Why We Started Raising D1: Honest Conversations for Sports Parents in Loudoun County

If you’ve spent any time around youth sports in Northern Virginia, you already know:

it can feel like an entire world of its own.

The travel schedules.

The recruiting conversations.

The social media pressure.

The private trainers.

The uncertainty.

The financial commitment.

The constant questions:

Are we doing enough?

Should we be reclassing?

When should my child start reaching out to coaches?

How do we balance athletics, academics, and mental health?

Some families seem to already know the playbook.

Others are trying to figure it out as they go.

That’s part of the reason Raising D1 was born.

Not as a business.

Not as a recruiting service.

And not as a guarantee that every child will become a Division I athlete.

But as a space for honest conversations among sports parents in Loudoun County navigating a world that can often feel overwhelming, expensive, competitive, and isolating.

Our Family’s Journey Through Sports

Raising D1 was created by me and Raynetta Brevard — my husband Brad’s first wife and the mother of my two stepsons, BJ and Cole.

Over the years, our family has experienced youth athletics from multiple perspectives:

• the early development years,

• the pressure-filled recruiting years,

• the emotional highs,

• the disappointments,

• the sacrifices,

• and the transition into college athletics.

Cole went on to become a Division I athlete and is now pursuing his NFL dream. Watching that journey unfold taught all of us lessons that extended far beyond football.

And now, as Brad and I raise our younger sons Max and Ian — who both play football and run track here in Loudoun County — we find ourselves approaching youth sports with a very different perspective than we did the first time around.

Not because we have all the answers.

But because experience changes you.

What We’ve Learned Along the Way

One of the biggest things we’ve learned is that youth sports parenting has become increasingly information-driven.

Families are trying to navigate:

• recruiting timelines,

• NIL conversations,

• highlight reels,

• social media branding,

• camps and combines,

• reclassing,

• exposure opportunities,

• nutrition,

• recovery,

• and mental resilience.

And often, parents are making major decisions without trusted spaces to ask honest questions.

That’s especially true for families who may not already have deep connections in the sports world.

Too many parents feel like they’re trying to decode an unwritten system.

Raising D1 was created because we believe those conversations should be more accessible.

This Is Bigger Than Sports

Despite the name, Raising D1 isn’t solely about producing Division I athletes.

At its core, it’s about raising:

• disciplined young people,

• resilient young people,

• grounded young people,

• and confident young people.

Sports simply become one of the vehicles through which those lessons are learned.

We care deeply about helping families navigate:

• pressure,

• identity,

• setbacks,

• confidence,

• parenting dynamics,

• and long-term development.

Because the truth is:

very few athletic journeys are perfectly linear.

Why Sports Parents in Loudoun County Need These Conversations

Living in Aldie and raising athletes in Loudoun County, we’ve seen firsthand how competitive and fast-moving youth sports culture has become throughout Northern Virginia.

Families are investing enormous amounts of time, energy, and resources into helping their children pursue their goals.

But many parents are also craving:

• transparency,

• community,

• perspective,

• and real conversations from people who have actually lived it.

  
  

That’s what we hope Raising D1 becomes.

A place where sports moms can gather to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and support one another without judgment or pretense.

Looking Ahead

As Raising D1 continues to grow, our hope is to bring more thoughtful conversations to Loudoun County around:

• recruiting,

• academics,

• athlete mindset,

• parenting,

• sports performance,

• reclassing,

• wellness,

• and preparing young athletes for life beyond the game.

Because whether a child ultimately plays Division I sports or not, the journey still shapes the entire family.

And sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer one another is simply:

a more honest conversation about the road ahead.

You can follow Raising D1 on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on upcoming events, conversations, and resources for sports families across Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.