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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: joining a sports club

    Maya Signs Up for the Sports Club

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Maya walked down a long corridor at the sports stadium. She could hear people running and shouting inside. The corridor was bright and clean. There were posters on the walls. The posters showed different sports. Maya stopped and looked at one poster. It said 'Join Our Sports Club!' Maya felt excited. She wanted to join a team. She had never played on a team before. She took a deep breath. She walked toward a desk at the end of the corridor. A woman was sitting at the desk. The woman looked up and smiled. Maya smiled back. "Hello," said Maya.

    "I want to join the sports club." The woman at the desk nodded. "Great!" she said. "My name is Pat. What sport do you like?" Maya thought for a moment. "I like running," she said. "And I sometimes play basketball." Pat wrote something on a paper. "We have a running group on Mondays and Wednesdays," she said. "We also have a basketball team." Maya felt happy. "Can I join both?" she asked. "Yes, you can," said Pat. "You just need to fill out this form." Pat gave Maya a form. Maya read the form carefully. She wrote her name, her age, and her phone number. She gave the form back to Pat. Pat looked at the form.

    "Thank you, Maya," she said. "Practice starts next Monday." Maya nodded. "What time does it start?" she asked. "Running starts at six o'clock in the morning," said Pat. "Basketball starts at five o'clock in the afternoon." Maya opened her eyes wide. "Six in the morning?" she said. Pat laughed. "Yes, but it is a lot of fun," she said. "You will love it." Maya smiled. She was a little nervous, but she was also very excited. She said goodbye to Pat. She walked back down the corridor. She looked at the poster again. She felt proud. She was going to be part of a team.

    Key vocabulary

    corridor (noun)a long, narrow passage inside a building“Maya walked down the corridor at the sports stadium.”
    poster (noun)a large printed picture or notice put on a wall“There were posters on the walls showing different sports.”
    excited (adjective)feeling very happy and enthusiastic about something“Maya felt excited when she saw the sports club poster.”
    form (noun)a document with spaces where you write information“Pat gave Maya a form to fill out.”
    practice (noun)a time when you train or repeat an activity to get better“Practice starts next Monday at six in the morning.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or a little afraid about something“Maya was a little nervous about her first practice.”
    nodded (verb)moved your head up and down to show yes or agreement“The woman at the desk nodded when Maya said she wanted to join.”
    proud (adjective)feeling pleased and satisfied about something you have done“Maya felt proud because she was going to be part of a team.”

    Useful phrases

    • join a team — to become a member of a sports group“Maya wanted to join a team at the sports stadium.”
    • fill out a form — to write your information in the spaces on a document“Pat asked Maya to fill out a form with her name and phone number.”
    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly and deeply, often to feel calmer“Maya took a deep breath before she walked to the desk.”
    • thought for a moment — paused briefly to think before speaking or acting“Maya thought for a moment before she answered Pat's question.”
    • opened her eyes wide — showed surprise by making your eyes very big“Maya opened her eyes wide when she heard practice started at six.”
    • a lot of fun — very enjoyable“Pat told Maya that early morning running was a lot of fun.”
    • be part of a team — to belong to a group that works or plays together“Maya was happy because she was going to be part of a team.”
    • at the end of — at the farthest point of something“There was a desk at the end of the corridor.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJ
    1XZSUOVRENW
    2XXCORRIDOR
    3VEDUORPAEW
    4ITXZAINNCQ
    5DYRCFAAUIM
    6EIWOIWOGTV
    7DMRUITKHCR
    8DMSXYYEBAC
    9OFTWFRMDRA
    10NGQRETSOPP

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does the story take place?

      • A) At a park
      • B) At a school gym
      • C) At a sports stadium corridor
      • D) At a swimming pool
    2. What did Maya see on the walls of the corridor?

      • A) Posters about different sports
      • B) A schedule of games
      • C) A map of the stadium
      • D) Photos of players
    3. What sports did Maya say she liked?

