Cruel to Be Kind: When Adam is trying to help Tom and his father make amends, he realizes that his father can't get over the fact that his son is blind, and forces him to say out loud "I'm ashamed of my blind son", so they can heal that sentiment and work on acceptance.
Dumb Muscle: Luke, the biggest kid at the school in the livery, is a big, strong boy, but not very bright. Mr. Standish gets him out of the public school by giving him a scholarship which is clearly wasted on him just to steal the strongest player from the Winoka Warriors.
Gendered Insult: When the football team from the private school gloat about how they won every game, Albert kokes that they must have played against the girls. Laura uncharacteristically laughs at the joke, despite later trying to suggest that the girls help the team train and being disappointed when the adults turned her down.
Jerk Jock: Jeb Standish, captain of the football team at his school and who frequently makes fun of the kids at the public school. All the other players are also sonbs who join him in teasing the poorer kids.
Opposing Sports Team: The Dragons, the football team from the Private school in Winoka versus the Winoka Warriors from the public school.
Underdogs Never Lose: At the end, the Winoka Warriors win thanks to the help of Tom, the big blind boy, who along with Albert make the very first Forward Pass in History (though Laura's narration informs that the record book claims that the first one was in October 3, 1906, as per real life).
