Matt's family just moved to a new town. He needs to go to a new school.
He is also going to need to make new friends.
But it's not easy to make new friends in a new school.
"This is Matt. I'm sure you'll make him feel welcome."
Mrs. Emory introduced him to the class.
Matt sat next to a girl named Georgia.
"Hi, I'm Georgia!" she said.
Matt pretended to tie his shoelace. He was too shy to talk to Georgia.
Matt's first day of school wasn't too bad.
At least no one else tried to talk to him.
"You're the new kid, right?" asked Jeff after school.
"Do you want to play basketball with us?" asked a boy named Spike.
Matt shook his head.
"Okay, see you tomorrow!" said Jeff.
"Okay, see you tomorrow!" said Spike.
Matt was feeling angry with himself.
"Why didn't I say something?" he said aloud.
"They probably think I'm stupid!"
Matt wasn't stupid. He was just very shy.
At his old school, it took Matt almost a year to make friends.
He never felt comfortable speaking to people.
Matt wished he could live on a deserted island.
That way he would never have to say anything to anyone.
After school, Matt watched the soccer team practicing.
Matt's new school had a very good soccer team.
In fact, they were one of the top teams in the league.
"But Coach, I'll be better soon!" moaned Ben.
Ben was the team's midfielder. He had broken his leg during the last match.
"Are you new here? I'm Coach Klein," a voice called out.
"Hi, I'm Ben!" the boy with crutches said to Matt.
"Immad," Matt mumbled.
"What?" asked Ben.
"I'm Matt," he said more clearly this time.
"Matt, have you ever played soccer before?" Coach Klein asked.
Matt answered, "Well, sort of."
Matt used to play soccer with his friends from his old neighborhood.
But he had never played on a team before.
Ben promised to help Matt become a good midfielder.
"I don't know if I can do it," Matt said in a low voice.
"What? I can't hear a word you're saying!" Ben said loudly.
Every day after school, Matt practiced with the team.
Matt tried his best to be a good midfielder.
He ran to head the ball but collided with Victor.
"You're supposed to call it!" shouted Victor.
"Matt! When you're going for the ball, you must let your teammates know!"
Coach Klein told him.
"Sorry," mumbled Matt.
The coach was worried about Matt.
"I don't think it's going to work with Matt," Coach Klein said to Ben.
"We need to find someone else."
"Coach Klein, please give Matt another chance.
Look at how he moves!" Ben pleaded.
"Matt just needs to learn about teamwork.
I'll help him!" Ben said.
"Soccer is about teamwork," Ben explained.
"Everyone is like a different instrument in an orchestra.
We need to play together in harmony.
You have to show that you are part of the team!"
"Luke!" Matt called out and kicked the ball to him.
At Matt's first match, he was very nervous.
Matt tried to concentrate on what Ben had said about teamwork.
Matt noticed that Victor needed help.
Matt opened his mouth to speak, but no sounds came out.
Matt's team lost one to zero.
"It's all my fault," Matt thought to himself after the game.
"Hey, you played well today," Victor said as he came up to Matt.
"It was your first match. Next time you'll do better."
Matt's team was not angry with him for losing the game.
"Teamwork! Orchestra! Harmony!"
Matt repeated to himself at the next practice.
Suddenly he saw the ball flying at Georgia.
"Watch out!" he yelled, jumping in front of it.
"Thanks, Matt," Georgia smiled.
Matt decided to do his best and be a true member of the team.
"Matt!" Victor called and passed him the ball.
"Luke! Here!" Matt kicked the ball to Luke.
From then on, Matt began to play much better. His team won every game.
Matt and his team were going to the championship!
Finally it was the day of the big game.
"Don't look at the ball!" the coach said before the game.
"Don't look at the goal. Look at your teammates.
Remember! You are all champions whether we win or lose!"
After the first half, the teams were tied at one to one.
Suddenly Matt saw an opportunity to score near the end of the game.
His throat felt dry and his mouth was heavy.
But he knew his team was depending on him.
"Luke! Over here!" he shouted loudly.
Luke passed the ball, but a player from the other team tackled Matt and knocked him down.
Matt's teammates crowded around him.
"Matt! Are you all right?" Luke bent over him.
"We got a penalty kick! This is our big chance, Matt!" encouraged Victor.
Matt slowly got up. He had to take the penalty kick.
Matt never felt so scared in his life. The championship depended on him.
He remembered all of the coach's advice and decided he would try his best for his new friends.
He kicked the ball as hard as he could past the goalkeeper.
Matt's kick scored a goal. Matt's team was the new soccer champion!
"We won! You did it, Matt!" shouted Ben.
"No, we did it! All of us did it together!" Matt said.
The coach was right. Everyone was a champion.