The Academy

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes depictions of bullying.

Leo is the first to arrive on the field. Waiting for the rest of his team to appear, he sees several players he recognizes, including Diego, the German player from the FIFA tournament, and the goalie who blocked his shot during the first scrimmage. They have all made it past the first cut.

Samantha appears and reveals that he was nearly cut. She adds that she thinks he’s much better than he seems because he’s got good instincts. However, he lacks basic skills. She and Tig are willing to do an extra hour of training with him and Garika each night.

More players come over, and Leo is excited that many of his friends are still around. He keeps thinking about Samantha’s revelation that he was almost cut, and it shakes his confidence. When she gathers everyone together, she congratulates them all and says that 50 players were cut. Fifty more will go home at the end of the second week and then 60 after the third week. This week will focus on more drills and then simulations that the coaching staff have developed, which are called “war games” (155).