The other night my two sons and I were riding our bikes and noticed the neighbor had his 11-year-old son in the backyard running pass patterns. It happened to also be the first night of the boy’s summer vacation.  

While I’m not exactly sure whose idea it was to head outside and toss the ball around, I can only guess based on the father’s barking voice and the sweating scowl on the recipient’s face that it was not the son’s suggestion. 

Kids enjoy the summer months because they get a break from the stresses of school. Other than a few summer reading assignments, which, let’s face it, usually get completed the weekend before the first day of school, kids can just be kids. For many, this means not having the pressure and stress that is often involved with being on a sports team at any level. 

That boy across the street was out catching balls every night during the season, and my guess is, wanted to be in order to improve his game and keep his name at the top of the depth chart. But now that the spring season is over, I can’t help but think he’d rather be in a pool somewhere; or maybe hanging out with friends doing anything but playing sports.  

MORE: USA Football's free Youth Football Parents 101 course, with Christine and Mike Golic

As parents, we need to keep that in mind. While there’s nothing wrong with kids being outside during the summer playing football or basketball or maybe even a sport they never play in an organized league, they should do so on their own terms. It shouldn’t be because we parents are barking to them about how the other players are all practicing on their own or playing on travel teams or in summer leagues, and threatening, “If you don’t practice every night, you’ll be left off the team next year.” 

If your child does ask you to throw the pigskin around in the yard, that’s great. But try not to offer advice unless asked. Just observe like you would if your child chose to read a book that wasn’t on his summer reading list, but that he decided to read just for fun. My guess is you wouldn’t be looking over his shoulder trying to hone his reading skills or making sure he was focused on the details of each chapter. Nor should you try to fine-tune his passing or catching technique. That is, of course, unless he asks.  

I try to remember this simple rule: The best way for kids to spend their free time during the summer when it involves sports is simply, however they choose. 

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Not an Expert, Just a Dad … In this Crazy Game Called Life,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.