Question: Do you/will you let your kids play football?

[gtowndawg]

I have two boys 4 and 2. I played some football in school. I've never hesitated to say they could play football and to be honest I would enjoy it. But after seeing the Outside The Lines report about football and head injuries I have to say I'm putting more thought into it. I realize it's NFL players and my kids will never play NFL but it's still a bit concerning the more we learn of the lasting problems with any head injury.

On a side note, out of the 6 families or so that we are close to that also have small kids, NONE will even consider letting their kids play football. They all want their kids to play sports and encourage it. Any sport, except football.

 

[gtowndawg]

I have two boys 4 and 2. I played some football in school. I've never hesitated to say they could play football and to be honest I would enjoy it. But after seeing the Outside The Lines report about football and head injuries I have to say I'm putting more thought into it. I realize it's NFL players and my kids will never play NFL but it's still a bit concerning the more we learn of the lasting problems with any head injury.

On a side note, out of the 6 families or so that we are close to that also have small kids, NONE will even consider letting their kids play football. They all want their kids to play sports and encourage it. Any sport, except football.

 

[gtowndawg]

I have two boys 4 and 2. I played some football in school. I've never hesitated to say they could play football and to be honest I would enjoy it. But after seeing the Outside The Lines report about football and head injuries I have to say I'm putting more thought into it. I realize it's NFL players and my kids will never play NFL but it's still a bit concerning the more we learn of the lasting problems with any head injury.

On a side note, out of the 6 families or so that we are close to that also have small kids, NONE will even consider letting their kids play football. They all want their kids to play sports and encourage it. Any sport, except football.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I played and admittedly I have some reservations about letting my son play. I'm not worried about broken bones, bruises, torn-up knee, etc. That is the risk that comes and you accept the risks and move on. The head injuries and the issues with them are what concerns me. It's all about the brain.

It is interesting that most helmets are designed for protection that hopefully you won't need. Think about a construction worker, motorcyclist, baseball player, or racecar driver. You have a helmet or hardhat that is intended to lessen injury and maybe save your life if something happens that you are actually trying to avoid. You wear the helmet even though you hopefully never need it. Football is one sport where the helmet is actually used to protect you from things that actually will happen, are meant to happen, and you try to make happen. I'm not sure that is what a helmet is intended for.

On a different note, it's ironic that the poster asking this question has Al Bundy as his avatar. Al Bundy was still great in his own mind because he played high school football.

 

[tommyboy1520]

Both of mine have played and will continue to as long as they want to. My oldest played 2 years (tackle) and has decided it's not for him. He's decided to stick to baseball and soccer for now. My youngest played flag last year and wants to play again. I grew up playing through jr. high and high school so I know what's in store for either if they play. Like you said, it's not the NFL, so risk for head injury is not near as high. I'm not worried about it.

Also, as far as kids sports goes in your neighborhood, the GFL is top notch. If you decide to let them play, you're in a great place to do it.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I will also say that looking back now, concussions or brain injuries were not the biggest risks we faced when playing football. Our coaches felt that water would make you cramp up. We would practice for 3 hours, full pads, full contact in 95 degree weather with no water. Your mouth got so dry you couldn't talk or even move your tongue because it stuck to the inside of your mouth (cottonmouth). Looking back now that was ignorant. We were lucky nobody died. Thankfully, coaches understand now the importance of staying hydrated. Ignorance I guess.

 

[DerHntr]

nm

 

[gtowndawg]

nm

 

[nashdog]

Out of my 2 sons, I only have 1 that wants to and does play football. I did not start him until 10 years old, and he has completed 2 years in a middle TN travel leage and just completed his first middle school spring training. Injuries are always in the back of my mind, but it does not deter me from letting him play a sport that teaches him hard work discipline and keeps him in great shape. He's a better baseball player than football player, but he wants to do both and decide at some point.

 

[BlankStare]

this pic has been the background on my computer for at least a year or two

 

[DAWG61]

and on a different note I wonder with no pads or helmets would serious injuries be reduced?

 

[22yardpunt]

nm

 

[Rutherford B Hays]

My son will go to a very competitive 6A public high school. I have friends whose kids play 1A public or A academy football. 6A public is a lot bigger and a lot faster.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but when you stand on the sidelines and compare the differences, it is a whole different world. If my son was at a small school I think it would be great to play multiple sports, for discipline and building memories. As is, he will do very well to even make the 6A baseball team at his school. Having 500+ kids per grade has its advantages, but playing sports isn't one of them unless you have a very active pituitary gland.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

which I find disturbing.

