How Coaching My Kid’s Football Team Has Made Me a Better Leader

The Cedarburg Dawg

My dad coached most of my teams when I was a kid, and it was foundational in our relationship. Some of my best memories are of him with a whistle around his neck—teaching, guiding, and encouraging me from the sidelines.

So when I dreamed about starting a family and becoming a dad, I immediately pictured myself doing the same—whistle in mouth, clipboard in hand, coaching my kids’ teams.

Over the last three years, that dream has become a reality. And having spent most of my career leading, managing, and coaching salespeople, I figured it would be easy. Boy, was I wrong.

The lessons I’ve learned have been humbling—and transformative. Not just on the field, but in the office.

My First Coaching Disaster

My first shot at coaching was a football team of 4–5-year-olds—many playing for the first time.

I came in prepared: lesson plan, drills, time blocks. I gathered the kids, explained the first drill, and waited for order to emerge. Instead, chaos. Kids ran in circles, chased butterflies, stared blankly at me.

I pivoted. New drill. Same outcome. Pivot again. Same result.

Within fourteen minutes, I had burned through the entire practice plan. Forty-six minutes left. Panic. (Thank goodness for Sharks & Minnows.)

That day—and many since—reminded me that leading kids (or anyone) requires more than a plan. It requires clarity, brevity, simplicity, and meeting people where they are.

Four Lessons That Apply Anywhere

Meet Them Where They Are

Mistake: I assumed they knew more than they did. I imagined a high-octane offense and a tough-nosed defense…only to realize just snapping the ball from center to quarterback was nearly impossible.

Lesson: Understand the real starting point and meet people there. Get down on their level—literally and figuratively.

Show vs. Tell

Mistake: I explained why snapping the football was important and how to do it. Nods of agreement…then chaos at the line.

Lesson: Demonstrate first. Slow, deliberate reps. Then create a safe environment for them to practice and get hands-on instruction. Real learning follows modeling, not monologues.

Be Clear & Direct

Mistake: After finally getting the snap right, we handed off the ball. My running back immediately sprinted the wrong way—all the way through the end zone. Two points for the other team.

Lesson: Specific beats vague. “When you get it, run to that cone.” He grinned, nodded, and nailed it.

Build on Fundamentals

Mistake: The moment we showed a spark of competence, I quickly moved to the next thing—in this case, our first passing play. Cue more confusion and frustration (and an interception returned for a touchdown).

Lesson: Reinforce basics patiently. Master simple before layering on complex.

And...Have Fun!

If I were to sneak in one more lesson, it’s this: have fun. Energy, joy, and encouragement go a long way in helping people learn new skills.

Impact on Business

What’s true on the field is just as true in business. As a sales strategist and consultant, I’ve seen growth-minded entrepreneurs and sales leaders fall into the same traps I did as a coach:

• Meet them where they are: Tailor direction to the role and experience. Swap jargon for plain English; give one clear next action.

• Show vs. tell: Don’t just talk process—demonstrate it. Then create a safe environment to practice: role-play intros, shadow calls, model behavior.

• Be clear & direct: Replace vague goals (“grow revenue”) with specifics (“book 8 first meetings/week with these ICPs using this message”).

• Build on fundamentals: Take time to master the basics before throwing salespeople into new situations—especially new hires “getting on the phone” or “in front of customers.”

When leaders meet, model, clarify, and reinforce, teams move with confidence, alignment, and purpose.

Closing

Coaching kids has humbled me more than once. I’ve seen my words fall flat, my instructions lose the team, and my “big ideas” collapse in chaos. But those moments on the muddy football field have sharpened me as a leader and communicator.

At Carver Peterson, that’s the work I do with entrepreneurs and their sales teams: cutting through noise, simplifying, and aligning around what matters most. Because leadership—whether on the field or in the office—is about helping people succeed.

Revenue Compass Assessment

If you’re curious where your sales strategy is strong and where it’s holding you back, the Revenue Compass Assessment can help. It highlights both the bright spots and the bottlenecks across your strategy, process, structure, and management, giving you a clear view of what to reinforce and what to fix first. The assessment only takes a few minutes and provides practical insights you can share with your team right away.

Go Deeper

Here are a few related articles that expand on these themes:

• Beyond the Founder Rainmaker - The Ideal First Sales Hire

• What REALLY Should You Expect From Your Salesperson in Their First 6 Months?

• Onboarding Your New Sales Leader: Setting Them Up for Long-Term Success

• How Becoming a Husband, Dad, and Believer Has Made Me a Better Professional

• Leadership Lessons from Shaka Smart’s “Open Practice”

Carver Peterson helps growth-minded leaders and organizations achieve predictable and sustainable revenue growth through a refined strategy, defined process and aligned structure.

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