In Denver, Colorado, a shifty, middle-aged salesman named Chester Lee attends a self-help seminar to improve his work status at Mullen Industries, then returns home with roses for his fiancée, Bess, whom he plans to marry when he receives the promotion. Although Bess is delighted by the promise of their new life together, she is concerned about Chester’s relationship with her antagonistic teenage son, Matthew. The following day at Mullen Industries, Chief Executive Officer Dave Mullen is needled by his buxom wife, Glynnis, to hire a new coach for the company-sponsored girls’ soccer team, the “Ladybugs.” Although their daughter, Kimberly, is a team member, she botches games by kicking the ball too high, and Glynnis is intent on transforming the girl into a star player. Just then, Chester arrives for a meeting with Mullen to secure his promotion. When the executive is dismissive, Chester notices an immense case of soccer trophies and claims to be a player, himself. Mistaking Chester for a real athlete, Glynnis orders her husband to hire Chester as the Ladybugs’ new coach. With his promotion hanging in the balance, as well as his plans to marry Bess, Chester partners with his strident secretary, Julie Benson, to coach the Ladybugs. At the first team meeting, however, they are horrified to discover that Kimberly Mullen and one other girl from the previous year’s championship team remain. The new girls are hapless and awkward, and know as little about soccer as their coaches. The Ladybugs perform disastrously in their first game, and Glynnis is intolerant of the girls’ failure. Appeasing his wife, Mullen promises to promote Chester to head salesman if he can lead the Ladybugs to victory. Meanwhile, Bess mistakenly believes Chester has already secured the promotion and starts planning their wedding, though she remains concerned about her son, who prioritizes sports over academics. As punishment, Matthew is expelled from his school’s soccer team, even though he is the best player. Matthew is distracted by his infatuation with Kimberly Mullen, however, but is too shy to approach her. One day, Chester drives Matthew to the soccer field and asks him to help coach the Ladybugs. Observing the girls, Matthew sees Kimberly and grudgingly agrees to join the team, dressed as a girl named “Martha.” At the Ladybug’s next game, Matthew orders the girls around the field, hoping to win the match. When the team loses yet again, Chester tells Matthew that he is overbearing, and did not give the girls a chance. Outraged by the criticism, Matthew quits, but later overhears his mother express joy about her upcoming marriage. Just as Chester prepares to reveal the truth about his failed promotion, Matthew interrupts the conversation to announce his decision to join a “new” soccer team. With Bess ignorant of her son’s cross-dressing, Chester takes Matthew shopping for girls’ clothes as he and Julie instruct the boy in the ways of femininity. Sometime later, at the Ladybug’s first winning game, Chester’s boss, Mullen, compliments him on the team’s progress and promises to reward his efforts with an elevated position in the company. Just then, Bess arrives unexpectedly and Chester panics, turning her attention away from Matthew. After the day’s success, Glynnis Mullen invites the girls to her estate so they can swim naked in her pool. When Matthew telephones Chester in distress, he picks up the boy, dressed as “Martha’s” mother. At another game, Kimberly fails to kick a goal and Mullen orders Chester to take his daughter out of the game. However, the Ladybugs win the game and qualify for the championship. Later that day, Kimberly shows up at Matthew’s house and he quickly changes into a dress before opening the door. Kimberly regrets displeasing her father and calls “Martha” her best friend. Just then, Chester and Bess return home with groceries. Desperate to get Kimberly out of the house, Matthew quickly guides her outside, but Bess catches on to the ruse, feels betrayed, and orders Chester to leave. At the Ladybugs’ championship game, the girls contend against a militaristic competitor and Mullen declares that Kimberly must not play. When he learns “Martha” is not playing, either, he threatens to rescind Chester’s promotion. Just then, Matthew arrives and changes into his costume. However, Chester tells the boy he no longer needs to maintain the hoax, and Matthew feels true affection for his potential stepfather. Matthew races to Kimberly’s house and reveals he is a boy. He convinces her to play, despite her father’s orders, then dons his wig so he can be included in the game. In a huddle before kick off, Chester secretly divulges that Matthew is a boy, but insists the girls don’t need him to win. As the teams begin the game, Mullen threatens to fire Chester if he allows Kimberly to play, but Chester refuses to follow orders. With Matthew coaching from the sidelines, the girls battle to tie the score. In the last minutes of the game, Kimberly delivers a successful penalty kick, and the Ladybugs win the championship. Mullen is so pleased, he gives Clifford an even greater promotion. As Clifford and Bess make up, Kimberly and Matthew kiss. Sometime later, Clifford coaches a boys’ soccer team, but dresses them as girls to improve their sportsmanship.