Slow Moe & The Underwater Soccer Match 🦥 ⚽️ Bedtime Stories For Kids | Rewind

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome back to Koala Moon, a podcast of original bedtime stories and sleep meditations for kids, designed to make bedtime a dream. I wonder if any of you are football or soccer fans? I ask because soon we'll be heading back to watch the Sleepy Forest soccer squad, but in a match with a mighty big difference.

[00:00:34] The opposing team aren't like any others they've faced before. This soccer team's players live and play underwater. Can the Sleepy Forest squad adapt to their new surroundings and use it to their advantage? Or could this underwater team finally be the one to knock the Sleepy Forest squad off their reigning spot at the top of the league? Let's find out once we've got comfy and ready to listen.

[00:01:02] So hop into bed, close your eyes, breathe gently and relax your body. For a moment or two, try to remember the last time you had to do something that felt strange, where you were fully out of your comfort zone. Perhaps you had to change where you sit in class or on the school bus,

[00:01:27] or you needed to try a new food, or even start a new school. All these things seem hard until you get started. This story is about adapting and understanding that when you adapt to new things, you make progress, even if it's not immediately obvious.

[00:01:49] Okay. Now imagine looking out over the blue sea and suddenly seeing some small bubbles popping on the surface of the sea. Can you see them? Way down beneath the waves are our soccer sports stars trying to adapt their skills to being underwater.

[00:02:13] Shall we see how they're getting on? Snuggle down under your blanket or duvet and nestle your head into your pillow. It's time to begin Slow Mo and the Underwater Soccer Match by Alicia Ainsley. Before we begin, here's a quick ad break. Then we'll start tonight's bedtime story.

[00:02:36] If you'd like to support our podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, and unlock all our premium stories, you can join the Coco Club. To join, follow the link in the show notes.

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[00:04:44] the Sleepy Forest Soccer Squad trained together, as they often did. The soccer squad regularly met to practice their dribbles, their passes and their strikes under the watchful eye of their proud coach, Chase the Cheater. Coach Chase had once been a famous soccer champion in Sleepy Forest, until he retired to spend more time with his grand cubs.

[00:05:09] Nowadays, he helped train the next generation of keen soccer players, and his Sleepy Forest squad were currently the reigning champions in the league. Every player had their own strengths, and together they made an excellent team. In the important position of the goalkeeper was Slow Mo the Sloth.

[00:05:34] At first thought, you may think it's strange that a sloth would be in the goal, batting away balls and preventing the fast-paced strikers from scoring. But Slow Mo was a natural. Thanks to his long limbs, steady temperament and slow motion vision, he kept a watchful eye on the ball and successfully stopped it from entering his goal almost every time.

[00:06:02] The other players in their team were Mo's best friend, Ozzy the Ostrich, fancy-footed Lionel the Lemur, header champion Dakota the Dinosaur, and super-speedy Nora the Greyhound. Then there were keen defenders Gilly the Gibbon and Peggy Pegasus, energetic midfielder Hattie the Hare,

[00:06:28] and smooth tackler Flokie the Persian Cat. And importantly, the best strikers in the team were Kylie the Kangaroo and Liana the Lioness. Each animal's special skills made up their varied victorious team. Coach Chase had done an impressive job of scouting and training this eclectic squad, but the hard work was never over.

[00:06:56] In order for their team to stay at the top of the league, they had to continuously hone their skills, stay fit, and develop their teamwork. On this particular training day, Coach Chase had some interesting news for his squad. They were about to face, perhaps, their biggest challenge yet. In the middle of practice,

[00:07:25] Coach Chase blew his whistle, and the players gathered round expectantly. Team, I have the details for your next match, he declared. This Saturday, we will be playing the Harmony Cove Soccer Squad. The team excitedly began to talk amongst themselves. They hadn't played against the Harmony Cove squad before.

[00:07:54] Who was this elusive team? Aussie Ostrich raised his wing and asked. Coach Chase explained that Harmony Cove are a squad made up of underwater creatures. Their soccer stadium lies underwater, off the coast from Sleepy Forest, and next Saturday, that is where they would be playing. The squad were immediately bursting with questions.

[00:08:24] Does this mean we need to play soccer underwater? Hattie the Hare questioned. Are there any sharks in the team? Peggy Pegasus asked. I haven't been swimming before, Dakota the Dinosaur admitted. Do you think it will be easy for me to learn? Coach Chase was prepared for all their questions,

[00:08:53] and he set his team's minds at ease by answering them all. Yes, they would be playing Harmony Cove underwater. No, there were no sharks in the Harmony Cove squad. And Coach Chase had already made a plan to prepare his team for a match below the water's surface, including swimming lessons.

