Tryouts (2)

"Alright lads, listen up". The coach said. "This is the second phase of your tryouts. The first one was just to eliminate the idiots who decided to come out of their houses to waste a poor old man's time".

While the words he used were harsh, they weren't entirely wrong. Out of the thirty or so 'midfielders' that came to try outs, only thirteen made it to the next round. If they couldn't even complete a simple training exercise, then they probably weren't capable.

"This round of training will be testing your passing abilities". The coach said. While he was talking, the defenders came over to meet them. "Oh yeah, you lot will be doing this with the defenders. I also need to have ball playing defenders. And the forwards should also be coming any time soon.

They'll stay on the far end of the field and you guys will send a long pass their way. I'll be judging you based on how well you pass and that wanker over there". The coach pointed at the person who was supervising the forwards. "He'll judge the forwards on how well they get the ball under control when they get it".

After insulting everyone for a few more seconds, the coach blew his whistle and signified the beginning of the tryout exercise.

This time, everyone wasn't standing in a line so there was no one mandated to go first. Everyone just stood away from the ball and stared at it like it was some sort of forbidden object. Eventually, someone got tired of waiting and decided to go and take the ball.

The boy who stepped out looked about sixteen years of age. He was very tall and had an impressive physique. He was obviously a center back. The coach had made it painfully clear that the physique of the midfielders was nothing to write home about.

The boy picked up the ball the he stared at the forward who was receiving his pass. He placed the ball on the floor and retreated a little distance away from the ball. He did a little run up before striking the ball and passing it to the forward.

Everyone present became visibly impressed when they saw the defender's pass. The forward that was supposed to receive the ball fumbled it but that didn't stop the coach from shouting. "You pass. You're fucking hired. You're part of the squad. I don't fucking care if you can actually defend or not. Go write your name down!"

Even Alexis was visibly impressed by the pass. Even more, he wasn't even sure that he could make such a good pass. The way the ball formed a beautiful arc in the air, the way it dipped at the right moment, it showed that the person who passed the ball was somewhat of an expert.

When the next defender passed the ball, the coach almost failed him on instinct, the he looked at the number of defenders remaining. They were roughly five or six. He didn't have the luxury of choice like he had with the midfielders.

Out of the people who were guaranteed a spot, he already had two defenders, adding the boy who just blew everyone's mind with his pass then he needed four more defenders. That meant he could only send two more defenders home.

"Fuck". The coach muttered under his breath. "You pass. Go on to the next round". He muttered. Everyone could hear the unwillingness in his causing quite a few people present to snicker at the unlucky lad.

A few people attempted the pass and the it was Alexis's turn. He walked towards the ball and eyed the forward who was waiting for the pass. A distance like that would be very difficult for him, but that wasn't to say it it wasn't doable.

He kept a small distance between him and the ball and after eyeing the forward again, ran towards the ball and struck it with his left leg. He watched as the ball zipped through the air, making a small arc as it curved and landed on the chest of the forward. His pass couldn't dip like the person who attempted the exercise first, but it was still one of the better ones that the coach would see.

The coach stated at Alexis again, a bit of surprise dancing in his eyes as he nodded slightly. "You pass!"

After a few more minutes, everyone had already finished with that round. The number count of the midfielders had once again been slashed by half. Only six remained at that point.

The coach called everyone away from the pitch. When they went away, the other coaches were rearranging the pitch. From the way they were arranging it, it seemed as if there was going to be a match taking place on it.

"Alright lads. The next phase of the tryouts will be a match. What's the point of having all these abilities that you're boasting about if you can't use them in a match setting. This will be the final and most important round of the tryout". The coach said. "It's going to be a twenty minute match. Ten for each half so you don't exactly have a lot of time so wow me. That means that you have to go at it from the get go".

While the other coaches continued to arrange the team, two teams were formed out of the remaining people trying out.

After everyone had gotten a little bit familiar with each other, the coach called them to the middle of the field.

The coach had divided everyone randomly, so he ended up giving Alexis an eight man team with four defenders, three midfielders and one forward.

It seemed like a pretty good fit until he asked everyone about their position. He had three center backs and one right back, two defensive midfielders, himself as an attacking midfielder and a striker.

It would've all gone fine if not for the fact that Alexis was the one playing the striker position. According to the other guy, he was a striker that liked dropping back to link up play rather than finishing up chances. Alexis couldn't create chances for a striker that wasn't there so he decided to play that role.

The coach allowed everyone to get in position before blowing his whistle. The mini match had started.

A/N:

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