been trialling with the team, and she's hoping to join the team if her trials go well.

 

Last week, during training Priya came over to Danny and Tom to say hello.  Priya told them that she thought they were both very good at football.

 

 

The boys liked the lovely compliment and told Priya that she was awesome at scoring goals!

 

Tom had told his dad on the way home from training last week that, “our team needs Priya to help win matches as she's so cool at scoring goals.”

 

Danny too had been really excited about Priya trialling for his team.  He had told Zara and Tilly during the week at school about Priya.  "Priya's really fast on the pitch and scored 2 goals in our practice match on Saturday," he said excitedly.

 

As teammates started arriving for training, the boys put their water bottles on the grass.  Danny said, "I hope coach will pick Priya for the team soon, look here she comes!"

 

"Hi Priya," said both boys as she walked over and gave them high fives. 

 

"Are you going to score again this week?  You were brilliant last week and I hope you make it onto our team!" said a very excited Danny.

 

"Thanks Danny," replied Priya who was keeping her fingers crossed to make it to the team.  "I'm really enjoying my trials but some of my friends don't think I should be trialling for a boy’s team.  My best friend Katie plays for a girl’s team and has been asking me to trial for her team."

 

"Oh," said Tom who couldn't understand why Priya's friend Katie didn't want her to trial for his football team.

 

Danny scratched his head and looked confused by what Priya had said.  “Why doesn’t Katie want you to trial for my team?” he asked.

 

Just then the coach called all the children over and started the training session.  It was an hour's training session, starting with warm ups.

 

“1 2 3 4 5 clap your hands and touch your toes,

6 7 8 9 10 turnaround and stretch your arms,

Let’s jog on the spot,

And be a robot,

Now that we’re all done,

It’s time to have some fun.”

 

The coach split the children into two teams for their practice match towards the end of the training session. 

 

It was clear most of the teammates wanted to be in the same team as Priya.

 

"Yes!" shouted Tom realising he was in the same team as Priya.

 

Danny, however wasn't too happy as he was in the opposite team.  He pulled a sad face at Priya and Tom who both started laughing.

 

“Better luck next time,” said Tom.

 

The match was so much fun, and just as Danny had thought, Priya scored again and again!  There was no way his team were going to win.

 

After the match, the coach spoke to Priya and her mom and told them both he was really impressed with how well Priya was playing.  He asked if Priya would like to come again next week?

 

"Can I mom, please?" asked Priya excitedly.

 

"Yes of course you can," replied Priya's mom.  "I'm hoping you make it to the team."

 

"I'll make my decision next week," said the coach smiling at Priya.  "So far, from what I've seen of you playing it's all very positive so well done and keep up your enthusiasm."

 

Danny and Tom were secretly listening while their parents were waiting to speak to the coach.

 

“Yes!” said Danny pretending to kick a football towards Tom.

 

“Cool” said Tom, pretending to kick the football back to Danny.

 

They were both so excited by what they heard the coach say that they started hugging each other.

 

In the car on the way home, Danny was so excited and told his mom that he would be so happy if Priya joined his team.

 

 

"But Priya’s friend Katie doesn’t want her to trial for my team," he said looking confused.

 

"That's okay Danny," replied his mom.  "I'm quite pleased Priya is trialling for your team when she's the only girl.  It shows how confident she is and she's not nervous about playing in a boy’s team.  I'm sure you are all making her feel part of the team because boys and girls are equal."

 

"You're right mom," said Danny with a smile.  "I treat Priya like all my other teammates.  It makes no difference that she's a girl!  I can't wait to go to training next week and see if Priya gets picked."

 

The week ahead was going so slow for Tom and Danny who spoke non stop about Priya joining their football team.

 

After school on Friday, Danny, Zara and Tilly had come to the park to play. 

 

“Keeping active is fun” said Danny as he threw his cricket ball over to Zara who was waiting to bat.

 

"Maybe we can invite Priya to play with us next time," suggested Tilly who was looking forward to meeting Priya.  "Priya sounds really brave and not scared of playing in a boy’s football team."

 

"Yes," agreed Zara, "she sounds like fun and I would really like to meet her."

 

"When I see her at football training I will ask her," said Danny.

 

The children played for some time until their parents said it was time to go home.

 

Saturday had finally arrived.  Danny and Tom were eagerly waiting for Priya at the training pitch.

 

"There she is!” shouted Danny as Priya and her mom were walking onto the pitch.

 

The training started as usual with warm ups followed by lots of dribbling with the ball and football skills.  The boys briefly spoke to Priya during the training and could see that she looked quite excited.

 

"I find out today if I make it to the team," said Priya smiling at Tom and Danny.

 

"Fingers crossed for you Priya," said Danny crossing his fingers on both hands.

 

The coach blew his whistle, "time for a quick match team!  Let's get you into two teams."

 

"Hooray!  I'm in Priya's team," said Danny as he went and stood next to her after being picked.

 

The match was so much fun and Priya scored two amazing goals.

        

"Go Priya!" cheered her teammates.  Priya smiled back proudly at them.

 

At the end of training, the coach took Priya over to her mom and they chatted for a few minutes.  He walked back to the team with Priya who put both her thumbs up to Danny and Tom.

 

"Okay team," said the coach, "I have some good news.  I'm pleased to confirm Priya has decided to join our team!"

 

"Hooray!" shouted some of the teammates.

 

"Priya, Priya, Priya," shouted another teammate.

 

"Yes, you go girl," said Danny's mom loudly.

 

Danny and Tom couldn't hold back any longer and raced over to Priya and gave her a big hug.

 

"We are so happy you’re in our team," said Tom with the world's biggest smile on his face.

 

"You're the best Priya!" said Danny looking so pleased.

  

"Thank you," said Priya who was smiling and feeling pretty proud of herself. "This is the best day ever!" she said pretending to kick a football.

 

"Okay kids, training is finished so wait for your parents to come over," instructed the coach.

Priya's mom ran over to Priya at the speed of lightning and gave her a big hug and congratulated her daughter on making the team. 

 

"I'm so proud of you Priya," she said.

 

 "Thanks mom," said Priya hugging her tightly.

Tom's dad walked over to Priya and her mom and congratulated Priya.  Both parents exchanged mobile numbers and Tom’s dad asked if Priya wanted to play with the boys at the park.

 

Priya's mom asked her if she would like to go to the park next week to play with Tom and Danny?

 

"Sounds great!" said Priya.  "Maybe we could play football?"