Breathing Through the Game
Breathing Through the Game
It was the final minutes of the soccer game, and Maya's team was down by one point. The pressure was on. She dribbled the ball down the field, her heart pounding like a drum. A defender stepped in front of her, and Maya lost control. The ball rolled away, and another player scooped it up, passing it quickly in the opposite direction.
Maya felt her face flush with frustration. I should have kept control! she thought. She wanted to stomp her feet, yell, and maybe even cry. They were going to lose, and it was all her fault.
Then, she remembered what her coach, Ms. Davis, had taught them about mindful breathing. "When you feel overwhelmed," Ms. Davis had said, "take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. It helps you calm down and refocus."
Maya closed her eyes for a moment. She breathed in deeply, feeling the air fill her lungs. She held it for a few seconds, then slowly released it. She did this again, and again. With each breath, the tightness in her chest loosened, and her thoughts became clearer.
- Dribbled:
- To move a ball along with repeated light kicks or bounces.
- Frustration:
- The feeling of being upset or annoyed because you can't do something.
- Mindful Breathing:
- Paying attention to your breath to help calm your mind and body.
- Refocus:
- To concentrate on something again after being distracted.
- overwhelmed:
- Feeling completely overpowered or stressed by strong emotions and intense pressure.
- confidence:
- A feeling of trust and belief in one's own ability to succeed.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What sport is Maya playing in the story?
- 2How did Maya feel when she lost control of the ball?
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“Breathing Through the Game” is a fiction reading passage about Mindfulness, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (305 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.