A Story about a Great Soccer Player

At practice, I was encouraging the girls to try some "moves" between passes. Several of the girls showed reluctance to even try. I wasn't asking for anything more than the simplest of fakes or change in direction. So I told them a story.

One of the greatest soccer players in the world, Ronaldinho, had the ball in the corner. He goes to put a move on the back. The back wins the ball and dribbles away.

They looked at me kind of quisically. So I asked who knew who Ronaldinho is? Most knew, several didn't. I explained that he had some of the best moves in the world. So I told my story again. Still the quisical looks. Then I added, "So even the best players in the world mess up sometimes. They still try." "Ohhh," they said. "So that's your point."

"Yes. I just want you to try!"

-Bill