Over the last few days, it’s been refreshing to hear progress being made in the return of professional sports. For many people across the country, including myself, sports are also a business. So, it’s important that it comes back and comes back soon. It will be a great thing for fans, players, coaches and employees after what this country has been through.

There’s nothing I’m looking forward to more than to see my sons back on a youth sports field or court somewhere soon. My wife and I are constantly talking about what youth sports will look like but also what youth sports need to look like when it returns. We pay close attention each day to what our local and national government leaders and health experts are saying as we try to envision a scenario where it will be safe for our kids to get back in the game.

The bottom line is that we want our kids to return to sports but we want to make sure that they, along with all of the players, coaches, support staff and parents are safe. As more and more states continue to re-open their economy, part of the planning for the phased approach will at some point includes the return of youth sports.

Let’s be honest, the most important thing on our minds is whether or not the schools in our area will be open this fall. Without the schools being open, there will be no high school football. My guess is that without schools open, the local youth organizations will follow and that would mean no flag football or baseball. The hope is that the curve continues to flatten and that new protocols can be in place for the kids to return to action.

Having said that, we’ll be paying close attention to what the landscape is going to look like. Safety has always been a big concern in the past but going forward, it’s going to be more than just concern over injuries, proper coaching, and fan behavior. Now, it’s going to be the decision-makers coming up with a plan that will make it safe for all parties involved.

But once the plans are in place, will everyone be on board?

It’s one thing to have the new protocols but it’s another thing to follow them.  Everyone will need to adjust, but for sports to return, each person needs to abide by the new rules.

I want my kids back on the field, but only if it's safe. The coaches have to do the right thing and so do the players and parents.

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.