Emmy-award winning sportswriter Amy Bass shares One Goal, the story of a high-school soccer team uniting the racially divided town of Lewiston, Maine. With many Somali refugees on the roster, this underdog team wins not one but two state championships! But to reach that level, both the team and the town have to flex in order to accommodate and embrace new talents, skills, religion, passion, and soccer styles. In the process, we see A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together.

00:15   Intro to Amy Bass, author and sportswriter

01:20   Multiple meanings of the title, “One Goal”

02:30   Bass has a personal connection to the town of Lewiston, Maine

03:30   She spends four undergraduate years at Bates College in Lewiston, unaware of the middle school across the street

04:45   At the beginning of the 21st century, Somali refugees slowly begin populating the town

05:10   The influx causes every group in town to face certain fears

05:55   The Somali diaspora includes some of today's 60 million displaced people

06:25   Demographic changes create fears about differences

07:00   Even the school cafeteria accommodates new diets

07:30   Refugees represent a particular kind of immigrant

08:30   Some immigrant stories about assimilation; this is a story of negotiation

08:50   Coach McGraw emphasizes the “advantage of the ball” and putting the game first

09:05   The very nature of the game enables everyone to work out dissimilarities, aiming for "one goal"

09:40   Tolerating vs. embracing differences

10:15   Lewiston team capitalizes on variations in how to play, talents, passion

10:30   Leveraging competitive advantages often creates the most successful teams

11:30   McGraw flexes to meet challenges

12:00   Team members’ challenges include PTSD, poverty, confusion, isolation, instability

13:00   Coach Mike McGraw, a legend in Lewiston, is a combo of both heart and head

14:45   While the players understand their parents’ sacrifices, they also want to win soccer games

15:55   Ironic forgetfulness pervasive among Quebecois immigrants, now long-settled in Lewiston

17:00   Somali refugees pour into Lewiston in an unplanned way

18:45   Coach McGraw deals with players' torn loyalties (between team and family)

20:00   Partnership of team is also a partnership with community = one goal

21:20   Understanding Islam; respecting Ramadan and commitment to daily prayers

22:10   Athletic Director Jason Fuller sets the bar high to accommodate athletes

23:10   Dealing with signing permission slips, getting physicals

24:00   All players learn team cheer (in Arabic and Swahili)

25:00   “Direct Soccer” (AKA “boot and scoot” or “kick and chase”)

25:50   “Possession Game” (played in Kenyan refugee camps) a sophisticated, unselfish style

27:00   Lewiston team just wins its third state championship!

27:30   Four players all help score the final goal (thanks to Lewiston Sun Journal)

28:55   “Soccer first”

29:05   U.S. only second only to China in kids participating in soccer

30:20   Sports are never just about sports; they involve many community members

31:30   Community is work!

32:30   Last-minute postscript includes the 2016 state-championship victory

34:45   Netflix owns movie rights to One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together

35:45: Recommendation: www.JustServe.org (volunteer website)

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Special thanks…

• Music Credit
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