After the brief 2v2 scrimmage ended.
Hank gathered Lin Wansheng and the other applicants together.
Holding a clipboard, he cut straight to the chase.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Maobili.
What we're hiring today are assistant coaches for three U8 teams."
The moment Hank finished speaking, Lin Wansheng's mind was already racing.
In the American youth sports system, U8 refers to the age group of eight years old and under.
For the protection of children's physical development and brain safety, this age group cannot play high-impact tackle football.
Therefore, what they would be responsible for could only be flag football.
And for an elite private elementary school, resources and energy were always tilted toward the older grade teams.
This meant that the head coach would devote most of his energy to the U10 age group.
Thus, these U8 teams would essentially be completely handed over to them, the assistant coaches.
Therefore, the expectations of these students' parents...
were definitely not about having the kids fight to the death on the field.
For families who could send their children to this kind of school, sports were merely part of education.
Of course, there was also one most practical purpose.
Football was the best way to burn off the excess energy of these hyperactive little boys.
Mr. Hank seemed quite satisfied with the group's focused, contemplative expressions.
He waited a few seconds before continuing in a tone that brooked no argument: "Therefore, what we need...
is not merely an athlete who can play ball, but even more a teacher who understands how to communicate with children and guide them.
Understood?"
The cardinal rule of flag football was that no bodily contact was allowed.
After speaking, he took a cloth bag from his pocket containing differently colored lots. "Alright, gentlemen, draw lots to determine your teams."
Lin Wansheng casually drew one.
Not bad—his lucky color. Red.
Kate walked over to Lin Wansheng holding a bottle of ice water and handed it to him.
Her fingers intentionally or unintentionally brushed lightly across the back of his hand, a mischievous smile on her face:
"Here. The groups Mr. Hank just assigned—looks like your luck isn't too good."
Lin Wansheng followed her gaze and looked at the eight kids assigned to him.
He saw Cohen distributing a stack of red training vests to a group of children.
That group of kids was precisely the loudest bunch on the sidelines just now.
They were currently scrambling for the vests while roughhousing with each other.
...
...
The next half hour was free practice time.
Afterward, there would be a twenty-minute mini-game to test their teaching results.
Lin Wansheng looked at the group of little brats jumping around like monkeys before him.
He took a deep breath.
He clapped his hands. The sound wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached every child's ears.
"Alright, boys, gather round."
A miraculous scene unfolded.
Compared to the other assistants who were still shouting, coaxing, and tricking their teams into line...
...on Lin Wansheng's side, all the children instantly quieted down.
Each one obediently sat in a row before him.
Not a single one spoke.
Lin Wansheng clicked his tongue in wonder internally.
Back when he'd taken babysitting gigs to earn some pocket money...
...those experiences were simply too dreadful to recall. A few little devils together could turn the world upside down.
Yet this group of little monkeys had become utterly docile with just a few words from him.
The only explanation was [Verbal Inspiration], granted by the system.
Used on children, this thing's effect was practically comparable to two Ritalin pills.
Could it be that the most suitable career path for him was tutoring children with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)?
He cleared his throat and began his teaching. "Listen, what's the most important thing in flag football?"
He squatted down to meet the children at eye level. "Your brains!"
He first led the children in some basic warm-ups—running, passing, and catching.
During every break between passes and catches, he would loudly remind and instill fundamental concepts.
"Eyes up, eyes up!" he shouted at a kid who always kept his head down at the ball. "When they try to pull your flag, their body will definitely drop low. Get low with them!"
He pointed at the stoutest kid in the group, the center: "You! Get active too! You can pass as well! Don't let them screen you!"
After the simple warm-up, he gathered the children together.
He specifically pulled the quarterback and center to the very center, using a football to draw plays on the ground.
"Listen, our secret weapon is a special center sneak play."
He looked at the center and said seriously: "Your task is the most critical.
At the snap, you need to hand the ball up and let it touch the quarterback's hand, but absolutely do not let go.
Then immediately pull it back and hug it to your chest. Count one second, then charge out!"
He looked at the quarterback again: "And you—you're our leading man. After your hands touch the ball, immediately pretend to cradle it and fall back, observe, and make passing motions like usual! You need to make everyone on the other side believe the ball is in your hands!"
Lin Wansheng stood up, a sly smile crossing his face.
"Now, strictly speaking, this play could potentially be called a foul.
So we won't run it yet—save it for our last play."
Finally, he stood up, looked around at every child, and announced loudly: "Remember, on our team, there are no supporting roles! Everyone can catch the ball! Everyone can score a touchdown!"
The twenty-minute game began quickly. Lin Wansheng's team (Red Team) faced the Blue Team led by another Black assistant coach.
The game did not go smoothly.
The Blue Team was clearly physically superior.
Not long after kickoff, the Blue Team's tallest quarterback found their fastest running back with a precise long pass.
That child was like a young cheetah; after catching the ball, he made a beautiful cut that shook off two Red Team defenders and charged all the way into the end zone.
On the subsequent extra-point attempt, they used a simple pass-run combination to steadily secure 1 point.
When it was the Red Team's turn to attack, their nervous quarterback failed to secure the snap cleanly; the football slipped from his hands and rolled backward.
He frantically turned to chase it down, but inside his own end zone, a quick-handed Blue Team defender pounced and ripped off his flag!
That two-point safety not only extended the Blue Team's lead but also gave them back possession.
...
...
The game entered its final minute; the Red Team trailed 6-9.
It was the Red Team's final offensive possession.
The parents on the sidelines had already begun whispering, and Athletic Director Hank was also noting something on his clipboard, seemingly having already reached a conclusion about the result.
Lin Wansheng called the final timeout, gathering the panting children to his side and squatting down.
"Listen, we're running the play we practiced! Remember, there are no supporting roles on our team!"
The timeout ended, and the Red Team took the field.
With the snap count, the Red Team quarterback received the ball.
He dropped back as rehearsed, raising his arms.
All the Blue Team defenders were drawn to him.
They charged toward him.
And at that very moment, the Red Team's center, from an undefended area on the opposite side.
...launched a charge toward the end zone!