Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored series with the National Football Foundation’s Football Matters campaign.
Families Need Football
I want to tell you a little story. A story about a little, 4 year old boy who had been so angry, so hard and so closed off for most of his little life that he failed to really connect with those closest to him. This boy of mine, had just failed to bloom and thrive. Then along came football. 
In our 1.5 seasons of football we have watched that timid little boy create lifelong memories with friends he had not had before we started football. We watch every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as he shows a determination and drive that was fully developed on that field. He has a set of coaches, and extra set of dads if you ask me ;), that will address anything we ever needed. Coaches that care to see him develop just as much as we do. Football has transformed our boy into the biggest, bravest, most considerate and connected six-year-old we could have only ever dreamed of two summers ago.
Aside from Kellan’s little success story, we have taken a great deal away from football as a family. It has taught my husband and I not to limit our children’s passions. To give something a shot whether or not it may have been on our radar. it has shown his brothers how much their support means to each other. It’s shown Kellan that we will show up for him, no matter what. Something I’m certain he did not feel as that little closed off toddler a few years back.
Football alone has done so much for our family ::
Confidence – Kellan beams with pride and confidence both on and off the field. Something we had truly never gotten to see. His teachers continuously comment on the confidence he has gained since starting football and love seeing him blossom in the classroom.
Connection – Amongst the chaos of our day to day, we go to each and every single practice together as a family. Kellan’s brothers cheer him on every day and love to see him do what he does best. It has truly brought us closer together when our lives seem to be forever spinning around us.
Football Family – Our biggest takeaway. We have the best group of parents, players and
siblings that we get to spend LOTS of hours with week in and week out. We are beyond thankful for our group and love the time spent together cheering our boys on.
Brotherhood – There is a brotherhood that exists amongst our boys. They joke, they rough house, they play. Once the whistle blows, they take that brotherhood onto the field and support one another. They block, they tackle, they run FOR each other. It’s quite a beautiful thing.
Character – Football has shaped our boy into a boy who takes responsibility for his actions, that strives for the best he can do and most importantly, knows that hard work and heart will get you any place you want to be.
For us, as you can see, families need football.
Not only has our family gained so much from the sport but so many other athletes, cheerleaders, band members, pep squad members, coaches and trainers have benefited from the sport of football.
Football is constantly evolving and changing, making the game smarter and more safe for our boys. Technology advancements through the years have made the game of football better as a whole. From the reliability and performance of helmets to new tracking technology that has improved the benefits of “smart” mouthgards. Now has never been a better time to get into a game that does so much good.
This post of our football success story is brought to you by Football Matters – an initiative of the National Football Foundation, where you can get information and resources about participating in the game of football. You can find out more info HERE! See what’s next for Football Matters, follow along on social media and check out other great stories of football from the youth, collegiate and pro levels.
[easy-image-collage id=45232]
Beautiful story. My son played for Central Bobcats. He’s now a 10th grader at the high school. Everything! Literally EVERYTHING you stated is true. My son is so different on the field.
My son, and then my granddaughter both played youth football in So. Burlington VT. It is a co-ed league starting with flag then moving onto tackle. The discipline the kids learn, teammanship, the sportsmanship, how to get up and dust yourself off, blocking for others to make the “big play” are all team responsibilities and will carry them well in life. Many boys, especially if they are larger in stature, can suffer in school as the teachers are afraid “somebody will get hurt” roughhousing on the playground but these kids find a home with their peers on the football field. To say nothing of the cheerleaders, grandparents, snack people, parents etc who show up at all the games.
My son was a very quiet shy kid and would cry he didn’t want to play every time a coach would discipline or correct him. But I made the decision I wasn’t going to give him the way out he was looking for so let’s finish the season and see how you feel well 6 yrs later he still plays and just came home from a national tournament in Florida and was a captain on that team. Football and the coaches have helped to shape my son into the confident outgoing young man he is now.