Last season, just about everything came up roses for my son’s youth football team.

Bradley and the Levittown Red Devils 7- and 8-year-old peewee team cruised to an 8-1 regular season and qualified for the league’s top tier of playoffs. After an opening round playoff win, the boys’ season came to an end with a heartbreaking overtime loss in the conference championship game.

The game ended in controversial fashion, so it was hard for the team to see its season close on that note. With that in mind, the coach accepted an invitation to play in a Turkey Bowl benefit game on Thanksgiving weekend, and the Red Devils came away with an 8-0 win over neighboring town Plainedge.

All in all, the team finished 10-2 and a win in a “bowl game.”

It was a small consolation prize after the playoff loss. The boys received medals for their victory, and they were able to close the fall with a good taste in their mouth. It also was one more chance for them to take the field, get better and extend their football experiences.

But what happens when a season is not so successful?

This year, Bradley and most of his teammates from last year, moved up to the 9- and 10-year-old team. With most of the players being 9 years old, things haven’t gone as well as last year. The boys are 2-5, and it has been a struggle to say the least.

Winning isn’t everything. While Vince Lombardi would have completed that phrase with, “it’s the only thing,” that doesn’t necessarily apply to youth football. Granted, if you are keeping score, and you are in a league that keeps standings and gives out a championship trophy, you want to win.

But we’re talking about youth football, so the bottom line is for the kids to be have fun playing football, improve their skills and grow as a team. At the end of the day, it’s about smiles and lessons.

Here’s a few ways parents and coaches can help salvage a losing year.

• Schedule a Turkey Bowl. Whether it is an official game or something the two coaching staffs help put together, combine a postseason game with a fundraising opportunity. At last year’s Turkey Bowl, players collected money and toys for a local charity. It was an added opportunity for the boys to put the uniform and equipment on again and play an extra game.
• Focus on the consolation prize. In my son’s league, every team makes the playoffs in some way. Depending on how many teams are in each age group, there are three or four tiers of playoffs with each tier handing out a championship trophy. This this year it looks like they are heading for the third tier.
   

While it has been a tough season for the boys, it’s been a learning experience that has a chance to have a happy ending. Three years ago, Bradley’s team was in the third tier of playoffs, and they won the Super Bowl. The very same thing could happen this year as the kids will get a chance to compete for a title.

Not every season can end with a championship, but when it comes to youth sports, I don’t think that matters. What does matter is that the kids have fun playing football and learn from their experiences every single time out.

When things aren’t going well, it is important to focus on the positives and try to end the season with a smile.

Peter Schwartz is an anchor and reporter for the CBS Sports Radio Network. He also writes a CBS New York sports blog at newyork.cbslocal.com/tag/peter-schwartz/. You can follow him on Twitter. Peter’s son Bradley plays for the Levittown Red Devils of the Nassau Suffolk Football League on Long Island in New York. His son Jared cheers on Bradley and then Bradley returns the favor when Jared is playing soccer.