Would you let you child play football?

[Mai72]

Youth football participation drops.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...rops-nfl-concussion-crisis-seen-causal-factor

With the current concern over head injuries and concussions that occur with playing football, parents are now concerned for the welfare of their children. Would you now be considered a bad parent if you let your little boy play football?

It's going to be interesting to see where football is headed in 5, 10 or 20 years. Are we going to see more lawsuits? Will this impact the way that football is played? I think we are going to see a lot more lawsuits. If a pro football player gets dementia whose fault is it? Should the NFL be held liable? Wait until the lawsuits start to pour in at the high school and college level. Lawyers are going to have a field day!

The Chicago Tribune thinks that pro football is on its deathbed.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...4_1_future-football-players-nfl-draft-the-nfl

 

[Printer Bandit]

Flag yes
Tackle no

 

[rudeguy]

tackle yes
flag no

 

[Aldon]

Flag no
Tackle no

 

[Jumpem]

I hope my kids are not interested in any sports.

 

[homebrew2ny]

As someone who played football as a youth through HS, and still enjoys the sport, absolutely not.

 

[rudeguy]

As someone who played football as a youth through HS, and still enjoys the sport, absolutely not.

Really?

I'm exactly the same and I'm sad that lil rudeguy never wanted to play any sports.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Tackle yes
Flag yes
Hockey yes
Rugby yes
LaCrosse yes

 

[midwestfisherman]

Yes! Too many boys are being turned into pussies these days! Kids need sports, the outdoors and to learn what it is to be competitive. Know that life isn't fair and you don't win just for participating.

 

[Nintendesert]

Well, if Obama had a son, he wouldn't. So yes, I would.

 

[Ayrahvon]

Yes! Too many boys are being turned into pussies these days! Kids need sports, the outdoors and to learn what it is to be competitive. Know that life isn't fair and you don't win just for participating.

Still no. Have them play other sports. Quit whining about pansy players who get trophies, they know they didn't win.

 

[rudeguy]

Still no. Have them play other sports. Quit whining about pansy players who get trophies, they know they didn't win.

See...This is where I'm old school.

Let a kid smash others on the field and it will teach him confidence.
Let a kid get smashed on the field and it will teach him humility.

Team, contact sports teach lessons that are invaluable.

 

[Ns1]

Only if I was the benefactor to his life insurance policy

 

[chimaxi83]

Sure would. My 11 year old isn't into sports, and wants to be a writer. Silly noob. My 2 year old carries a football with him almost everywhere he goes (along with his blanket), so I still have some hope. Depends on his frame when he grows up, though. If he's small like his mother, then nope. If he's a beefy, virile, fine specimen like his father, then yep

 

[homebrew2ny]

Really?

I'm exactly the same and I'm sad that lil rudeguy never wanted to play any sports.

Thank god I have a lil girl


But yes, I have grown to appreciate the devastating destruction a contact sport like football can have on young children. Now, if he was older, say High School age and simply insisted he wanted to play, I would support him but I would never throw a 9 or 10 year child in the game out of vicarious reasons. And even discourage it until he was a bit older as I mentioned above.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Yes, if they wanted to. Playing organized football was one of the best experiences that I had in school.

 

[HeXen]

Tackle was the way to play when I was growing up. I suspect irrational fears. Flag was heavily frowned upon by other kids back then but times change

 

[SlitheryDee]

I would encourage it. Football does good things for kids. I'm sure only a minority get concussions.

Anyway, as Carolla would say it: "Pain is temporary. Being a pussy is forever". Do you want your kids to never experience pain or disappointment, or do you want them to be tough and disciplined? You generally can't have both. In fact one usually begets the other. Hence football and other such sports.

 

[rudeguy]

Yes, if they wanted to. Playing organized football was one of the best experiences that I had in school.

Yep

But the best was the pickup games on the weekend. 4 on 4, 3 on 3, whatever. Always ended up with an audience and a few cheerleaders.

 

[preCRT]

Never.

Mom never let my brother play football, she was concerned about head injuries even 30+ years ago. Bro & I have a cousin, the same age as bro, who played football from Pop Warner through high school. He developed early onset Alzheimers in his 40s. He can't be left alone anymore, he functions like a 2 year old now. His children are still in school.

 

[Ayrahvon]

See...This is where I'm old school.

Let a kid smash others on the field and it will teach him confidence.
Let a kid get smashed on the field and it will teach him humility.

Team, contact sports teach lessons that are invaluable.

I'm all for kids playing sports, I've just read the reports on the impact of concussions in younger players and they are scary. I'd let them play flag football, and soccer (tons of injuries from that, concussions less common) or almost any other sport.

 

[Mai72]

Tackle was the way to play when I was growing up. I suspect irrational fears. Flag was heavily frowned upon by other kids back then but times change

I played tackle also. I remember when I tackled my brother in our backyard. He ended up hitting his head and passed out in my mom's arms.

Anyway, are we going to see a slew of lawsuits from parents now that it has been shown that hard hits to the head equals concussions and possible dementia later in life.

Smoking= lung cancer
Alcohol= liver damage
Playing Football= dementia?

I think we're going to see dramatic changes in football at all levels once the lawsuits from concerned parents start to pour in.

 

[Mai72]

Never.

Mom never let my brother play football, she was concerned about head injuries even 30+ years ago. Bro & I have a cousin, the same age as bro, who played football from Pop Warner through high school. He developed early onset Alzheimers in his 40s. He can't be left alone anymore, he functions like a 2 year old now. His children are still in school.

That is scary and sad. Getting Alzheimer disease in his 40's!! Have you guys thought about suing the high school where he attended?

 

[Lounatik]

My son is 8.5 and weighs close to 100 lbs. He is a big boy not fat, just stout and tall. If he plays football, he will most definitely be a nose tackle/center just because he would be one of the bigger kids out there. I feel really uncomfortable knowing he'd be getting whacked in the head practically every play. If he continues his growth arc, he would be in these positions for years to come and I don't want him subjected to that.


Peace

Lounatik

 

[rudeguy]

My son is 8.5 and weighs close to 100 lbs. He is a big boy not fat, just stout and tall. If he plays football, he will most definitely be a nose tackle/center just because he would be one of the bigger kids out there. I feel really uncomfortable knowing he'd be getting whacked in the head practically every play. If he continues his growth arc, he would be in these positions for years to come and I don't want him subjected to that.


Peace

Lounatik

I played line. NG on D and strong side guard on O. The only time I took a shot to the head was when they tried me on kickoff.

Your boy will do fine.