You've done it. You've taken the leap.

After doing your research, debating the risks and benefits and checking out several leagues in your area, you've committed. Your child is ready to suit up and play youth football. 

So, what's next? You want your child to enjoy the experience, and you want to see him become better – and not just at football. 

How do you help your child get the most out of this experience? How do you keep him from getting hurt? How can you prepare him to play his best?

How do you keep him from picking his nose on the field? (the facemask should help)

During the next couple of weeks, we will tackle each one of these topics. Be sure to share your ideas in the comments – we are a community here, and reader interaction is encouraged. Your experiences may help other parents who have concerns.

Without further ado, here is my top three list for helping your child get the most out of football.

How do YOU help your child get the most out of football?

Commitment

Most parents realize: By signing up your kid to play youth football, it's you that's making the big (if not a bigger) commitment. Driving back and forth to practices and games, bringing snacks, practicing with your child and unconditional cheering are just a few of the responsibilities parents take on. Most parents have a hard enough time juggling work, school and home without adding football to the picture. Deciding beforehand that you will be engaged will help your child succeed is the first step to helping him get the most out of football.

Don't force your child to play – let him decide. Teach your child the importance of committing to something and finishing what he starts BEFORE signing up to play (it'll be easier to remind him of his commitment later). Work together to create a mix of easily reachable and lofty goals and talk about what it will take to reach those goals. Remind your child that he may not hit every goal they list - and that's OK. You can simply move them forward to next season's goals.

Making sure both parties (parents and child) are committed is the most important step.

Practice with your child

Don't let scheduled football practices be the only time all week your child sees a football. Watch some of the drills coaches are putting the players through in practice and work on them at home. If you didn't see practice, look at some of the 2-Minute Drills posted at USAFootball.com and do those. Heck - just run around the yard holding a football.

Working at home is the best way to fine tune the skills needed for the football field. More importantly, when your child works and succeeds at a skill at home, he will be more confident at practices and games.

The biggest reason you should practice with your kid? It's a lot of fun.

Cheer your brains out

Most kids are hard enough on themselves. They know if the kid next to them is better or faster. When they drop a pass or fumble, they know they've made a mistake. What kids need more than anything is unconditional cheering. Cheer their successes, cheer their effort, and encourage them when they fail. Life is easier when you have fans.

That's my list of the top three things you can do to help your child get the most out of youth football. What would you add to the list? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!