Illustration coming soon

Yitzchok the Goalie

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Yitzchok stands in front of the goal with his gloves up and his knees bent.

It is the last game of the season, and the score is tied, two to two. His team, the Eagles, needs one more goal to win the trophy. There are only three minutes left.

Yitzchok has been the goalie all year. He loves diving for the ball. He loves the thud of it landing in his gloves. He's made twelve saves this season.

But a minute earlier, something went wrong. The ball came flying at him from the left. He jumped the wrong way. The other team scored. That was their second goal.

Now he feels a rock sitting in his stomach. It is my fault, he thinks. I could have stopped it.

On the field, the other boys glance at him. One of them, Moshe, frowns and shakes his head. Yitzchok's face goes hot.

"Come on, Yitzchok!" someone yells. "Focus!"

He tries. His hands shake inside his gloves. The ball comes toward him again. This time, he tenses up and drops it, and it rolls slowly into the net.

Three to two. The Wolves cheer.

Yitzchok stares at the ground. Tears prick his eyes. He's lost the game for the team.

"Time out!" calls the coach, Mr. Gold.

The boys huddle around him. Yitzchok hangs back. He can't look at anyone.

"Yitzchok," says Mr. Gold. "Come here."

Slowly, he walks over.

"Look at me," says Mr. Gold. "You made a mistake. Two, actually. Do you know how many mistakes I've made as a coach this year?"

"How many?"

"At least ten. I forgot to bring the water. I called a play the wrong way. I mixed up two of your names."

A few boys laugh softly.

"Everyone makes them," says Mr. Gold. "The important thing is what you do with the next play. Can you take a breath and let it go?"

Yitzchok takes a long breath. His shoulders loosen.

"Eagles, here's the thing," says Mr. Gold. "We're down by one. We have two minutes. Nobody gives up. Yitzchok, you're still our goalie, and we trust you. Everyone ready?"

The boys nod. Moshe steps forward. "Sorry I frowned. I made a mistake too, a few minutes ago."

"It's okay," says Yitzchok.

They go back out. The whistle blows. With ninety seconds left, the Eagles' forward, Dovid, gets the ball and shoots. It sails into the net. Three to three.

"Yes!" shouts Yitzchok, jumping.

With forty seconds left, the Wolves have a breakaway. A boy dribbles toward the goal, fast. Yitzchok crouches low. His heart races. The boy kicks.

Yitzchok dives to the right. His fingertips touch the ball and send it spinning out of bounds.

"Save!" the crowd roars.

The whistle blows. Overtime.

The Eagles score in the first minute. Four to three. The whole team piles on Yitzchok, laughing and shouting.

At the end, he holds the trophy over his head. "I made a mistake," he says. "But I made a save, too."

"Both are part of the game," says Mr. Gold.