In a normal world, the excitement would be building. 

What was supposed to happen this weekend was my son Bradley participating in the U.S. National Team New Jersey Regional. Sadly, all of the Regionals and summer events have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. While he’s had some wonderful experiences in youth football since he was four years old, the last two springs and summers were particularly special for him with the opportunity to wear the red, white and blue while representing his country. 

Two years ago, he earned an invitation to Canton for the Middle School Bowl Game Series after attending the Middle School Showcase in New Jersey. Last year our family was back in Canton after Bradley received another invitation after participating in the New Jersey Regional. You can’t put a price tag on what the experience meant for him. He was hoping to conclude his middle school football career with a third invitation to a Middle School Bowl Game. 

And to be honest, the experience has been a great one for my wife and I as well as our younger son, Jared. This weekend, we would have been in Edison, New Jersey where we would have seen many familiar faces.  Bradley would have been on the field with so many other players, including some he’s played with before.  

Luckily, we’re able to take advantage of social media to help us stay in touch with one another. Bradley has been using Facebook to keep in contact with his National Team teammates from previous years and Twitter to stay in the loop with all things football by following coaches. For me, Facebook has been big to chat with the families about youth football and other things going on in their communities. The National Team events have brought us all together as one big family and the pandemic can’t break that up. 

Even so, COVID-19 has certainly put a wrench in other sports plans. Jared would be in the middle of his little league baseball season, while Bradley would be playing lacrosse from his middle school. Instead, we’re on pause waiting for the green light for when all levels of sports can return. The hope is that all sports will return soon this fall. Our family is looking forward to Bradley moving on to high school and Jared enjoying another season of flag football as he gets closer to middle school. 

Instead of competing for another invitation to represent his country, Bradley will spend part of this coming weekend continuing to prepare for the return of football by either working out, doing some drills or playing some two-hand touch in front of the house. The day will return to when players all over the country will be on a football field again in a safe and healthy fashion. In the meantime, this weekend, and the rest of the spring and summer, will be a time for reflection and a time to think about what lies ahead. 

For Bradley and our family, hopefully, that means being part of the U.S. National Team family again when the red, white and blue returns to action. 

Peter is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network and WFAN Radio in New York.  His son Bradley 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.