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As the wife of a high school football coach, mom to two young boys, and business owner, I’m over here trying to juggle it all – making sure my husband feels supported during the season, my kids enjoy school and participate in sports, and our family has time together without stressing about everything else going on in our home.
If you’re a parent or spouse doing your best to balance it all, especially during football season, I see you! Here’s how we (attempt to) keep school, sports, family, and home manageable (and meaningful!) without burning ourselves out.
School
Sports are a huge part of our family, but school will always be priority number one. My husband and I work as a team to make sure our boys know that learning comes first. Here’s how we keep school as the number one focus.
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Create a consistent routine: No more scrambling to do everything in the morning! A less stressful morning starts with a solid after-school routine. For our family, this means folders on the table, papers out to sign, lunchboxes on the counter, and lunch made the night before. When morning comes, we don’t feel so rushed, and my kids can get ready and eat without asking a million questions or trying to pack their backpack.
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Simplify homework time: As soon as the kids come home from school and have a snack, we carve out a time and an area in our house that’s dedicated to homework. Remember to take breaks and be close by to help your children (especially if they’re younger), so they don’t get overwhelmed. A little bit of structure makes a huge difference.
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Celebrate the small wins: Did your kid do a great job on a project or presentation? Remember to praise and congratulate them on their great work! Stickers, extra bedtime stories, or just an “I’m proud of you!” keeps school feeling fun and rewarding.
Sports
The coaching life isn’t just for my husband – it involves the entire family! We’re all in it together. When my husband is coaching and/or my kids are playing their own sports, we practically live on the football and baseball field every fall and spring. Here’s how we make it work on and off the field.
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Include the entire family: Whether it’s taking your kids to practices or games, or reading books that explain the importance of coaching families, make everyone in the family feel involved.
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Start family traditions: From wearing matching outfits to games or starting game day traditions the whole family can enjoy, associate your husband’s coaching with a fun and positive experience. Make game day something exciting that the entire family looks forward to all week!
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Give yourself grace: Reality check: You probably won’t make it through every quarter of every game with your children. Kids have tantrums and meltdowns, the weather sucks, and things just sometimes don’t go your way – life happens! Do your best and give yourself permission to step away when needed. Not every quarter needs to be perfect for the experience to be still meaningful.
Family
Your family is always going to be your number one priority. Even if your husband is coaching, you’re trying to keep everything together, and your kids are going in a million different directions, it’s important to always keep family at the center of everything you do.
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Prioritize time as a family and a spouse: Set aside one day a week for family events, whether it’s an activity together or just watching a movie. I also try to sneak in daily check-ins with my husband, even if it’s just 10 minutes before bed. You don’t stop dating your spouse during the season – you just have to get a bit more creative!
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Build a support system: You’re not in this alone! Lean on other family members, friends, and coaches’ wives to step in and help if needed. Being part of a coaching community doesn’t mean trying to handle everything alone. Remember to ask for help or words of encouragement if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Home
Let’s be honest: when life gets busy and crazy, and you’re a few months into football season, your home is going to be the first thing to go. Laundry piles up, dishes multiply, and the mental load gets heavy fast. That’s why preparing ahead of time and focusing on what really matters makes all the difference!
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Prep before the season starts: Our Coach’s Wife Checklist for Trello has saved my sanity year after year. It breaks down everything you need to do before the season begins, including meal prepping, organizing schedules, calendar prep, and a preseason checklist. Grab a FREE copy of yours and customize it to fit your family’s needs!
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Don’t sweat the small stuff: Focus on what matters most and either delegate everything else or ignore what doesn’t matter. You’re not a failure for letting some things go – you’re just human. You don’t have to do everything during this season of life!
Balancing school, sports, family, and home life isn’t easy. Remember: you’re not alone and you’re doing better than you think. It’s not about having it all together – it’s about building a life that your kids will remember with joy. One game day, one school project, and one sweet memory at a time!