 

[seshomoru]

I would probably be a lean toward no at the moment. It was a Frontline report that opened my eyes. It's not so much the violence of one single blow. It's the repeated, day in and day out, hits to the head. Even the little ones that don't even raise an eyebrow. That continuous jarring of developing brains is where the main risk lies. I just don't know if I'm comfortable with having my young future son go through that. So it's not even the risk of a bad injury, it's the almost guaranteed increased damage to his young brain.

Of course, given the genes of his parents, he'll be swimming or golfing.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[Bobby Ricigliano]

...I believe Sherrill said on one of his recent interviews (either Finebaum or BSR) that he has attended some concussion conference the past two years. He mentioned that experts believe there is a link between proper hydration and concussion prevention. Just thought that was interesting.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

6'1" 160 lbs. 13 years old and part of a great middle school program. We will see if he sticks with it but right now he loves the game, especially the weights which his coaching staff does just enough of at this stage to help strength. I was really glad they spend more time on conditioning and agility in junior high because the kid went from not being able to walk across the room with tripping to being moved to OLT and OLB.

 

[biteyoudawg]

My son is 24 now and I would do the same thing again. If he wants to play and can keep his grades up to par, then there is no problem. He played football, basketball and baseball at a 4A-5A school and loved every minute of it and said he would not do anything different if he had to do it over again.

Bone breakage, concussion, lacertations, etc. can occur anywhere and anytime no matter what the activity.

 

[Xenomorph]

...what his identity might be without it. I know a lot of mine (and maybe it was self-perceived) was derived from wins and losses on Friday nights.

But let me add, if I had my druthers I'd rather him play football than have facebook and twitter accounts.

 

[Xenomorph]

*

 

[dudehead]

life and living playing football than any other sport, class or venue available to him. Yes, there is risk and my son has had concussions and still continues to play. But, he loves the game and we (his mother and I) decided we had to let him find his own way.

 

[RobbieRandolph]

.

 

[GreaterCowbell]

last week we had the article about why football should be banned. There are also studies showing repeated head contact with the ball in soccer will do the same thing but I hear no one complaining about that.<div>
</div><div>This is just the openingvolleyat the left's attempt to get rid of football because it is perceived as a high risk activity. The continued pussification of america continues. Kiss the the game of football as we now know it good bye. I fully expect it to become a game of less contact and it will become as fun to watch as the WNBA.</div><div>
</div><div>And to answer the question, yes if my son wants to play I'll be a proud papa.</div><div>
</div><div>Flame away.</div>

 

[CEO2044]

My son will go to a very competitive 6A public high school. I have friends whose kids play 1A public or A academy football. 6A public is a lot bigger and a lot faster.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but when you stand on the sidelines and compare the differences, it is a whole different world. If my son was at a small school I think it would be great to play multiple sports, for discipline and building memories. As is, he will do very well to even make the 6A baseball team at his school. Having 500+ kids per grade has its advantages, but playing sports isn't one of them unless you have a very active pituitary gland.

It might be bigger and faster overall, but he can be hurt in either one of them with the right blow(s). Don't judge injury-risk by size of the school. They may even be at more risk at a smaller school if that school doesn't stress proper hitting and technique. May be because of lack of quality or lack of numbers. Usually your 5-6A jobs are harder to get and it's a more competitive market.<div>
</div>

 

[RobbieRandolph]

.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

It might be bigger and faster overall, but he can be hurt in either one of them with the right blow(s). Don't judge injury-risk by size of the school. They may even be at more risk at a smaller school if that school doesn't stress proper hitting and technique. May be because of lack of quality or lack of numbers. Usually your 5-6A jobs are harder to get and it's a more competitive market.<div>
</div>

There might be some truth to this. At a small academy or 1A or 2A public school, you might get your head beaten on for an entire game. That is because many players never come off the field. They play offense, defense, and special teams. It is also easier to get playing time at a younger age. Also, limited numbers in practice means tons more reps. At larger schools, you play less plays, both in practice and in games.