      • A) Soccer and running
      • B) Running and basketball
      • C) Basketball and volleyball
      • D) Swimming and tennis
    4. What did Maya have to do to join the club?

      • A) Pay a fee
      • B) Pass a running test
      • C) Fill out a form
      • D) Bring a friend
    5. What time does running practice start?

      • A) Five in the afternoon
      • B) Eight in the morning
      • C) Seven in the morning
      • D) Six in the morning
    6. What does the word 'nervous' mean in the story?

      • A) Very happy and confident
      • B) Feeling worried or a little afraid
      • C) Feeling tired and bored
      • D) Feeling angry
    7. What did Pat write on the paper?

      • A) Maya's address
      • B) Information about the sports Maya liked
      • C) The price of the club
      • D) A list of team members
    8. Maya had played on a team before joining this club. True or False?

      • A) False
      • B) Not stated
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. How did Maya feel at the end of the story?

      • A) Bored and confused
      • B) Angry and tired
      • C) Nervous and proud
      • D) Sad and disappointed
    10. What does 'fill out a form' mean?

      • A) To write your information in the spaces on a document
      • B) To draw a picture of yourself
      • C) To read a list of rules
      • D) To sign your name on a wall

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. C 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. B 7. B 8. A 9. C 10. A

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    corridor: C2 → · excited: B3 ↘ · form: E5 ↙ · nervous: I1 ← · nodded: A10 ↑ · poster: I10 ← · practice: I10 ↑ · proud: G3 ←

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: joining a sports club

    Maya's First Step Into the Sports Club

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    The corridor outside the main arena hummed with energy. Distant whistles and the squeak of sneakers on a court drifted through the walls, and Maya stood still for a moment, taking it all in. She had passed the stadium many times without stopping, but today felt different. A neatly printed sign near the entrance read 'Sports Club Enrollment Open,' and it was all the encouragement she needed. She had been thinking about joining a team for months, telling herself she would get around to it eventually. Well, eventually had finally arrived. She straightened her bag on her shoulder and walked toward the registration desk with a quiet determination. Behind the desk sat a woman named Pat, who greeted Maya with a warm, professional smile.

    "Welcome," Pat said. "Are you here to sign up?" Maya confirmed she was, and Pat immediately launched into an overview of the club's offerings. There were running groups, a basketball team, and a weekend volleyball session, all organized around a flexible schedule designed to accommodate members with different routines. Maya admitted she was interested in both running and basketball, though she was uncertain whether she had the fitness level required. Pat reassured her that the club welcomed members of all abilities and that improvement was the only goal. "We just need you to complete this registration form," Pat said, sliding a clipboard across the desk. Maya filled it out carefully, double-checking every detail before handing it back. Pat reviewed the form and confirmed Maya's place in both groups, explaining that running practice began at six on Monday and Wednesday mornings, while basketball met on Thursday evenings.

    Maya raised her eyebrows slightly at the early start, which made Pat laugh. "Most people react exactly like that," Pat said, "but after the first session, they wouldn't trade it for anything." Maya appreciated the honesty and found herself already looking forward to the challenge. As she turned to leave, she paused at the poster she had noticed on her way in. It showed a group of athletes mid-race, faces bright with effort and focus. Something about the image settled in her chest like a quiet confidence. She had taken the first step, and that, she realized, was the hardest part.

    Key vocabulary

    enrollment (noun)the process of officially joining or registering for something“The sign in the corridor announced that sports club enrollment was open.”
    determination (noun)a strong decision to do something and not give up“Maya walked toward the registration desk with quiet determination.”
    overview (noun)a short description that gives the main facts about something“Pat gave Maya an overview of all the sports the club offered.”
    accommodate (verb)to make space or room for someone's needs or situation“The schedule was designed to accommodate members with different routines.”
    reassured (verb)told someone not to worry and helped them feel more confident“Pat reassured Maya that the club welcomed members of all abilities.”
    flexible (adjective)able to change or adapt easily to different needs“The club offered a flexible schedule so members could fit it around their lives.”
    registration (noun)the official act of recording your name or details to join something“Maya completed the registration form at the desk in the corridor.”
    confidence (noun)a feeling of trust in your own ability or in a situation“Looking at the poster, Maya felt a quiet confidence settle in her chest.”

