It’s been a few years, but my son finally returns to his youth soccer roots this weekend when his team — the Warriors — plays its first game.

My wife and I moved back to our home state last year after four years in North Carolina and Mississippi, settling in the River Region for good in August 2014.

Unfortunately, we dropped the ball locating and signing up Dominick for youth sports, and he had to wait until today to make his debut back into sports.

At 7 years old and in the second grade, he’s at a perfect time in his life for sports.

The exercise is great. With the allure of the latest video games and high definition flat screen televisions, it can sometimes be tough to simply convince our children (my wife and I have a 5-year-old daughter) there is more to recreation time than computer-aided graphics.

We’ve actually instituted Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays as “no video game days” just to help even the playing field. Youth sports are also great because of the team aspect. My son is playing on a squad that does not include any of the students he goes to class with. The dynamic forces him to find a role and make friends, all while participating in a non-threatening environment.

However, the undisputed best part of soccer and all youth sports is simply “fun.” Heck, is there a more important job in the world for a 7 year old than having fun.

Ask any parent adjusting to the demands of common core education. Our children are already facing a daily grind. I just love knowing my boy has a few hours scheduled each week to run as fast as he can, kick a few balls and show off in front of his family. There is nothing else quite like it.

Yet, this does bring me to my only concern with youth sports, and that is youth sports parents. You know the people I’m talking about.

Unfortunately, there exists those parents who take these games way too serious.

Their screams from the sidelines stray way far from supportive yells. They fixate on complex strategy even though the children at play care nothing for it. And worst, they treat the final score of a 9 a.m. soccer game like a result akin to a Super Bowl gambling line.

Two of the best youth coaches I know had to implement special rules just to get through the seasons unscathed.

One, who coaches a select travel team in New Iberia, makes his parents sign a release form before each season.

The parents pledge to only address the players during game time with words of encouragement, among other acts of civility.

The other has a strict rule about not discussing game-day coaching decisions with parents within 24 hours of the contest’s start.

This cooling down period forces high-strung parents to gather themselves before treating youth results like a million-dollar bet on a Las Vegas blackjack table.

After writing a few of these details down and remembering my own competitive nature, I do see how an involved parent can ease over from “supportive” to “burdensome” soccer dad in a few short penalty kicks.

So with that said, all youth sports parents should pledge this season to:

1. Not push a child too far.

It’s always about fun. No one wins, especially your own child, if he or she feels they are being hassled from the sidelines. “Children withdrawing into their shell as a result of too many demands from the sidelines is a negative consequence of a parent expecting too much,” worldsoccer.com experts say.

2. Not antagonize a referee.

As we’ve all seen with way too many ugly episodes lately, these youth sports referees can really have it bad. There is no point to yelling at someone from 50-feet away because you disagree with a sports call. You’re there because it’s your kid. They are there as a volunteer. At most, they are a vastly underpaid employee. Don’t be “that guy.”

3. Support the coach.

If you are not lucky enough to actually coach your child through youth sports, well, you can help those who actually do.

Don’t take the games’ outcomes or the technical strategy too seriously.The parent who criticizes gameplans at 7- and 8-year-old sporting events only earns eye rolls, not respect.

Hey, they all seem like simple rules to follow, but that certainly doesn’t make it easy sailing for all.

I’m just glad the wait is over.

Youth soccer has arrived, and I’m ready to watch my son enjoy his morning.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.