One of the most common questions that my wife Sheryl and I get when we tell people that our son Bradley plays youth tackle football is, “Oh wow, is he going to play in the NFL?”

It’s actually a ridiculous question to ask the parents of a 12-year-old boy, but what’s even more ridiculous is that there are actually parents who will answer that question “yes” or “that’s our hope” or “that’s the plan.” A good youth football parent is one who supports their child while also keeping things in perspective.

It’s okay to have goals in life, but I always refer to what former NFL head coach Bill Parcells said a long time ago when he was asked about a young player in camp.

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“Don’t put him in Canton yet.”

And neither should parents of youth football players.

I have no problem telling people that Bradley loves playing football, knows what he’s doing on the field, and yeah, he can play.  But to say, “My son is a great center,” or “Hey, my kid is something special,” or, “I can’t wait until he shakes Roger Goodell’s hand at the NFL Draft” is just silly for a number of reasons, mainly because you just don’t know what’s going to happen down the road.

What Sheryl and I do is very simple and serves Bradley’s best interests. We tell him he can play football as long as he wants to, and we have this discussion every year.  During each offseason, we ask him if he still wants to play, and so far, every year he gives us the same stare and responds with something like, “of course I do” or, “Did you really just ask me that?”

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We also try to give him as many opportunities as possible to get better at his position and learn more about the fundamentals of the game. Bradley goes to a non-contact football camp every June that features former and current NFL players and coaches as guest instructors. Last summer, he played in a youth football showcase game between New York and New Jersey kids and this April he’s going to attend USA Football’s middle school showcase in New Jersey.

If there’s a chance for Bradley to take part in a camp or clinic that will help him, we’re all for it. We are there for him at every practice and every game cheering him on, but we never discuss what’s going to happen down the road. Those chapters of his life haven’t been written yet and he’s doing so many other things. It would be wrong and unfair to put that kind of pressure on him. 

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You just don’t know how a child is going to develop or if the same passion for the game will continue each year. In Bradley’s case, he eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes football now and that’s a good thing because it’s something that makes him happy. Football has been a great outlet for him to learn about teamwork and leadership, make some great friends for life, and to be active.

We’re proud of Bradley because he has accomplished a lot on the football field. He loves to play center and takes a lot of pride in being the best player he can be. But he’s going to take this football ride as long as he wants to and is capable of. Sheryl and I will never put any pressure on him to continue or to stop playing. So far, football is a big part of his life, and we’ll see where it takes him.

The great thing about Bradley is that he pays attention to what’s going on in the football world. He understands how many kids play youth football and then a smaller number play in middle school and then the numbers go down in high school and college. He knows that only the best of the best get to play at the highest levels, whether it’s the NFL, CFL, Arena League or other professional leagues. 

We go see our local high school football games as often as we can. It’s a great way to share community pride, but it’s also an opportunity for Bradley to soak in more about football. He usually hangs with some of his teammates who are at the games. Last year at one of the high school games, he leaned over to me and said, “I want to play on this field.”

I couldn’t have been any prouder of Bradley because he has a realistic goal in life.  Sheryl and I along with his brother Jared are his biggest fans and we love the fact that he plays and loves football. Bradley also supports Jared at his flag football games and we’ll see what path Jared takes. But the most important thing Sheryl and I have learned as football parents is something every parent should follow.

Be supportive. Be realistic. And be there, no matter where the football journey goes or ends.

And yes, our sons will be in Canton one day. We plan on visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame again because we had such a great time there last summer!

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 for the Super Bowl Champion East Meadow Rams on Long Island, while his younger son, Jared, plays flag football for the LSW Giants. Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field. 

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