Major problem for the future of High school football, bigger than Private vs Publics

[WestSuburbanCatholicConference]

This was just published in the Acta Neuropathologica, while we are fighting about publics vs privates. We have a even greater issue that effects high school football on a macro level. The study revealed that men who played high school football about 32% developed CTE. As a coach at the youth level, I have never in my entire life seen numbers so low (maybe its only my small sample size) but schools like St. Issacs and St. Cletus which have been around for over 70 years couldn't even field a varsity team this year. In the past we would have an A, B, and C team.

Im extremely torn, I love this sport, but I see it fastly being water down and the data shows that this sport is not good for you. There is no good way to hit your head, I think it will just becomes a matter of time before football becomes a sport like boxing in which educated and middle class families will not let their children play. It will be seen as a last resort. Its sad but if high school football was a stock, I would be selling as fast as I could.

https://www.yahoo.com/health/cte-high-school-sports-232238493.html

 

[PowerI66_]

I think it's important to note that they talked about people who have played in contact sports, not just football. Also, that is an extremely small sample size. While I do agree that it is a problem, I think these stats and the study itself is a little skewed.

 

[capnbillhitters]

Women's soccer players may have a higher incident rate when they spread this across all sports

 

[gebronco]

This may be the same report, but it was one of the stories on the Brodner Gatorade player of the year story (great young man, congrats Sammy!).

http://www.startribune.com/minnesot...al-of-football-from-public-schools/352464821/

Then the Concussion movie is due to come out soon as well.

I share the feelings on being torn - all of my boys have played/are playing, but I totally understand parents that choose other sports/activities.

More rule changes/equipment changes in store?

 

[crusader_of_90]

AYSO has ruled out headballs for players under 10 recently.

 

[pjjp]

I know more and more parents who are flatly refusing to allow their sons to play football. Many of the fathers of these families played the game. Some were gung ho football enthusiasts. You really have to question the future of the sport.

 

[DeanOfSelection]

flag football in 20 years

 

[stonedlizard]

flag football in 20 years

We'll have to make the private school flags 1.65x longer, with an extra flag added for every 2 championships won in the same class in the last 4 years.

 

[WestSuburbanCatholicConference]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

 

[LHSTigers94]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

Too much money is in football, schools can't make up such revenue. The players may change but, the sport will remain.

 

[RetiredReferee]

Too much money is in football, schools can't make up such revenue. The players may change but, the sport will remain.

Not having to pay for equipment, having to pay for security/workers/referees, and most importantly, the insurance, would probably be more money saved per year then they would take in.

 

[Bowie50]

Too much money is in football, schools can't make up such revenue. The players may change but, the sport will remain.

Schools won't be able to afford the insurance....

 

[SweetWalter34]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

I share your concern but I think we might be a little too focused on short-term trends.
For the last 120 years or so, the game of football (including high school football) has found a way to tweak it's rules, equipment and injury protocols to survive and in fact thrive. Much more serious than today's valid concern with cognitive impairment, 100 years ago players used to regularly die playing the game. So things were tweaked.

The game may change somewhat but there is little reason to believe football -- the game and the multibillion dollar industry -- will go away, even at the high school level.

Also, comparing football to boxing is an apples to oranges comparison. In football, points are awarded for moving a ball across a goal line more often than your opponent does. In boxing, points are awarded for concussing your opponent more severely than he concusses you (a knockout).

 

[mc140]

Too much money is in football, schools can't make up such revenue. The players may change but, the sport will remain.

I don't think most schools make a profit on football when you include coaching stipends, refs, workers, equipment and reconditioning.

 

[Lockport Dad]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

Your brain floats in fluid inside of your skull and when there is a impact your brain slams into the inside wall of your skull which causes the damage. There is no helmet that can prevent that from happening.

