I’ve been pretty lucky in my life to have covered both many memorable sporting events and gone to countless games as a fan – especially with my family. Anyone who knows us is well aware that my wife and my sons are not used to not having games to go to and watch on television. We’re a sports family, especially when it comes to football, so the suspension of sports in this house has not been easy.

It’s also important to keep sports in perspective given what so many families have been going through during this difficult time.

But when it comes to sports, I really feel bad for my boys – and other athletes – who are not able to participate in what would have been their spring seasons. Jared was scheduled to play little league baseball and the hope is that some portion of the season can be salvaged later this spring and into the summer. Bradley was looking forward to his final season of middle school lacrosse. He was also scheduled to compete at a U.S. National Team regional next month, but all of the regionals have been canceled. 

The boys are disappointed they can’t play while my wife and I are disappointed that we can’t watch them. It brings so much joy to us. To their credit, Bradley and Jared have tried to make the best of the situation playing just about everything in the front of the house or in the backyard including football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse. We’ve stressed to them the importance of staying active during the time and being ready to play when (and if) the spring seasons can begin.

One of the things that both of my sons always look forward to before a season begins is going shopping for gear that they need whether it be cleats, gloves, a helmet, a bat or accessories like an arm sleeve or wristbands. With the seasons on hold, while we wait out the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve looked online to see what they would want when the action resumes. Once we know when the seasons will begin, we’ll be off to our local sporting goods stores to get the boys all geared up.

I noticed that earlier this week was National Student-Athlete Day. I feel for all of the high school and collegiate student-athletes across the country that had their winter seasons cut short and their spring seasons either canceled or suspended. Bradley is heading into high school this fall and we’re looking forward to seeing him back on a football field at some point. Jared will be going into 5th grade, so he’s another year away from competing in middle school sports. He certainly hopes to get on a baseball field soon and then on the flag football field in the fall. 

The games will resume, but the key at this point is just finding a way to stay active at home while we wait for the coronavirus pandemic to be over with.  It’s tough on the kids. It’s also tough on the parents as we’re all juggling working from home, helping the kids with their online school, work and making sure that they continue to play sports even if it’s just having a catch. 

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 and the XFL’s New York Guardians when they’re not at a youth football field.