For the most part, the time together for a youth football team starts in late July or early August. Some programs might have some sort of offseason conditioning, but training camp gets under way during the second half of the summer, and the games start up in September.

Once the kids start to practice, they really become more than a team. Coupled with the coaches, parents and siblings, the group, in many ways, becomes a family. Between practices and games, just think about the number of hours that everybody spends together.

The most important aspect in this whole thing is that the kids continue to learn about the sport of football. While another goal is to try to win as many games as possible, a football team is a way to build character, have fun and make new friends.

Here are some ways that your child’s football team can become a football family:

• Keep in contact. When it comes to matters that pertain to the team, generally the coach or team mom – or dad – will notify all of the other parents via text or email about practices, game schedule, who’s bringing snacks and uniform issues. In addition, it’s important that all of the parents have each other’s contact information. This can be to arrange transportation if a parent can’t make a practice or game on time, for some teammates to get together away from football or to discuss any issues about the team.
• Get to know each other. In a previous blog, I wrote that youth football games and practices should not be treated as day care and that parents should pay attention to what’s happening. That’s not to say that you can’t be friendly with other parents and be sociable. Everyone is going to be spending a lot of time together during the course of the season, and it’s important for the adults and the kids to become familiar with one another. Just don’t forget to pay attention to what’s happening on the field.
• Football related fun. Aside from team-related activities, it’s important for the kids to experience other forms of football. In our house, football is a big part of our weekend. Aside from my son’s games, we spend time watching a little college football, attending our local high school’s games and watching our beloved New York Jets. I think youth football players can learn a lot from watching other levels of this great sport whether it’s in person or on television. Depending on what you have in your town, perhaps your child’s team can go to a game together and experience the fun. This past season, we had former Jets safety Erik Coleman visit practice and talk to the boys.
• Arrange for fun away from football. The kids will be working so hard all season long between practices and games that they probably will need a mental break from time to time. Come to think of it, the parents and coaches might need it, too. That’s why it’s important for the team to plan some fun events throughout the season, such as a movie night, team dinner or some other activity.
• Celebrate game days. A big part of going to NFL or college games are having tailgate parties in the parking lot so why not bring that tradition over to youth football. Families can each bring a little something for the meal or perhaps some families can bring some tunes and games for the siblings. At some point, the players have to step away to get ready for the game, but the tailgate party can wrap up closer to kickoff.
• Make the most out of road trips. For youth football teams, road games could be as close as minutes away from your home field or they could be hours away. In any case, it’s a chance for the kids to play in different environments and see different towns along the way. In some cases, it’s an opportunity to build team unity. Perhaps some parents will car pool giving some teammates a chance to travel together. In the case of my son’s team, there is one particular road trip that has brought about a new tradition. When we travel to this one town that is a great distance from our area, there is a very popular pizza place that we will all go to as a team after the game. Win, lose, or draw, an outing like this is great in building a family atmosphere.
• Postseason party. From the time they gather in training camp until the time they step off the field after the last game, a youth football team has gone through a lot during the course of a season. They practiced together, worked hard in games and grew as young boys and girls on and off the field. At the end of the season, no matter how many wins there were, they all deserve a celebration. My son’s team has a big party, including parents and siblings, at a local restaurant that was the team’s sponsor during the season. The coach gives each kid a gift, and we all enjoy a great meal. It’s also a chance for the parents to thank the coaches by giving them a token of our appreciation. This past season, I added a new twist to the party by putting together a musical slideshow of the season.

My wife and I have been youth sports parents for five years now, and we have experienced a lot along the way. There’s never going to be a situation where everybody becomes best friends, but there has to be an environment in place where everyone can get along and become a football family.

The team and family that communicates, practices together, plays together and has fun together is the one that can truly call themselves winners at the end of the season.

Peter Schwartz is an anchor and reporter for CBS Sports Radio and WFAN Radio in New York. You can read his general CBS New York sports blog at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/tag/peter-schwartz/. You can follow him on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. Peter and his wife, Sheryl, are the proud parents of Bradley and Jared. Bradley plays for the Levittown Red Devils of the Nassau Suffolk Football League on Long Island in New York. Jared cheers him on and Bradley returns the favor when Jared is playing soccer.