A Case Study in Change Management: Freshman Football
Confession: I’m not a sports gal. My athletic résumé includes solo ventures like tennis and swimming—no locker room pep talks, no team chants, no cleat-stomping camaraderie. But as a mom of two sports kids, I’ve become a student of the game. Youth sports are basically a crash course in corporate life.
Don’t like your coach? Welcome to your first boss.
Teammate drives you nuts? Meet your future cubicle neighbor.
Skip practice? People notice.
Ride the bench? Learn to put team goals before personal glory.
Cut from the team? Hello, rejection and resilience.
But let’s zoom in on one particular case study: my Freshman Football player. He’s committed. He’s sore. He’s wondering if it’s all worth it.
This summer, he lifted weights four days a week, endured two-a-day practices in heat that could melt asphalt, and consumed protein like it was his job. The Freshman team is so small he suits up for JV games too—meaning late nights, minimal playing time, and canceled Freshman games due to injuries. From his perspective, it’s all grind, no glory.
Then I spoke to a Sophomore mom whose son had the same doubts—until he suited up for Varsity.
He didn’t play. Not even Special Teams. But he felt it: the pre-game buzz in the locker room, the ritual of patting the Panther statue, and the deafening roar of the crowd. When the team won, he rushed to the field with the rest of them. That experience flipped a switch. He told his mom, “If every Freshman could suit up for Varsity just once, they’d never quit.”
So, what’s the corporate takeaway?
In Change Management, we often focus on strategy, communication, and metrics. But sometimes, what people need isn’t another slide deck—it’s a moment. A glimpse of what success feels like. A chance to stand on the field, even if they’re not playing yet.
That Varsity moment? It wasn’t about performance—it was about belonging. It was about seeing the bigger picture and feeling part of something greater.
In our organizations, we can create those moments too. Invite people into the vision. Let them experience the energy, the culture, the celebration. Not just hear about it—feel it.
Because when people connect with the purpose, they stop asking if it’s worth it—and start asking how they can contribute.