There is an excitement to the start of every football season. Players are enthusiastic because they’re back on the field. Coaches are eager because they get to see how the kids have improved from the season before. Parents are also happy to be back around their team’s football family.

But in some cases, there is a reason for parents to be both excited and nervous at the same time. Every two or three years, a child will move up a level in youth football, and when that happens there are adjustments that have to be made by all parties.

My wife and I have been through it a couple of times now with our son Bradley. The jump from instructional to the travel pee-wee level with real games was a big transition. This year, Bradley steps up to the midget level, and there will be even more adjustments to make, including no coaches on the field.

From a parents’ perspective, this is a tough transition because you never know how your child will handle moving up. There are steps that a parent should take to help ease the climb up the ladder.

• Do your homework. When your child is set to move up a level, it’s a good idea to go to the league’s website and check out the rules for the upcoming season. This will give you important background information to have before the coaches go over everything with the players. If the website doesn’t have the information, ask a member of your program’s staff to see where it is available. There shouldn’t be any surprises for parents when the season starts.
• Talk to the coaches. It is important to take a few minutes to chat with your child’s coach to get his views of what lies ahead. Depending on what the new wrinkles might be, the coach might share some thoughts on how to better prepare your child for the upcoming season. Moving up can be a big transition for the coaches, too. Not only do they have to grasp what’s going on, they have to pass everything on to the kids.
• Discuss with your child. It’s important to know what’s going through your kid’s mind. Moving up is a big deal for them. They have to grasp of the changes, and it’s important to take their temperature about it away from practice and games. My son watches plenty of football on television so he understands the concept of not having coaches on the field. But this season, he’s going to play under those conditions for the first time. For a 9- or 10-year-old, these are not easy transitions.
• Huddle up with the other parents. Not every parent is a football expert so it’s imperative that everyone communicates and is on the same page with regards to the kids playing at the next level. Your child could be moving up with several other teammates from the year before so you are not alone as a parent in sharing in the transition. It’s not a bad idea to discuss the move with other parents. You might be able to help them understand some things, and, in turn, they might be able to help you understand some concepts.

We’re getting close to the start of training camps for youth football. In fact, my son’s team has a minicamp without pads and helmets next week just to get the kids running around on the field again. Some kids will be playing football for the first time. Some will be staying at the same level they were the year before. And some children will be adjusting to the process of moving up.

It’s the responsibility of the coach to educate the kids on what to expect at the next level. It’s the responsibility of the parents to follow along with the transition and be ready to assist their children in the growth process.

Peter Schwartz is an anchor and reporter for CBS Sports Radio and WFAN Radio in New York. You can read his general CBS New York sports blog at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/tag/peter-schwartz/. You can follow him on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. Peter and his wife, Sheryl, are the proud parents of Bradley and Jared. Bradley plays for the Levittown Red Devils of the Nassau Suffolk Football League on Long Island in New York. Jared cheers him on and Bradley returns the favor when Jared is playing soccer.