The kids at Shodair Children's Hospital are used to clinics with rules, doctors and people observing them. On Friday morning, however, they got a different kind of clinic.

Four teenagers in matching orange T-shirts were instructors for the day. Instead of clipboards and examination rooms, the clinic featured soccer balls, high-fives, drill cones and lots of smiles.

The clinic was a part of the Shodair Soccer Classic, which is held tonight at Nelson Stadium. It features all-star soccer players from Montana's high school class of 2008.

This is the first year that the players participating in the Soccer Classic have held a clinic for the kids at Shodair.

"This is just incredible," said Ellen Livers, Director of Management Services for Shodair. "Our kids at Shodair don't get to see successful teens very much, so it's great to see them out here having fun."

Before the fun started, however, the kids seemed a bit skeptical of what this particular clinic would entail, one young patient hid timidly behind a nurse.

"They all have different shoes on," one kid yelled, extending an index finger at the players' feet. All eyes turned to four different pairs of soccer shoes, and the excitement of the morning officially began.

Players led the kids through drills as they shouted words of encouragement to the novices. The soccer wasn't top notch, but life was good for the young kids of Shodair Hospital at that moment.

"The kids are just eating this up," said Patti McLean, a Special Education teacher as she looked on.

The drills went from passing and heading the ball to dribbling and shooting it. Sounds of heavy breathing from the kids and calls of support from their newfound heroes filled the air.

"Watch me," one child said, losing the ball between his legs.

A clinic is held for public youth in conjunction with the Soccer Classic each year, but never before for the kids of Shodair.

Livers said the idea came from one of last year's players who, after touring the hospital, asked if the Shodair kids would be at the game Saturday night.

If the kids could be at the game, a psychiatrist told the player, they wouldn't be in the hospital.

So the idea was hatched to get the Shodair kids connected with the players for a unique clinic.

O'Brian Byrd, coach for the men's West squad, led the clinic along with one player from each of the four teams.

"This was great," said Alex Konopatzke of Whitefish, grinning from ear to ear.

"These are real people, these kids," Byrd said. "It's great to be a part of their world for a morning."

Their world is not a place where ordinary kids grow up, but these are not ordinary children, either. Patients at Shodair Hospital live there for anywhere from a day to a year, and range in ages from 5 to 18.

Shodair provides "in-patient psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents," explained Jack Casey, Hospital Administrator.

Some kids have gone through extreme emotional trauma at a young age, and many have learning disabilities.

The hospital offers children and adolescent units, along with an acute unit for patients in a "most critical state," like being suicidal, Livers said.

"It's a big deal to have this positive attention from someone in a sports uniform," said Chris Bates, director of nursing. "They don't get that very often. It helps them feel successful."

Those feelings of success were apparent as the kids scored goals on local standout goalkeeper Lander Jewett, a Helena High graduate.

Katie Miller, a player from Stevensville, cheered the kids on as they celebrated with fist pumps.

Tayt Ellison, a Billings Senior graduate and a future member of the Carroll women's soccer team, fetched balls behind the goal and yelled out congratulations to the goal scorers.

"I'm thinking of pre-med at Carroll, so this could be a part of my future," Ellison said, nodding toward the kids. "There are a lot of kids out there who need help and it's great to be a part of supporting them."

At the end of the morning, the entire group huddled up, stretching their hands for a cheer. The youngster who was hiding behind a nurse at the start of the morning was in the middle of the circle, having persevered despite his fear.

Perseverance is one thing that these Shodair kids have, and Friday morning may have offered them a glimpse at how life can be when they bounce back and conquer the challenges they face.

During the clinic, one Shodair patient emerged from the drills with a bloody nose after misfiring on a header.

"I'll be back," she yelled with enthusiasm, taking the hand of a nurse to lead her inside. "I'll be right back."

She came back, as promised, and hugged Miller at the end, wrapping her arms around the player's orange shirt.

"Couldn't have been much better," Jewett said, matter-of-factly.

Perhaps the players found a few heroes, too.