He plays on the local 8th grade traveling football team. He plays QB. So does the head coach's son. You can already probably see some drama that could be going on here.

Coach's son started first game at QB. Not surprising as kid has a good arm and is a tough little runner in practice. Well, he played scared, audibled out of plays, and got pulled after the third series. My son went in and played better, but by this point the kids were demoralized and never recovered. Saw my son deliver a pass as he's getting plowed by the DE for the first time. Perfect mix of pride and sheer dread.

This past week of practice, my son runs the 1s at QB. He's dialing in mentally to start tonight. Well, last night the coach puts his son back at QB with the 1s and states he will be starting tonight. When I picked my son up after practice concluded last night, I could tell he was frustrated, and he shared what happened as we started the drive home.

As I saw the confusion, frustration, and borderline anger, I told him the following: it's okay to be ticked off. But you have to focus on controlling what you can control. Give everything in every drill and rep of practice. Support your teammates. And when you get called upon, go in there, concentrate, and do your job.

Well, coach's son started. By the middle of the second quarter, we were down 12-0 and my son hadn't played a second. Then he was put in. First play? 50 yard TD pass.

Now I don't know what football path will be in his future, but I hope he never forgets the lesson that this experience can teach him. Do I like seeing him plastered by DEs? Do I like seeing him near tears with confused frustration? No and no. But I am so proud of him for rising above all of those things to do his job when others were counting on him.

Some say football develops--while others say it reveals character. Whichever it is, I take great pride in seeing it work in my 13 year old son.