Soccer Star

                      

     Soccer Star

                

              In high school, I was on the track, bowling, and gymnastics teams. I never even touched a soccer ball until my first year of college. I attended Farmingdale State College in 2005 to start my associates degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. I wanted to play a sport and thought I would run track; however my plans quickly changed. A girl approached me asking if I was capable of running fast. Naturally, I told her I did. She then proceeded to ask me if I was interested in joining the Farmingdale State College Women's Soccer Team. My sister had started at Farmingdale State a year before me and suggested that I join. At first, I was awful. I could not dribble, shoot the ball, tackle, or play defense. Because I was fast, the coach decided I would play as a forward on offense. Unable to shoot the ball, I was not very good at playing the offensive position.   

              It was not until after I graduated college that I realized I was much better at playing defense than offense in soccer. With many years of hard work and practice, I was able to become a much better soccer player. I could pass the ball, dribble, tackle the other players, and even shoot! I also scored an own goal, which my teammates were not too happy about because we lost the game. My soccer skills have improved so much that some girls on my current team cannot believe I only started playing soccer since college. Each time I lace up my cleats, I become excited to play and have fun. The game of soccer is not about winning, but having fun and having good sportsmanship. I cannot imagine myself  not playing soccer and I will continue to play until it is too much "wear and tear" on my body.

Vocabulary

1. Sport- (noun) An athletic game.

2. Capable- (verb) Able to do something.

3. Proceeded (Proceed) - (verb) To continue.

4. Dribble- (verb) To run with the soccer ball at your feet.

5. Shoot (a soccer ball)- (verb) To kick a soccer ball toward the net.

6. Tackle- (verb) To steal the ball from another player on the other team.

 

7. Defense- (noun) A position guarding the goalie.

8. Forward- (noun) A position on the field trying to score a goal.

9. Offense- (noun) The players who try to score.

10. Own Goal- (noun) A goal scored by the player on the same team as the goalie. 

Vocabulary Close Exercise

Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct vocabulary word.

1. Soccer is most people's favorite __________________.

2. I am very ______________ of making my own bed.

3. Please ________________ into the next room on the tour.

4. ________________ the ball by kicking it in front of you as you run.

5. When you get to the goalie,_________________ the ball to score.

6. Try to _________________ the other players to steal the ball back.

7. Play good ____________________ so the other team does not score.

8. Pass the ball to the __________________ so she can shoot the ball.

9. The forward on the team plays _______________________.

10. My team does not like it when I score an __________________ on my goalie.

Grammar Exercise

This entry includes many verbs that are in the past tense.  List those verbs in the space below.  

**Remember that a verb is a word used to describe an action or state of being.**