By Dirk Stephens
I’ve been coaching kids for almost 30 years—football, Little League, you name it. I’ve seen future pros, and I’ve seen kids who couldn’t find the end zone if you taped a GPS to them. Here’s what I’ve learned: talent is great… right up until it runs into someone who works harder than you do. Then talent loses. Every single time.
The Talent Myth
Every parent thinks their kid is the next big thing. Newsflash: only about 7% of high school athletes go on to play in college, and in football, it’s closer to 2%. That’s not a typo.
And here’s the kicker—you can have two kids with the exact same athletic ability, but the one who’s willing to grind, to put in the extra reps, to run that last sprint when everyone else is packing up—that’s the one who makes it.
The Mental Edge
Physical skills will get you noticed. Mental toughness will keep you there. The kids who succeed aren’t always the fastest or the strongest. They’re the ones who show up early, stay late, know the playbook inside and out, and treat practice like it’s game day.
One of my favorite quotes is, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” It’s not just a nice soundbite—it’s a fact I’ve watched play out season after season.
The Excuse Epidemic
Here’s another one for you: “You can have results or excuses. You can’t have both.”
I’ve heard every excuse in the book. “The coach doesn’t like me.” “The refs were blind.” “My cleats were too tight.” Meanwhile, the kid who didn’t complain was in the weight room or studying game film. Guess which one I want on my team?
Multi-Sport vs. Early Specialization
Do I think kids should specialize early? Nope. I’d rather see them play a bunch of different sports—build different muscles, learn different strategies, and get exposed to different kinds of teammates and coaches. It makes you a better athlete and a more adaptable human.
And if somewhere along the way you find your “thing” and decide to double down, great. But you’ll come into it with a wider skill set and less burnout.
Life Lessons Over Trophies
If your kid’s entire self-worth is tied to their stats or the scoreboard, you’re setting them up for a crash. Sports are about so much more than winning. They teach you how to take a loss without falling apart, how to work with people you don’t like, how to keep your head in the game when things go sideways.
Those are the things you’ll take into a job interview, a boardroom, or a marriage—long after the trophies are collecting dust.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, sports are a dress rehearsal for life. You’re going to get knocked down. You’re going to get outplayed. You’re going to lose sometimes.
The question is: do you get back up and grind, or do you start looking for excuses?
If it’s the first one, congratulations—you’ve already won.
About the Author
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, I’m the oldest of four brothers—all of us growing up immersed in sports. That early love for athletics set the tone for a lifelong involvement in football, both on and off the field. I began coaching in 1996, just a year after graduating high school, starting with my youngest brother’s team. Since then, I’ve coached youth and high school football for over two decades, working with players aged 12 through high school.
My coaching journey included 11 rewarding years at American Fork High School, followed by a memorable season at Lone Peak High School, where I was part of the coaching staff that won the 2011 State Championship. While coaching was a passion, sales was my profession. I’ve worked in sales most of my life, and the flexibility it offered—when goals were met—allowed me to remain on the sidelines for many years.
In 2020, my wife Jo and I took on a new challenge by purchasing Law Firm Sites, a digital marketing company specializing in web development and online services for law firms. This exciting venture eventually pulled me away from coaching full-time, but I remain actively involved with the local football program—attending games, helping with media, and supporting team websites whenever I can.
Connect with Dirk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkstephens/
