Tim Howard, Goalie Extraordinare

Who is Tim Howard?

• A top American soccer goalie

• A famous basketball player

• A renowned tennis coach

• A professional baseball player

What condition was Tim Howard diagnosed with before his teenage years?

• Tourette syndrome

• Autism

• ADHD

• Dyslexia

What special ability does Tim Howard have that helps him in soccer?

• Hyperfocus

• Telepathy

• Super strength

• Invisibility

How many saves did Tim Howard make in the game against Belgium?

• 15

• 10

• 20

• 5

What award did Tim Howard receive for his performance against Belgium?

• Man of the Match Award

• Golden Boot

• Best Newcomer Award

• Player of the Year

What is the title of Tim Howard's autobiography?

• The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them

• My Soccer Journey

• Goals and Dreams

• The Life of a Goalie

What program did Tim Howard join at age 13?

• Olympic Development Program

• Junior Soccer League

• National Youth Soccer Program

• International Soccer Academy

How does the author describe Tourette syndrome in the second paragraph?

• It is a nervous system disorder that causes repetitive body movements and unwanted sounds that can also bring special gifts.

• It is a neurological disorder that causes intrusive thoughts and unhelpful comments that can also cause good things.

• It is a mood disorder that causes a constant sense of disinterest or sadness but that can also bring happy moods.

• It is a physical disorder that causes delayed development and some physical delays but can also bring mental clarity.

Read these sentences from the text.

“As he grew older, Howard realized that his brain may be wired differently, but he had other strengths. For example, when the soccer ball was flying towards him, Howard did not have the symptoms of Tourette syndrome. His tics went away, and his focus was fully on the ball. Howard could predict with accuracy what a player would do with the soccer ball before the player kicked it.”

What can you conclude about Howard’s relationship with Tourette syndrome based on this information?

• Howard was always upset about his tics from Tourette syndrome while he was on the field.

• Howard learned how to erase all of his tics during soccer practice, except when a ball was actually coming at the goal.

• Howard always tells people with Tourette syndrome to find a sport that they are good at and focus on it.

• Howard learned how to use the positive aspects of Tourette syndrome to give him a unique advantage on the soccer field.

Howard thinks that his Tourette syndrome gives him an ability to save many goals on the soccer field. What detail from the text supports this idea?

• “In one game against Belgium, he made 15 saves, an astonishing performance!”

• “He spent hours in his backyard perfecting soccer techniques.”

• “For Howard, his Tourette syndrome took the form of constant throat-clearing and repetitive body tics.”

• “He was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome a couple of years before he became a teenager.”