 

[DeanOfSelection]

pretty soon Virtual reality football like in movie "Surrogates"

 

[Secondo1]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

I received 2 concussions playing flag football in grade school in the old CYO leagues. I then received one playing softball when a flying bat struck my head. My daughter received a concussion as a high school cheerleader. In none of these instances was any type of head protection being used. My point is, no matter what sport or athletic activity in which you participate, there is a risk.

 

[LHSTigers94]

I don't think most schools make a profit on football when you include coaching stipends, refs, workers, equipment and reconditioning.

It depends on the high school in Illinois. Some states are more profitable however my statement was in reference to college football. The fact that there is college football mean there will always be kids playing to receive scholarship which mean the sport in itself will not fail. I do believe the average kid playing for fun will stop risking injury as some point. Both college and NFL will keep the sport going for a long time. Maybe not as strong in a state like Illinois considering the amount of conservative individuals. I am a parent of a kid that is going to ND, NW, IL, etc for free, I love football.

 

[LHSTigers94]

Schools won't be able to afford the insurance....

Some schools don't pay insurance now. Kids sign waivers.

 

[Quags22]

AYSO has ruled out headballs for players under 10 recently.

But FIFA hasn't.

 

[SweetWalter34]

Your brain floats in fluid inside of your skull and when there is a impact your brain slams into the inside wall of your skull which causes the damage. There is no helmet that can prevent that from happening.

Agreed.
Which is why the rules and injury protocols will be tweaked.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

flag football in 20 years

What are the lineman going to do?

 

[RetiredReferee]

I would think the bigger fear is HS football going to AAU.

 

[Corey90]

To much money involved they will find away and like most things football will survive. Look at boxing, there have been deaths after fights yet it still goes on. Now we have UFC which is prolly safer?

 

[ssczar76]

My mother for years has been saying, you better not let your son play foosball. Well, after the results I received from the doctor the other day, I have to say I agree. I still love the sport and the structure it brings to a young man's life. I never thought baseball or basketball required the same discipline.

 

[crusader_of_90]

But FIFA hasn't.

The point is, AYSO, the governing body of American youth development, hS this regulation in place. FIFA is international and has concerns in the game from youth to World Cup.

Different animal and organizational goals.

 

[crusader_of_90]

Now we have UFC which is prolly safer?

That's the claim and the logic is that because of the immediate damage that can be done with 4 ounce gloves, guys fight much differently and take many less blows to the head.

The artful jab with pillows on your hands is more for timing and setting up the opponent in the ring. With just a few layers of leather covering the fist, that same jab in a steel cage can cause real damage.

 

[BretEpic]

As you all know, I love football. That said, I'm glad I don't have boys for the reason of not having to tell them no football.

I suffered numerous concussions in my 10 years of ball, and have talked with my wife about the effects. Fully convinced that I am part of the 32%. That said, I'd do it all over again... but just for myself

 

[pjjp]

As you all know, I love football. That said, I'm glad I don't have boys for the reason of not having to tell them no football.

I suffered numerous concussions in my 10 years of ball, and have talked with my wife about the effects. Fully convinced that I am part of the 32%. That said, I'd do it all over again... but just for myself

Have a friend who was a part-time starter on a state championship team as a junior, then a full-time starter his senior year and an all-conference level player. He played a year of college ball, but didn't see the field much. So he basically was a HS football player. He started experiencing memory issues about five years ago (early middle age). It's gotten progressively worse. He is now in a clinical trial and on two different forms of medication to help with memory and other issues. He was the most enthusiastic HS football follower I knew. In fact, he was the guy who led me to this board more than 15 years ago. Needless to say, his opinion on the sport has changed in recent years. Have to admit. His experiences have changed my outlook as well. Can't blame any parent for refusing to allow their sons to play the game.

 

[BretEpic]

Have a friend who was a part-time starter on a state championship team as a junior, then a full-time starter his senior year and an all-conference level player. He played a year of college ball, but didn't see the field much. So he basically was a HS football player. He started experiencing memory issues about five years ago (early middle age). It's gotten progressively worse. He is now in a clinical trial and on two different forms of medication to help with memory and other issues. He was the most enthusiastic HS football follower I knew. In fact, he was the guy who led me to this board more than 15 years ago. Needless to say, his opinion on the sport has changed in recent years. Have to admit. His experiences have changed my outlook as well. Can't blame any parent for refusing to allow their sons to play the game.

