ADHD and Football: Finding Focus Through the Game | by Carl Lukas Lundén | Aug, 2025

Living with ADHD is often described as carrying an engine inside you that never stops running. The thoughts race, the body feels restless, and focus can be hard to hold on to. For me, football has always been the one place where all of that energy finds its balance.

I was first diagnosed with ADHD when I was young. At school, it often felt like I couldn’t sit still long enough, or that my mind was jumping faster than the lessons. But when I stepped onto the football pitch, everything changed. The movement, the rhythm of the game, the need to react quickly — suddenly, my ADHD wasn’t a problem. It was a strength.

Football gave me an outlet for all that energy. Running, tackling, chasing the ball — it felt natural. Where others saw distraction, I found focus. Where I struggled with structure in everyday life, the rules of football gave me discipline. The team gave me responsibility. The game gave me a reason to channel all of my attention into something positive.

Sport has also given me confidence. ADHD can sometimes make you feel “different,” as if you don’t fit in. But in football, everyone has a role, and everyone is needed. On the pitch, I felt like I belonged. I wasn’t the restless kid anymore — I was part of a team, a supporter of something bigger, a player with purpose.

Over the years, football has taught me that ADHD doesn’t have to be a limitation. It can be fuel. It can be energy that drives you forward — as long as you find the right place to use it. For me, that place has always been the football field.

That’s why I wanted to share this story. Because for many of us with ADHD, sport is more than just physical exercise. It’s therapy, balance, and a reminder that our differences can be our greatest strengths.

Has sport played a role in helping you face challenges in life?