Is There Truly a Way to Balance Your Child’s Life if They Want to Play Division 1 Football?

When it comes to helping your child achieve the dream of playing Division 1 football, the short and honest answer is: no, there isn’t balance.

Let me explain.

In the early years—ages 5 to 10—it’s possible to balance football with other parts of life. At this stage, kids are just learning the sport, having fun, and building foundational skills. There’s joy in the game itself, and the stakes aren’t as high.

But after those early years, if your child is serious about becoming part of the 1% who play Division 1 football, balance becomes a luxury you can’t afford.

The Reality of the Dream

Consider this: in 2022, over 1 million high school athletes played football. Out of that number, only about 2.3% made it to Division 1 schools. This means your child is competing against thousands of equally determined kids across the country—all chasing the same dream.

So, ask yourself:
Do you want your child to be a legend or to be average?

If the goal is to be exceptional, your child has to be obsessed with that dream. Balance doesn’t lead to greatness—obsession does.

The Price of Greatness

Let’s look at some examples:
• Kobe Bryant would wake up at 4 a.m. every day to train, long before his teammates were even awake.
• Serena and Venus Williams trained for hours on end under the guidance of their father, Richard Williams, who believed in their potential long before the world did.
• Tiger Woods started swinging a golf club before he could walk, dedicating his entire childhood to the sport.
• Even outside of sports, icons like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos built their empires by pouring every ounce of energy into their dreams, often at the expense of balance.

What About Football?

To reach Division 1, your child must do more than just play football. They’ll need to:
1. Train relentlessly, both on and off the field.
2. Stay academically eligible to meet NCAA requirements (at least a 2.3 GPA for core courses).
3. Compete in camps and showcases to gain exposure.
4. Watch film, study playbooks, and constantly improve.

This level of dedication takes time—time that could be spent on other hobbies, social activities, or downtime. But here’s the truth: there’s always another kid somewhere putting in more work than your child.

The Cons of Being Obsessed

While obsession can lead to greatness, it also comes with sacrifices.

Yes, your child will likely miss:
• Birthdays.
• Holidays.
• Social events.
• Friendships that could have been formed outside of the sport.

Their childhood will largely revolve around football, which means they’ll miss out on some of the other amazing, fun experiences that come with being a kid.

These sacrifices don’t just affect the child—they impact the entire family. That’s why it’s crucial for both parents to be on the same page about supporting the dream.

If one parent believes in the mission while the other doesn’t, it can create conflict—not only in the relationship between the parents but also in the child’s relationship with them. Disagreements can lead to mixed messages for the child, making an already challenging journey even harder.

The key is unity. Both parents need to understand and commit to the sacrifices this dream requires. Otherwise, the emotional toll could outweigh the potential benefits.

Why Obsession Matters

Let’s go back in history for a second.

You’ve probably heard of Thomas Edison. He’s famous for inventing the light bulb, but did you know it took him over 1,000 failed experiments to get it right? That level of persistence comes from obsession, not balance. If Edison had decided to “balance” his life, we might still be lighting our homes with candles.

The same principle applies to football. The road to Division 1 is brutal, competitive, and unforgiving. Only the obsessed survive.

The Takeaway for Parents

This isn’t about pushing your child to the brink—it’s about understanding what it takes to achieve greatness. The journey to Division 1 football isn’t for everyone. If your child is happy playing for fun and balancing their life, that’s okay. But if their dream is to play at the highest level, you’ll need to embrace the grind alongside them.

So, the real question is:
Are you ready to help your child chase greatness? Or is balance more important to your family?

The choice is yours.

Let’s Talk

I want to hear from you! Do you agree that balance and greatness can’t coexist? Have you seen the sacrifices it takes to help your child reach their potential? Let’s start a conversation—drop your thoughts in the comments below.