I played only one season in college but experienced my two worst concussions that season. The next two years were marked by significant signs of post concussion syndrome. Still have some signs.

Would not take it back but also would not let sons play

 

[RetiredReferee]

I hate to keep piling on, but I'm going to....

There was an ESPN Outside the Lines report on the rise of cancers in soccer players, specifically the goalies. They are attributing it to the rubber pellets in field turf. Which makes sense for goalies, because if you're diving to stop a ball some of that can possibly get in your, eyes, nose, or mouth. So I'm thinking to myself: I bring that stuff in with my shoes every weekend. You referee 4 games on the weekend at a high school the stuff piles on you. Better believe now that my curious to everything on the floor child is crawling that my cleaning is in overdrive.

 

[jeepruslb]

My fear is that it is taken away from high schools by law. Politicians are already getting involved.
They also raised the drinking age to 21, didn't/doesn't stop teens. Pot is illegal (I think lol) but every person reading this knows someone...
If I was a teen and it wasn't available, I would have been the first to start a version of Fight Club for football.
Football is not going away, it will just go underground. THAT scares me.

 

[eireog]

I think that parental responsibility is key to this whole issue in grammar school and high school. If a kid legitimately has a concussion it's time for a parent to really question whether it's in their sons best intrest to continue playing. Blindly saying that junior can't play football is a bit extreme.

 

[Oddy]

My two youngest sons played HS football in the late 90's early 00's, and I still maintain my enthusiasm for the sport (I'm here aren't I?) however, today I would be very much against their participation.

 

[BretEpic]

I think that parental responsibility is key to this whole issue in grammar school and high school. If a kid legitimately has a concussion it's time for a parent to really question whether it's in their sons best intrest to continue playing. Blindly saying that junior can't play football is a bit extreme.

Yeah, but I never once left a game for it, was never out cold. I just didn't know that going black, seeing stars and being woozy was a bad thing.

It's the repeated blows to the head that are most worrisome for me.

 

[eireog]

Yeah, but I never once left a game for it, was never out cold. I just didn't know that going black, seeing stars and being woozy was a bad thing.

It's the repeated blows to the head that are most worrisome for me.

Agreed. Kids aren't going to pull themselves in most cases. Coaches may not pull the kid either. That's why it falls to the parents to be the ones looking out for their sons best intrest.

 

[Thedoctor50]

Agreed. Kids aren't going to pull themselves in most cases. Coaches may not pull the kid either. That's why it falls to the parents to be the ones looking out for their sons best intrest.

Then coach should be looking for a different line of work.

 

[eireog]

Then coach should be looking for a different line of work.

I agree with you but you can't deny there are coaches that put winning above the well being of their players at times too.

 

[septon34]

1) explains how its not the concussions (even though those are very serious) but a study showed that these kids had less brain damage or something because they were force to sit out of practice, compared to the kids who had repeated hits to the head. The repeated hits to the head it is the big issue.

2) There is new equipment coming out saying that like in 2-3 years they can make a helmet were it absorbs %90-%100 of the blow.

Some of you joke about flag football becoming the sport, but if there is more startling evidence and less participation. I would not be surprised. Flag football is extremely popular as an intramural in college/ as well as rec leagues down town. While its no were near exciting as real football. I can actually see it being marketed as a substitute for real football many years down the line.

I think football, as we know it, will be extinct. I could see flag football becoming a varsity sport in most schools. But I highly doubt flag football will ever be a popular spectator sport. An intricate part of the allure of football is the physicality and toughness.

 

[mchsalumni]

Flag football can get pretty aggressive and would look more like rugby over time. My boys play, if they get head injuries they will be yanked, but I'm not holding them out.