The Teamwork Behind a Soccer Goal
A soccer ball rolls toward the goal. One player kicks it past the goalkeeper, and the crowd cheers. The scorer gets the final touch, but the goal may have started much earlier with a pass from a teammate.
Soccer is played by two teams that try to move a ball into the opposing team’s goal. In a standard match, each team has up to eleven players on the field, including a goalkeeper. Most players use their feet, heads, or bodies to control the ball. The goalkeeper has a special job: protecting the goal and, within the penalty area, using their hands to stop or catch the ball.
Players must make quick decisions because the ball and the people around it are always moving. A player might pass to a teammate in open space rather than kick straight toward the goal. That pass can pull defenders away from the center of the field, creating room for another attacker. Teammates who do not have the ball help, too, by moving into useful positions and calling for passes.
- opposing:
- Belonging to the team playing against another team.
- defenders:
- Players who try to stop the other team from advancing or scoring.
- attacker:
- A player trying to help their team move toward a goal and score.
- intercepted:
- Stopped or taken before reaching the intended player.
- adjust:
- Change something in response to what happens.
- opponent:
- A person playing against another person or team.
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- 1What is the main idea of the passage? Give one detail that supports it.
- 2Why does the author mention a teammate’s pass in the opening paragraph?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“The Teamwork Behind a Soccer Goal” is a informational reading passage about Soccer, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (268 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.