The power of sports is not the same for everybody. There’s no doubt that athletics can have tremendous impact—but that impact looks different from kid to kid. A 2023 study in Systematic Review suggests that sports participation improves mental health, social outcomes, and overall well-being. But for some kids, sports aren’t just beneficial—they’re a lifeline.
They’re the connection to something solid, stable, and predictable.
Sports Can Be Life or Supplementary to Life
For many people, sports are supplementary to life. They add value—teaching teamwork, work ethic, perseverance, leadership, and resilience. These lessons matter, and they’re incredibly powerful for any young athlete fortunate enough to experience them.
But for others, sports aren’t just an add-on. Sports are life.
I remember sitting in on school board meetings during COVID at a local high school in Wisconsin. The discussion centered around canceling sports seasons and events. The decisions were being made by adults for whom sports were optional—supplementary. But the consequences were falling on some kids for whom sports were everything.
When I was in high school, the only reason I even went to school was to play ball. Without sports, I may not have finished high school at all. That might sound strange now, considering I would go on to earn a Ph.D. in Animal Science and have a strong background in math and statistics. But I’m not sure that transformation ever happens without sports.
Power of Sports — And Why I Relate So Deeply
As a child, life was chaotic. My parents divorced when I was very young. I don’t remember them being together, which may actually have been a blessing. But the divorce brought plenty of instability for me and my siblings. We each dealt with it in different ways.
I dealt with it mostly with a ball—especially basketball.
I played football too, but basketball was something I could do on my own, whenever I needed it. It was solid. It was dependable. It was mine. No matter what was happening at home, I always knew I could go outside, find a hoop, and shoot. (Well… except for the time a group of older kids stole my basketball when I was in kindergarten – thankfully, my older sister solved that problem pretty quickly! You’ve got to love big sisters!)
From that point forward though, basketball was central to my life—it was my rock.
My Ball to Life
As I moved through elementary, middle, and high school, life gradually settled down, but sports remained at the core of who I was. I went to school so I could play sports. People can say my priorities were backwards—and maybe they were—but that doesn’t change the reality. Sports carried me through high school.
The lessons I learned from playing—discipline, consistency, competing with purpose—were what helped me survive undergraduate school and then grind through a doctoral program. Even now, at 50 years old, sports remain a central part of my daily life. It’s why I created Ball to Life.
I coach high school football. I train young athletes. And to this day, when life feels heavy or overwhelming, you’ll usually find me alone in a gym, shooting free throws, resetting my mind. Basketball was my rock then, and it’s still my rock now.
Power of Sports Shape Lives
Sports shaped who I am, how I coach, and how I connect with young athletes. As adults—coaches, parents, mentors—we must understand that sports mean different things to different kids. Neither viewpoint is wrong. Both are real, and both are shaped by circumstances.
Our job is to meet each athlete where they are and help them grow from their starting point to who they can become.
Sports teach so much—but those lessons take on deeper meaning when guided by a caring adult. I was fortunate to have people (parents, siblings and coaches) at key moments who helped me take the lessons from the court and apply them to my life. They weren’t perfect, but they showed up. And that mattered.
We often think we need to be perfect mentors. But perfection doesn’t exist—not in sports, not in life. The game teaches you that quickly. You just have to show up every day and play. Not every kid has people around them to help shape their experiences – when you get the chance, just show up and be there.
And when you do that—whether on the court, in school, or in life—growth happens.
BtL
If you’re a parent, coach, or mentor, I encourage you to take a moment and look at the athletes in your life. Ask yourself what sports truly mean to them. For some, it’s fun. For others, it’s structure. And for a few, it’s a lifeline. When we understand that, we lead and support them better.
At Ball to Life, our mission is to help young athletes grow not just as players, but as people. If this message resonated with you, explore more stories, leadership lessons, and resources designed to help athletes thrive—both on and beyond the court.