[00:09:18] This sounds like it's going to be a fun challenge, Slow Mo said in his slow draw. The Sleepy Forest squad set to work right away to prepare for their upcoming match against Harmony Cove. The team had never played soccer underwater before. In fact, some of the animals hadn't spent much time in water at all.

[00:09:48] Liana the Lioness couldn't think of anything worse than getting her fur wet. And like Dakota Dinosaur, Kylie the Kangaroo had never tried her hand at swimming before either. It wasn't particularly common for kangaroos to move through water. They much preferred hopping around than flipping their feet.

[00:10:15] Coach Chase knew that if they wanted to have a chance of defeating the Harmony Cove squad, they needed to adapt their usual tactics. The team's training schedule for the next week was very different to normal. On Tuesday, they had a swimming lesson in Sleepy Forest Lake. On Wednesday, they were going to learn how to scuba dive and breathe underwater.

[00:10:42] And on Thursday, slow-mo was going to teach them all how to enjoy moving in slow motion. After all, a soccer game underwater moved at a very different pace to one on land. Tuesday rolled around, and the team met at the edge of the Sleepy Forest Lake. Bahama, a water-loving spaniel,

[00:11:10] was known as the best swim instructor around and was delighted to train the Sleepy Forest team and teach them her famous doggy paddle. She assisted all the animals into the water, even the cautious ones, and helped them feel at ease right away. She made the doggy paddle seem simple as she taught them all how to windmill their arms, to push through the water,

[00:11:38] and kick their legs to propel themselves forward. Come on, Coach, come join us, the team hollered to Coach Chase, who watched from the lake's edge. It's so refreshing in here. Coach Chase shook his spotted, furry head defiantly. Cheaters did not appreciate getting wet.

[00:12:06] The coach watched his team from the sidelines. The players paddled around and laughed as they splashed one another. The team's swimming skills quickly came on in leaps and bounds, and even the animals who had never swum before picked up the doggy paddle. Kylie kangaroo and Dakota dinosaur

[00:12:31] were swimming around effortlessly with the rest of them within just an hour. Slow-mo lazily floated around on his back like a starfish, enjoying his trademark glacial pace, even in the water. To help them all feel even more comfortable in the water, their swimming teacher, Bahama,

[00:12:58] led them in a game of water volleyball. The team members leapt up and down out of the water as they batted the inflatable ball back and forth over the net. As he watched, Coach Chase started to feel a little envious of their fun. Eventually, Coach Chase became tired of watching. He wanted to get involved.

[00:13:28] All right, all right, I'm coming in, he shouted. Coach Chase took a running jump up to the edge of the lake and dived into the cool waters with a big splash. The team was right. The water was very refreshing. Coach Chase picked a side and the whole team played together,

[00:13:56] growing in confidence and practicing their swimming skills at the same time. This is the most fun training session we've had in a while, commented Dakota Dinosaur as she blew bubbles from her scaly snout. The following day, it was time for the squad to learn how to scuba dive.

[00:14:21] They met at the lake again and all helped each other get into their scuba diving gear. They each had an air tank strapped to their back, a pair of goggles covering their eyes and nose, and a breathing nozzle that went in their mouths. Coach Chase led the team in an exercise to teach them how to breathe effectively underwater.

[00:14:51] First, they had to place one hand on their chest and one hand on their stomach. Next, they took a deep breath in through their mouth and felt their stomach and chest rise as their lungs filled with oxygen. Then when they felt ready, they exhaled slowly,

[00:15:19] feeling their lungs empty like a balloon. The team practiced this over and over, until breathing with the scuba diving tank felt as natural as breathing normally. Once their breathing technique was perfected, they jumped into the water and put their new skill to the test.

[00:15:44] Diving below the water's surface and into the deep lake, the team was immersed in a world they had never encountered before. Every player was astounded by the incredible experience of swimming underwater. They hadn't known what was at the bottom of the sea. To their pleasant surprise,

[00:16:11] they discovered that a thriving community was living down there, just like there was on land in sleepy forest. The team swam over the tops of tiny houses, waving to the water creatures residing in them below. They swam and explored, admiring the colourful coves and reefs that glittered on the lake's bed.

[00:16:40] Plus, they spotted the soccer pitch, where they would play their match in just a few days' time. When they returned to the surface of the water and gathered back on dry land, Flokky, the Persian cat, made a very keen observation. Flokky said,

[00:17:03] Did anyone notice how much harder it is to move fast underwater? How are we going to move quickly enough to play soccer on Saturday? The Harmony Cove squad will swim circles around us. Coach Chase looked a slow-mo expectantly,

[00:17:31] and the sloth replied with a sleepy smile, That's where I come in. Now that the squad had practiced their swimming and learnt how to breathe underwater, the only thing left to do was learn how to perfect their soccer moves.

