Free Just for Kicks by Robert Rayner

do you say, Chip?” Shay asked.
    â€œInternational Soccer Association — Law Twelve. ‘An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee, impedes the progress of an opponent,’” said Chip.
    â€œSo it’s obstruction,” said Coach Fleet.
    â€œIt’s not obstruction when one player deliberately runs into another,” Coach Ferret insisted.
    â€œWhat do you guys think?” Shay asked Julie and Cuz.
    Cuz shrugged. “It was an accident.”
    Julie said slowly, “I thought Cuz got in my way.”
    Some of the Pleasant Harbour parents booed.
    Mrs. Barry turned on them. “Cut it out.”
    â€œWe’ll cut it out when your kids cut out the fouls,” Meredith’s dad retorted.
    Chip said, “Let’s do a dropped ball,” and dropped the ball between Julie and Cuz. Julie won it, shot, and Olaf saved.
    â€œI still say it was obstruction,” Coach Fleet said. “We need a referee to decide these incidents. That’s what the law says — ‘In the opinion of the referee.’”
    Coach Ferret looked at him, nodded, and repeated, “We need a referee.”
    Olaf kicked the ball out towards Quan. Julie intercepted and passed quickly to me. I passed back, but the ball went behind her and out of play. Meredith trotted over to take the throw-in. I joined Linh-Mai, Julie, and our other defenders as they moved closer, watching as Meredith swung her arms like windmills before picking up the ball. She took three short running steps and, with a huge throw, soared the ball over our heads to Cuz, who had sneaked behind us while we watched Meredith’s preparations. Brian had come forwards, too, and was on the edge of his penalty area. Cuz dribbled the ball around him and into the net.
    â€œGoal!” the Pleasant Harbour parents shouted, waving their arms in the air.
    â€œOffside!” roared Coach Fleet.
    â€œCheat,” Brian snarled at Cuz.
    Coach Ferret said firmly, “Goal.”
    We looked at Chip.
    He muttered, “International Soccer Association — Law Eleven. ‘There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a throw-in.’”
    We took the kickoff while Coach Fleet still argued with Coach Ferret and the Pleasant Harbour parents.
    I heard our coach insist, “We need a referee.”
    We got one goal back when Julie kicked the ball high to Shay. Instead of heading it, he let it fall and caught it on his foot. Meredith charged at him, swinging her foot at the ball. Shay flipped it in the air and lowered his foot quickly so that Meredith’s foot swung harmlessly past. She tried another tackle and Shay performed the same maneuver. Quan joined Meredith and muttered, “Never mind the ball — just kick his ankles.”
    Shay flipped the ball higher, then, as it descended, turned away from Olaf’s goal and fell backwards. His feet scissored in the air and the ball slammed into the net before Olaf could move.
    No one spoke until Cuz said, “Awesome.”
    Meredith’s dad shouted, “Show-off.”
    The Brunswick Valley parents cheered and applauded wildly.
    Mrs. Barry called, “You’re a peach, Shay!”
    â€œYou’ve got ’em rattled, Brunswick Valley,” Mr. Price shouted.
    Coach Fleet jumped up and down on the sideline. “Fantastic goal, Shay! Now, Brunswick Valley — let’s have another.”
    From the kickoff, I passed to Shay and headed out to the wing. Shay passed back to me. I trapped the ball and looked around. I was between the halfway line and Olaf’s goal, and no one was near me.
    Coach Fleet, pacing nearby on the sideline, advised, “Go, Toby. You’ve got plenty of space.”
    Jillian and Jessica were ahead of me, closely marked by Quan and Chip. I hesitated. I could move into the centre or down the wing. But Cuz was lurking in the centre, and Meredith was