Wren the Goalkeeper
Wren is scared of the ball flying at the goal. Can a brave heart help?
Coach Vera the owl blew the whistle. ‘Today we need a new goalkeeper!’ Wren gulped. Everyone looked at Wren. ‘Me?’ she squeaked.
Wren did not like the idea at all. The ball came so fast! What if it bumped her nose? What if it went past her? Her tummy did a funny little flip-flop.
Wren pulled on the big orange gloves and stood in the goal. Esme took the first shot. WHOOSH! The ball flew past, and Wren shut her eyes.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Coach Vera, kneeling down. ‘Big breath in, big breath out.’ Wren took a deep breath. Then another. Her tummy flip-flops began to slow down.
The next shot came. Open eyes. Big hands. Bounce! The ball landed right in Wren’s gloves. ‘I SAVED IT!’ she yelled, jumping up and down.
All through the game, Wren dived left and dived right. She saved four shots. Each one made her feel taller, braver and bigger.
After the match, Esme gave Wren a high-five. ‘You’re a super goalkeeper!’ Wren grinned. Being scared hadn’t stopped her at all.
The little lesson
Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. It means you try anyway.
Let’s talk about it
- Is there anything that makes you feel nervous? What helps?
- Why do you think Wren felt better after the first save?
Finish stories to collect Wren as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Football stories
Louie and the Rainy Day Game
Rain pours on match day, but Louie has an idea that makes the game the muddiest, happiest ever.
Ben’s Little Team That Could
A tiny village team faces a mighty club in the cup. Can heart beat height?
Enzo’s Day We Didn’t Win
Enzo’s team lost, and Enzo feels like stomping. But there’s a surprise at the end.
You might also like
The Great Leaf Jump with Ravi
The leaves are falling in a rainbow. Ravi and friends gather the biggest leaf pile.
Who Took Kit’s Crown?
The royal crown has vanished! Kit follows the clues round the castle.
Too Much Salt, Said Mateo
Mateo is making soup, but the sugar and salt got swapped, and so did a few other things!