[00:17:57] The world was very different below the surface of the ocean. For one, everything and everyone moved at a very different pace. Up on land, there is no resistance. There is no resistance as you move. But water is much denser than air, so everyone moved a lot slower down there. The sleepy forest squad were used to moving fast

[00:18:26] and outrunning their opponents on the soccer pitch. So moving slowly felt very unusual for them. Luckily, they had someone on their team who was an expert in all things slow. On Thursday, Moe the sloth set to work teaching his teammates how to make the most of time slowing down.

[00:18:55] There are many benefits to moving slower, Moe preached. You have extra time to think and respond. You notice things around you more and can adapt to your opponent's tactics by watching them carefully.

[00:19:24] Plus, it feels really relaxing to take everything slow. So, the team practiced kicking the ball to each other on their usual soccer pitch. Except the one rule today was that they had to move in super slow motion

[00:19:51] to prepare for what it felt like playing underwater. Without speed on their side, they had to pay close attention to where the ball was heading and anticipate what their opponent's next move might be. Then, they could position themselves accordingly.

[00:20:15] Interestingly, most of the animals enjoyed moving slowly around the pitch and taking their time. Liana the lioness liked the fact she had more time to line up her shots before propelling them into the goal's net with her powerful feet. But moving slowly felt a bit strange for others,

[00:20:43] like Nora the greyhound, who was used to running with the ball at lightning speed. Slow down, Nora, Moe called out to her as she whisked along the pitch with the ball. I am slowed down, she responded. Slow down even more then, Moe instructed.

[00:21:13] Slow down, Nora tried to slow her running even more, but it was difficult. She felt as if she was hardly moving at all. Good job, Nora, Moe encouraged her as she crept along the pitch. Nora sighed with frustration. How am I going to get the ball anywhere by moving this slowly?

[00:21:43] She despaired. Coach Chase reminded her that underwater, she would only be able to move this slowly. Therefore, she had to get used to it. Don't worry, Nora, you'll learn, Moe reassured her. Just breathe and let go.

[00:22:12] Nora did as she was instructed. She breathed through her frustration and slowed down, trying her best to embrace this slower pace. As she focused, she noticed that the ball tended to drift away from her as she ran in slow motion. If the ball was doing this now,

[00:22:39] it would be even harder to control underwater. This exercise challenged Nora to dribble the ball tighter than usual. Surprisingly, Nora felt like she was gaining a better hold on the ball while slowing down by closely assessing her tactics. By the time she reached the other end of the pitch,

[00:23:07] she felt even more confident in her ability to run with the ball. Nora returned to the middle of the pitch and confessed, Okay, I guess moving in slow motion is beneficial in ways.

[00:23:32] But Moe, how do you get through life this slowly? Everything takes so much longer. Does it not get frustrating or boring? Moe the sloth smiled and shrugged his shoulders lethargically. I don't know.

[00:23:58] I find it simple, he responded. I just go with the flow, and the flow always takes me where I need to go. We could all do with being a bit more like Moe, Ozzy Ostrich supported his friend.

[00:24:22] As advised, the team dedicated some time to simply going with the flow. They practiced moving in slow motion, and even talking in slow motion. They had a good giggle, listening to each other's funny, drawling voices. After a while, they noticed that their bodies had become much more at ease with moving slowly.

[00:24:53] And actually, it felt quite nice. Their bodies felt lighter, their hearts were beating slower, and their minds were quiet. The team felt positively serene. Liana, the lioness, yawned.

[00:25:16] Ooh, if this is how you feel every day, Moe, then I think you are a very lucky animal. By the end of the training session, the team naturally moved at a more lumbering pace. Their soccer skills were noticeably cleaner, and their accuracy more refined.

[00:25:44] Surprisingly, slowing things down had brought their weaknesses to light and enabled them to focus and fix the problems. The sleepy forest squad felt stronger than ever. Two days later, the day of the big soccer match arrived, and the sleepy forest soccer squad dived into the sea

[00:26:12] to play against Harmony Cove. Harmony Cove's soccer pitch was smaller than the fields the sleepy forest squad had played on on land. Coach Chase explained that the difference in size was made to account for the fact that things took a lot longer underwater. Nora the greyhound sighed with relief. At least she wouldn't have to run

[00:26:41] in slow motion for too long to pass the ball down the pitch. The players stood in their positions and waited for the starting whistle to blow. Slow-mo gazed around the underwater soccer stadium, taking it all in. Everything around him was beautifully slow. The Harmony Cove team

[00:27:08] swam gracefully into their starting positions, and the referee scuttled lazily along the pitch to bring the ball to the centre point. Even the voices cheering in the stands sounded sedated. All of Mo's teammates floated leisurely, and Mo could tell that this was the most relaxed

[00:27:35] any of them had ever felt before a match. Slowing everything down and taking it easy was the magic medicine to get rid of pre-game nerves. This underwater stadium was Mo's ideal kind of place. The referee blew the whistle and the game began.

