There are so many reasons why it’s been great to watch my son, Bradley, play youth and middle school football for the last nine seasons. Initially, he needed to play tackle football because, quite frankly, he was a little too aggressive on the soccer field when he was three years old. While watching one of his soccer games, my wife Sheryl whispered to me, “we need to get this boy onto a football field”.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

We’re proud of Bradley’s accomplishments on the football field over the last nine seasons. There’s never been one moment when my wife and I second-guessed our decision to initially let Bradley play and to continue to let him play.

While he has grown as a center over the years, the most important aspect of Bradley playing football has clearly been the lessons learned on and off the field, such as being a great teammate and leader.

Football is the ultimate team sport with eleven players on each side of the ball working together to execute a common goal. It starts in training camp and practice with the players learning to work together, and later, becoming a family. Off the field, they become like brothers and sisters creating a bond and connection that will last a lifetime.   

It’s not an individual sport. If the offensive line doesn’t block, the quarterback is going to be sacked or the running back won’t have any holes to plow through. If the running back doesn’t have the vision to find the hole, the play isn’t going to work. On defense, everyone has to be on the same page, making sure the players on the other side of the ball are accounted for. Communication is so important whether it’s the center putting his right arm in the air yelling “huddle up” to bring the offense together for a play or a linebacker being the field general and leader of the defense making sure everybody is where they’re supposed to be.

Being a good teammate is sticking up for one another and encouraging your team in both good times and bad. It’s being a vocal leader on the field and on the sideline. It’s watching what’s happening on the field when you’re not in the game and supporting your teammates who don’t get a lot of playing time, especially when they get that opportunity to step on the field. 

I’ve always said it’s not for me to judge how good of a player my son is because that’s up to his coaches and administrators. But I can say I’m proud of what kind of teammate and leader he has become. When he makes a mistake, he works hard to fix it. When a teammate runs fifty yards for a touchdown, he races down the field to congratulate them. When the defense is on the field, he’s paying close attention but also talks to the coach about the next offensive series and is always talking with his teammates. 

Football has taught Bradley a lot of life lessons over the years. He loves to play the game, but he’s also a better person for having played the game. I recently saw an article on www.footballscoop.com where University of Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe praised offensive linemen for what they do on and off the field.

“They’re the greatest humans in the world,” said Cutcliffe.  “They have no official statistic. You know what [offensive linemen] care about? Their team.  The scoreboard is the only stat they pay attention to.”

As the proud parent of an offensive lineman, I would like to agree with that quote, but being a great human and a great teammate and leader is just something that comes with the territory of being a football player. 

Peter is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York.  His son Bradley plays middle school football on Long Island and is a participant in the U.S. National Team program 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.