Books in Lorimer Sports Stories series

Toby's always had weight issues, thanks in part to the free food his team gets from his friend Maddie's dad's restaurant and their soccer team's sponsor, Vinnie's. But Vinnie's sponsorship also provides the kids with team shirts, equipment, even cleats for some of the players. So when a city-wide ban is placed on sponsorship of teams by companies that promote unhealthy eating, many of the kids might not be able to play. Can the kids of Brunswick Valley come up with a way to keep their team going and still stay on the right side of the ban?

Eighth-grader Micah is psyched to have made the junior goalball team—even though he gets the news while in the hospital, dealing with a flare-up of his degenerative eye condition. What he’s not happy about is his parents’ decision to get him a guide dog, and the possibility of losing his independence. When Liam, a first-rate player, joins the goalball team, Micah’s frustration with his vision spills onto the court. It’s only with the help of Cam, his orientation and mobility specialist, that Micah starts to get a handle on his aggression. But with the team’s big junior tournament quickly approaching, Micah has to become a real team player—both on and off the court—and help his team win the championship.

Gavin and his friends Mido and Critter are starting high school this year, which means moving from a school with a championship-winning soccer team to a school that doesn't have a team at all. With a little encouragement from his friends and granddad, a former "footballer" from England, Gavin musters up his courage and makes a deal with the school football coach: the soccer team can share the field while the football team practices, but Gavin must be responsible for running the team. With a newbie team made up of misfits and kids just out to have a good time, Gavin soon learns that being a good coach isn't the same as being a good player.

Since Dexter's parents' death, he's been living with his aunt. Even though it's been two years, Dexter is still struggling to control his anger, and so far, the best way for him to do this is through sports. Then one day he snaps and attacks the pitcher during a baseball game, and Dex suddenly finds himself off the team. His aunt gives him two options: find another sports team, or go back to trombone lessons. But no other coach seems willing to give Dexter and his now-legendary temper a chance. Dexter's best friend, Atul, suggests he try out for the school's cricket squad, but Dexter's not so sure. Despite his Caribbean heritage, he knows almost nothing about cricket—and thinks it's a wimpy sport anyway. But Dex's batting skills make him a shoo-in, and to his surprise, he even starts to enjoy himself—until the squad captain, jealous of Dex's natural skill, makes his life even more difficult than before.

Growing up above his parents' Chinese family restaurant in Sexsmith, Alberta, Warren Chen has always dreamed of being a football star. At 90 pounds and five feet tall, he's not exactly built like a linebacker, but even short kids from tiny towns have big dreams. At first the coach is reluctant to even let him try out, but soon he sees Warren's strengths―he is small, slippery, and no one can catch him. Warren is named the team's new running back. In their first game of the season, the Sexsmith Shamrocks face their biggest rivals, Grande Prairie. In a breathtaking dash along the sideline, Warren reaches the end zone to score the game-winning touchdown―almost. But Warren celebrates anyway, and the referee buys it. Sexsmith's losing streak is broken, and Warren has proven himself worthy to be on the team, a genuine football star! But he knows it's not quite the truth, and sooner or later, someone will find out. Warren has to decide whether to come clean and cost his school the victory, or continue living the small town football dream.

Aiden is the roughest player on his Calgary hockey team, as likely to be in the penalty box as on the ice. When he hits another player after a game, however, he's charged with assault and sentenced to one hundred hours of community service. He's bored and annoyed when he's forced to help Eric, a blind player with the Calgary Seeing Ice Dogs. In time, his new team shows him hockey is more fun on the ice than in the box.

When Toby Morton's sister asks him to play hopscotch, he asks if there's a video game version. He hates physical activity, and he especially hates gym class at his New Brunswick school. If the kids on his team in gym tease him for being overweight, he goes out of his way to make sure they lose. So when his new homeroom teacher, Mr. Walker, asks Toby to join the running team, Toby thinks he's crazy. But when his friend Amy suffers a dangerous attack of asthma, Toby is forced to look at exercise in a different light. Walker's Runners is a lively story for young people that introduces the joys of physical fitness, while highlighting the high costs of inactivity.

Peter has done it! He's made it onto an AAA Bantam team and is now playing hockey in Edmonton. But this shy boy from the Northwest Territories is having a hard time adjusting to city life, his new school, and host family. The other kids laugh at his clothing, and Peter's new "sister" seems to have made it her mission to get him into trouble with her parents. Before long, Peter's problems follow him onto the ice. Against the Boards is a compelling story about the difficulties that can arise when you don't express yourself.

David dreams of soccer glory, and is willing to suffer hours of monotonous practice drills to achieve it. His asthma might slow him down a little, but he works every day to be a better player. The coach of his Winnipeg team has a different formula for success: play the best players, and let the rest spend the season warming the bench. When the first line fails to show for a crucial game on a cold, rainy day the bench steps up and plays with grit, but coach Prescott is oblivious. When the team wins the championship, it's an empty victory for most of the players. But when he explains the situation to his grandfather, David finally finds a way to get the coach's attention.