[00:28:03] Both teams sprang into action. Zen the pufferfish from Harmony Cove was the first to intercept the ball. And he blew the ball down the pitch, never physically touching the ball once with his prickly body or tiny fins. Mo watched in awe as the pufferfish expertly maneuvered the ball with his breath.

[00:28:33] His technique was impeccable. Each time the pufferfish player inhaled deeply, his body expanded into a large, round shape before he blew a long, controlled breath that sent the ball darting through the water towards his teammates. Catching the ball with his flippery feet was Fritz the frog.

[00:29:02] Fritz dribbled the ball through the water. Passed Sleepy Forest's best defender, Gilly the gibbon, and kicked it over to Harmony Cove's main striker, Michelle the turtle. Now, it was all down to Mo to stop Harmony Cove from scoring the first point of the game. Fortunately, playing soccer in a slow-motion world

[00:29:31] was practically was what Mo had been made for. Michelle the turtle struck the ball with his strong flipper, and Mo watched closely as the ball hurtled towards the net. With precision, Mo leant to the side and stretched out his long arm to successfully bat the ball away. The crowd in the stands

[00:30:00] gasped and clapped their flippers with admiration. The Harmony Cove squad were noticeably impressed too by Mo's save, and they nodded their heads in approval. Mo kicked the ball back out onto the pitch towards his teammate Lion or the lemur. Now, the Sleepy Forest squad's job was to keep a hold of the ball and not lose it

[00:30:29] to the Harmony Cove team. As the game went on, it became apparent that while the Sleepy Forest team were putting up a very good fight, the Harmony Cove squad had the edge. The land animals couldn't quite match the expertise of the water creatures. Each time the Sleepy Forest squad had a hold of the ball, a member of Harmony Cove

[00:30:58] would sweep in, tackle, and take the ball so smoothly that it took a few moments for the Sleepy Forest players to realize what had happened. If it weren't for Mo's impeccable goalkeeping, Harmony Cove would have beaten the Sleepy Forest squad dozens of times over. But, in the end, the water-dwelling team only won the match

[00:31:27] by one point. When the final whistle blew, the fish, watching in the stands, cheered and supported their local team. Bubbles poured out of their gaping mouths as their voices vibrated through the water. The Harmony Cove team celebrated and hugged one another while the Sleepy Forest squad huddled together for Coach Chase

[00:31:57] to debrief them on the match. They expected the coach to be disappointed, but, on the contrary, the cheetah wore a proud grin on his furry face. That was a fantastic match, he declared. I adored every minute of it. It was fascinating getting to watch you all play at such a slow pace.

[00:32:26] It gave me an excellent insight into our tactics and how we can adapt and improve them to become an even better team. The squad's deflated mood at having lost instantly changed and they all smiled. If their coach didn't mind that they had lost, then why should they? Aussie Ostrich said to the team,

[00:32:56] we should be so proud of ourselves. We stepped outside our comfort zone today. Nora the greyhound admitted, I actually quite enjoyed it. You were right, Moe. It's nice to slow down and just go with the flow sometimes. Kylie the kangaroo smiled and added encouragedly, way to go, team.

[00:33:25] The squad all huddled together for a big team hug and congratulated each other on a well-played match. Unexpectedly, one of the players from the Harmony Cove team swam over to the squad as they huddled together. Did anyone lose this? Michelle the turtle asked the team, holding up a bright orange sweatband

[00:33:54] with glittery stars stitched on. Dakota dinosaur gasped with relief, my lucky sweatband. Oh, thank you. I would have hated it if I'd left that behind. Michelle the turtle handed the piece of lost property over to Dakota and the dinosaur thanked him gratefully. Good game, by the way, Michelle the turtle added.

[00:34:23] Not every team likes our underwater pitch, but you all adapted really well, especially you, Michelle pointed to Moe the sloth. You're a natural, the turtle continued. If you ever want to change teams, I'm sure we could find a place for you on our Harmony Cove squad. Slow-mo chuckled dozily and thanked

[00:34:52] Michelle the turtle for his kind words, but Moe was perfectly happy with his current team. The sleepy forest squad were disappointed not to have walked away as the winners of today's match, but, as Ozzy Ostrich pointed out, they could still be very proud of themselves for what they had achieved. This was the first time that any

[00:35:22] of them had played soccer in a new environment and they had all adapted magnificently. They remained positive and worked hard to modify and learn new skills. Even though they hadn't technically won this time, they were all still winners in their own way. were own way. They They