They take the boys on field trips to the beach and to Busch Gardens. Over time, the boys’ coaches have become mentors, making sure their athletes get good grades and stay off the streets. Jackson says she passed up a daytime shift at Home Depot so that she can drive them to games and cheer them on. Now 11, 12, and 14, they play in games across the region. They began in a local league five years ago when they were still little, their helmets like bobbleheads on their shoulders. As a single mother who works the night shift at a Home Depot warehouse 50 minutes away from her house, Jackson relies on the sport to shield the boys from gang activity in her rural Georgia county. S hantavia Jackson signed her three sons up for football to keep them out of trouble.

And Joe said she could.Updated at 5:41 p.m. “Can I always come and watch you play football?” asked Bella at the end of the game. And after fifteen minutes – Joe scored a goal! For the rest of the match the bigger boy didn't dare touch Joe. “That big boy's a bully! It's disgraceful!” But, to his surprise, most of the parents and players were on Bella's side. “Don't you dare trip up my brother!” she told him. Bella ran onto the pitch and up to the boy who had tripped Joe. Gran was trying so hard to hold Selby that she let go of Bella's hand. “Please control that dog,” the referee told Gran. Selby tugged on her lead and barked at the referee. “Did you see that?”īut the referee said that it had been an accident. “Hey!” yelled Finn, as Joe lay on the ground. The next time the ball came towards them, the big boy stuck out his foot and tripped Joe up.

It made it really difficult for Joe to play well. After that, whenever the referee wasn't looking in their direction, the big boy would give Joe a shove. Maybe there had been too many players in the way. But the referee didn't seem to have noticed. Joe hoped the referee would show the boy a yellow card. All the breath was knocked out of Joe, and the ball went off the pitch. He was about to pass it when a big boy from the other team crashed into him. Poor Gran looked close to being pulled in two! Selby was pulling hard on her lead, and Bella was jumping up and down. Joe was pleased to see that Gran was keeping tight hold of Selby and Bella. Gran and Bella waved at Joe as he ran onto the field. The dogs barked at Selby and Selby barked back. There were lots of kids getting ready, and lots of parents standing at the side to watch. He gave some of his toast to Selby when Gran wasn't looking. On Saturday morning Joe found it hard to eat breakfast, he was so nervous. You never could be sure what she might do! “Of course, I'll have to bring Bella and Selby too.” But when she heard, she said she would take Joe to the football match instead. Gran had made plans to take them for a long walk with her dog, Selby, on Saturday morning. She often looked after Joe and Bella when Mum and Dad were busy. You see, Dad and I are away, and you and Bella are going to stay with Gran.” “But – oh dear – I'm not sure you can play this weekend. Joe felt so excited that he couldn't wait to tell Mum and Dad. “How would you like to play for the school team this weekend?” asked Mr Burton.

Then one day at break time, when Joe was playing football with his friends, Mr Burton, the football coach, came over. But maybe because he was small for his age, he never got chosen. “I wish I could be on the school team,” Joe told his friend, Finn. She usually missed the ball when she tried to kick it. He played it with his friends at school, in the park with his dad on weekends, and sometimes he even played it with his little sister, Bella, in their back garden.

Elementary football story