Opal’s Team Nobody Expected
The big kids always use the pitch. So Opal and friends make a team of their own.
Every Saturday, the big players took over Marigold Field. The little ones could only watch from the fence. ‘You’re too small to play,’ the big players said. Opal didn’t like that.
‘Let’s make our own team,’ said Opal. ‘We can play on the corner of the grass!’ Aisha the bee squeaked with excitement. ‘We’ll be called the Little Kickers!’
They used two rolled-up coats as goalposts. They drew a line in the dirt with a stick. They didn’t have a referee or a score board, but they had a ball and lots of smiles.
More and more little players came to join the Little Kickers. Soon there were so many that they didn’t fit on the corner. They spilled onto the big pitch.
‘Hey!’ grumbled Zara the zebra. ‘That’s our pitch!’ The big players marched over with their arms folded. Everyone went silent. The ball rolled slowly to a stop.
Opal stepped forward. ‘The pitch is big enough for everybody,’ she said. ‘What if we take turns? You play in the morning, and we play after lunch.’ Zara frowned. Then she smiled.
So that’s what they did. The big players played in the morning. The Little Kickers played in the afternoon. On Sundays, they all played together, and it was the best game of the week.
The little lesson
If there’s no space for you, you can make one, and share it too.
Let’s talk about it
- What is fair when two groups want to use the same place?
- How did the little kickers solve their problem?
Finish stories to collect Opal as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Football stories
Kofi Meets the Big Round Ball
Kofi the fox has never kicked a ball before. Today is the big day!
Iris’s Ball Hog
Iris loves to dribble the ball all alone, until the team learns a secret.
Noah Stands Between the Posts
Noah is scared of the ball flying at the goal. Can a brave heart help?
You might also like
Ben’s Sidekick Who Saved the Day
Captain Otto has a bad cold and can’t use any superpowers. Sidekick Ben has to save the day!
Whose Footprints Are These, Priya?
Strange footprints appear in the snow outside Priya’s door. Whose are they?
Stone Soup for Everyone, Says Tara
Tara makes soup from a stone, and the whole village adds one thing at a time.