Tyler is a 15-year-old sophomore who’s always kept a good balance—decent grades, time with friends, and casual football at the park. When his gym teacher suggests trying out for the school team, he’s excited. He’s dreamed of playing on a real team, wearing the jersey, hearing the crowd cheer. But then he learns the commitment: daily practices, weekend games, early morning workouts. It sounds amazing—but exhausting. Tyler already struggles to keep up with schoolwork. His grades could drop, and his parents might not be happy. Plus, his free time with friends would shrink fast. The tryout form is due tomorrow. He wants to play—but at what cost?
Tyler is a 15-year-old sophomore who’s always been pretty balanced. He gets decent grades, hangs out with friends on weekends, plays football at the park, and still manages to squeeze in time for video games or just relaxing. He’s not the best at any one thing, but he’s proud of how he handles everything without falling behind.
This semester, though, his gym teacher pulls him aside after class. “You’ve got real potential,” she says. “You should think about joining the school’s football team. Tryouts are next week.”
At first, Tyler’s excited. He’s always dreamed of playing on a real team, wearing a jersey with his name on the back, hearing the crowd cheer during home games. It feels like a chance to finally be a part of something bigger—to be known for something.
But then he talks to some of the current players.
“Practices are five days a week after school,” one of them says. “Plus weekend tournaments and morning workouts.”
Tyler's heart sinks. He already struggles to stay focused during long homework sessions, especially after a full school day. His GPA isn’t perfect—and if his grades dip, his parents might take away his phone or even force him to quit the team. Worse, it’ll mean less time to hang out with his friends, who aren’t into sports at all. He worries they’ll drift apart.
That night, Tyler sits on his bed, holding the tryout form. He keeps rereading the sentence: “Commitment is required for the entire season.”
He can almost picture himself on the field, high-fiving teammates, hearing his name announced before a game. But he also pictures late nights struggling through math homework, missing weekend hangouts, and feeling constantly behind.
Is it worth it?
What should Tyler do?