I’ve mentioned a few times in this blog that we have a pretty cool sign that hangs in the den of our home. It reads, “We Interrupt This Family for Football Season,” and the words are significant for a number of reasons. During the football season, everything in our house seems to revolve around the pigskin, and that’s because we are all big football fans and we have two boys who play youth football.

Even though the youth football seasons for Bradley and Jared are over, my wife Sheryl and I, along with the boys, still have a few weeks left of cheering on our New York Jets (yeah, I know, insert joke here!). And with Hanukkah starting this week, football plays a a big role during the “Festival of Lights” with football-related gifts and the sports-themed menorah that we used each night that has a football on it.

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Gifts are a huge part of this holiday, but being together with family is also very important and it led me to think just how much youth football has meant to us. So, if you are celebrating over these eight crazy nights or even for those of you who will celebrate the joy of Christmas in a couple of weeks, I’ve compiled the “Eight Gifts of Youth Football” on Hanukkah. 

1. The Gift of Excitement. This is for the players and the parents. For a child, putting that uniform on, whether it’s flag football or tackle football, is something special, and going out on that field to compete is an indescribable feeling. The same goes for the parents who experience the joy of watching their kids participating in this great sport. Win, lose, or draw, watching your kids playing football is priceless.

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2. The Gift of Being Safe. As we’ve documented before, most programs provide all of the necessary equipment for the youth football player with the exception of cleats, but a parent has the right to supply their kids with an upgrade if they choose to do so. A great gift for the holiday would be a brand-new helmet or perhaps brand-new shoulder pads. 

3. The Gift of Being Able to Scream, “That’s my boy/girl!” Whether it’s your child who gets off a perfect snap, makes a big block, or runs 30 yards for a touchdown, there’s nothing like being able to scream to the world that it was your child who just did something great in a game. While it’s true that it takes a team to be successful and to execute a play, watching your own child excel is something to be proud of.

4. The Gift of Looking Good. For every child, whether it’s flag football or tackle football, the uniform and equipment is basically the same, so when a team goes out on the field, they truly do look like a team. But these kids watch NFL and college games on TV, so they see all the accessories that are being worn and they want to emulate what they see. A really cool holiday gift for your youth football player could be an arm sleeve, wristbands, or cool-looking football gloves. 

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5. The Gift of Being a Volunteer. One of the great things about youth football s that it gives the parents a chance to get involved in many different ways. Some parents like to coach, but there are also opportunities to help out on the chain gang, work the concession stand, coordinate fundraisers and bringing halftime snacks. There are some days when parents just want to watch their children on the field, but being a volunteer lets you get a little closer to the game and/or make a difference in the program.

6. The Gift of Winning It All. There’s more to youth football than wins and losses. It’s really about having fun, learning the game of football, and getting ready for the next level. But when the playoffs roll around, if there’s a trophy to be won, you might as well go out and win it. Bradley has been fortunate to be on two Super Bowl championship teams during his youth football career, and the feeling the players, coaches, and parents felt was amazing. Winning a championship is really something you can’t put a price tag on.

7. The Gift of Growth. Bradley, my older son, has played eight years of youth football and my younger son, Jared, just finished his first year of flag football. For my wife and I, watching Bradley grow as a player and a person because of football over the years has been rewarding. He’s learned a lot about teamwork, dedication and leadership.

To see Jared have so much fun playing flag this past year and learning so much about the game of football was equally as exciting. He’s really come to love the sport and that was easy to tell when we visited the NFL Experience in New York City this past weekend (unsolicited plug … if you live in the New York area or plan on visiting, check out the NFL Experience in Times Square. It’s a little slice of football heaven).

8. The Gift of Making Friends for Life. At the end of the day, youth football is about participating in the game that you love and for the parents to experience the joy of watching their kids play. But for both the kids and the parents, youth football is also an opportunity to share that bond of loving football with others. Over the years, Bradley and now Jared have made many friends on the football field while my wife and I have forged friendships with other parents. It’s a game that truly brings everyone together.

There’s nothing like being together on Hanukkah or any other holidays on the calendar.  But as my family gets ready to light the menorah over these next eight nights, there’s no question that we’ve enjoyed many gifts over the years. Some gifts are material things, but there have also been gifts that afforded us some great experiences.

One of them is the gift of football! Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to all!

Peter Schwartz is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York. His older son, Bradley, plays youth tackle football on Long Island, while his younger son, Jared, plays flag football. Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.