    Useful phrases

    • get around to it — to finally find the time or motivation to do something you have been putting off“Maya had been meaning to join a sports club but never got around to it.”
    • launch into — to begin something enthusiastically without hesitation“Pat launched into an overview of the club's offerings as soon as Maya sat down.”
    • of all abilities — including people with every level of skill, from beginners to experts“The coach explained that the club was open to members of all abilities.”
    • double-checking — looking at something a second time to make sure it is correct“Maya filled out the form carefully, double-checking every detail.”
    • trade it for anything — to give something up in exchange for something else; used in negative to say something is very valuable“After their first session, the runners wouldn't trade it for anything.”
    • take the first step — to do the first action that starts a journey or process“Maya knew that taking the first step was often the hardest part.”
    • settle in her chest — to feel an emotion deeply and calmly inside yourself“A quiet confidence settled in her chest as she looked at the poster.”
    • mid-race — in the middle of a race, while it is happening“The poster showed athletes mid-race, with focused expressions on their faces.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1NUZEVDNGQMZCNQQ
    2BBWXNBOLIKNHEUO
    3JFTIRIIMYGWNUSA
    4EKOBYETGMMRDJHW
    5SZXQQQAXWOHDCRE
    6ZHDIXBNSLWAXVKT
    7LWHAOGILSQSWASA
    8GTMGULMNSUAVAYD
    9FGXDWERUBYRFTAO
    10LPKSNGEBKBYEKKM
    11NOITARTSIGERDIM
    12LTUIFLEXIBLEHKO
    13MLAGMBDVAKCWDNC
    14CONFIDENCEMQHFC
    15SEPPGHWEIVREVOA

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What made Maya decide to stop and enter the stadium?

      • A) A sign announced that sports club enrollment was open
      • B) She heard loud music from the arena
      • C) A coach invited her from the corridor
      • D) A friend called her inside
    2. How long had Maya been thinking about joining a team?

      • A) About a year
      • B) A few days
      • C) A few weeks
      • D) Several months
    3. What does 'accommodate' mean as used in the story?

      • A) To test someone's fitness
      • B) To make space or adjust for someone's needs
      • C) To make something more expensive
      • D) To cancel a schedule
    4. Which sports did Maya want to join?

      • A) Running and volleyball
      • B) Basketball and volleyball
      • C) Swimming and running
      • D) Running and basketball
    5. What was Maya's concern about joining?

      • A) She did not have enough money
      • B) She was uncertain about her fitness level
      • C) She did not know the schedule
      • D) She was afraid of Pat
    6. Pat told Maya that only very fit athletes were welcome in the club. True or False?

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    7. What does the phrase 'get around to it' mean?

      • A) To travel somewhere quickly
      • B) To walk around a building
      • C) To organize a group meeting
      • D) To finally do something you have been putting off
    8. When does basketball practice take place?

      • A) Weekend afternoons
      • B) Thursday evenings
      • C) Wednesday evenings
      • D) Monday mornings
    9. How did Maya react to hearing that running started at six in the morning?

      • A) She asked to change the time
      • B) She laughed loudly and left
      • C) She raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise
      • D) She refused to join the running group
    10. What feeling did Maya have as she looked at the poster on her way out?

      • A) Sadness and regret
      • B) Quiet confidence
      • C) Anger and frustration
      • D) Fear and doubt

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. A 2. D 3. B 4. D 5. B 6. B 7. D 8. B 9. C 10. B

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    accommodate: O15 ↑ · confidence: A14 → · determination: G13 ↑ · enrollment: M2 ↙ · flexible: E12 → · overview: N15 ← · reassured: E3 ↘ · registration: L11 ←

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/maya-signs-up-for-the-sports-club-2026-10-17