It happens on nearly every free kick. A player on the offending team runs over and stands in front of the ball so the other team can’t play it quickly. Only when the ref intervenes does the offending player move. By then, any chance for a quickly played spot kick has been dashed. Why
Lisa, a recreation director, was running a summer swim team at a community pool in Greensboro, N.C. One boy, age 11, was the star swimmer in the 11-12 age group. His brother, age 6, swam in the eight and under group, meaning he was competing against some boys two years older. On Saturdays, teams
A high school senior decided she would attend a liberal-arts school in Virginia. A few days later, her mother ran into an acquaintance in the supermarket, and they got to talking about their daughters’ college choices. “Where is Amanda going?” asked the acquaintance. “She plans to attend xxx College,” her mother said. “Oh,” replied
Every December, a nearby town is gripped by white-light fever. House by house, residents string up white lights to celebrate the holidays. But only white lights. For some reason, colored lights don’t cut it. Most lights are wrapped around trees and bushes and lampposts. But now and then someone is bold enough to try
The coach who stole Thanksgiving The coach of a high school basketball team holds tryouts on the three days after Thanksgiving. These mandatory sessions take place on Friday at 9 a.m., Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning and afternoon. Any player who misses a single tryout is cut from the team, no exceptions.
“It’s all about loyalty,” until they switched teams A father spent four years assembling a highly competitive travel team for girls, first at age 9 and on through age 12. During this time the father, who served as team manager, was careful to build the roster with girls committed to one another and to
Jill signed up her daughters, ages five and seven, for tennis lessons at an indoor club in Vista, N.Y., on the border of Fairfield County, Conn. She requested that her daughters be grouped together, a request that was approved by a club employee. Upon showing up for the first lesson, Jill learned that her
For too long we have tolerated time-wasting on throw-ins. Players protecting a lead have turned clock-milking into an art form. They amble to the ball. They pretend to wipe it dry. They rear back, only to fake the toss while gaining a few yards and burning a few more seconds. Next, they express mock
Jim took up a spot on the sideline for his daughter’s first travel soccer game. As the game began, another father, Teddy, stepped up beside him. Quickly, Jim learned that Teddy held his own daughter in especially high regard. “Take it all the way, Kris!” Teddy bellowed. “Only four more players to beat, Kris!”
Scott has a 16-year-old son who plays soccer. The boy had played on the same travel team from age eight through age 15. Frustrated at the team’s lack of success, Scott arranged to have his son try out for a more competitive team. When his son made the team, Scott went to tell the