 

[kired]

If I had to make the decision today I would let him play, but would not encourage it. I hope he focuses on something else. If he takes after me & his mom, he certainly will not be built for it.

I playedup until I had to step on the field with 17 & 18 year olds. That was no place for me... at the time I was about 5'9" and 120lbs with pads on. A guy like Channing Ward could've literally killed me on the football field.</p>

 

[jakldawg]

if I said "no." So if hypothetical lil' jakldawg wants to play, fine. Would I rather have a left-handed son with a ridiculous curve ball? Absolutely.

 

[coach66]

have never questioned whether he should play football but I must admit I do have concerns. I will say as others have indicated that I think the real problems start to occur<div>when you get involved with a bunch of guys playing at a high level such as college and NFL because frankly a lot of those guys have grown their bodies to strength and proportions</div><div>that can't be achieved through normal weight training. When you start knocking heads on a regular basis with freaks of nature something has got to give, especially if it is done over many,</div><div>many years.</div>

 

[cb6228]

but I will not let them on a trampoline. I see far more trampoline injuries than football injuries in my practice.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

He said the coaches are always reeling him in on reps and weight (which I am glad of).

I do know he does around 85 to 90 on bench. They only hit the weights two or three days a week. Folks around the program say it is the summer between their freshmen and sophomore years that the weight training emphasis increases.

He will spend all summer going to strength and conditioning camp M-F at the high school doing running/agility drills for 20-30 minutes and either weights or other strength drills the rest of the hour. I really made a huge difference last year. I want to see what he is does now since all the baby fat fell off this year and he grew about eight inches.

 

[Hanmudog]

How many people in the non-football playingpopulation at large killed themselves just yesterday? Depression and suicide are not exclusive to football players.

I agree with an earlier post that this "ban football talk" is more pussification of America. Seau was one high profile player but the hundreds, if not thousands, that leave the game and go on to productive lives rarely gets a mention.

 

[Captain Agustus McDawg]

I also wonder what role roids (used many years earlier) play in these football players who commit suicide?

 

[gtowndawg]

nm

 

[Hector.sixpack]

As time goes on, the risks in everything we do become more evident. How many football players in the history of the sport from peewee to NFL has suffered a life changing brain injury? The percentage, while tragic and scary, is probably very low.

My son will be the best qb to ever play at State. He's 4.

 

[Indndawg]

Yes: organized, well-coached teams, ie h/s or jh/s

No: pony league, father-coached, limited equipment quality

 

[Indndawg]

something kinda nice, like......soccer

 

[gravedigger]

We as parents have a responsibility to make sure what we are putting out kids into, they are, at a minimum, prepared for.

If your kid likes it and is agressive and knows how to protect himself. That is a positive.
If your kid's coach is one of those "I know I'm the next Bear Bryant" types and you are unsure if your kid is agressive, that is a BIG negative.
If your kid's coach is doing this for the first time FORGET IT.
If your kid is small for his age, and young for his age and between 10 and 14.....FORGET IT.

Kids must have a knack for the game, how to play it and how to protect themselves. They must be built for it, and if they are ready. If not, pass. Wait for them to be at least comperable in weight to half the kids on the team and be active in their instruction.

If you arent willing to put the time in to help them learn the game to protect their bodies or dont know that the coach is, find another sport.

 

[cb6228]

if your kids (or neighborhood kids) get hurt, shoot me a PM. We have a 10 year, over 1500 patient study on trampoline injuries in progress. They are not unsafe when used one at a time, and they have become safer, but we see a lot of broken bones (not a huge issue in kids b/c they heal so well) but we still see alot of growth plate injuries which are tragic and lead to significant growth deformities in the lower limbs. Hell, I played on them all the time as a kid, and loved every minute. But as a soon to be parent who treats these kids, no 17ing way. My worst ever call was the first day of pee-wee football season, but the worst injuries to kids (other than ATV accidents) has been to trampolines. My word of advice, keep your kids off trampolines and ATVs, let them play all the sports they want. Sports injuries are pretty rare and playing sports builds character. I played football, baseball, and soccer, took plenty of headers and turned out all right. I can't say the same for my kids injured on ATVs that required free flaps or my patient's whose growth plates shut down from trampoline injuries. These things being said, don't put your kids in a bubble. Most of us rode bikes without helmets and played lawn darts and we mostly turned out ok. Still wonder about C34 though.