Just remember everything in perspective. In football we put Chief Smoke whats it cost now, 600-800 dollars of equipment, and yet parents let their kids (who are just being kids and doing stupid stuff) do said stupid stuff with the thought that football is dangerous, and yet, they get hurt doing said stupid things.

 

 

Example sorta, I very good high school wrestler I know, whos parents thought he needed to stay off the summer events this year because risk of injury, was at his own house, pool party with friends and family, and decided to get a running start to splash into the pool. about 10 feet before the pool he tripped took a header and now has over 20 plus stitches in his face, body all turn up, possible torn ligaments in wrist and a very serious concussion.

 

Whats more dangerous?

I just wish the media would talk about the % of kids, teens, adults who play and DON'T suffer any kind of head trauma vs. those that do. With that said, I can promise you that you aren't going to find more of a football fan who is in favor of ways to make this game safer, all while keeping everything that makes it so great.

 

I think somebody above posted that anywhere from 4-20% of all kids across the country suffer some type of head trauma over the course of the year. Well, why don't they state it as, " 80+% of all kids who play football will be head trauma free."? I'll take those odds in anything.

 

It's kind of like car crashes and plane crashes...if the local and national news broadcasted the THOUSANDS of car crash related injuries that happen EVERY DAY across our country like they do when a plane crashes, then nobody would ever want to drive. On the other hand, if the news talked about the THOUSANDS of planes that land safely everyday across the world instead of the one or two that crash every now and then (thus running that news coverage into the ground as well), then you wouldn't have near as many people afraid to fly.

 

There are far more kids at risk of serious injury (head trauma in particular and death) riding to school every morning by either 1) driving themselves or 2) catching a ride with a friend than football ever thought about. I mentioned just that to a parent last year who wouldn't let their child play football due to fear of getting hurt......I gave her the car explanation above, and there was a deafening sound of crickets, followed up by me telling her that if she was so concerned about her sons safety, have him ride a bus instead of putting her sons hands into that of a fellow 17 year old (the driver).

No amount of research will change me. I hope if I have boys they will want to play football.

Just remember everything in perspective. In football we put Chief Smoke whats it cost now, 600-800 dollars of equipment, and yet parents let their kids (who are just being kids and doing stupid stuff) do said stupid stuff with the thought that football is dangerous, and yet, they get hurt doing said stupid things.

 

 

 

 

Example sorta, I very good high school wrestler I know, whos parents thought he needed to stay off the summer events this year because risk of injury, was at his own house, pool party with friends and family, and decided to get a running start to splash into the pool. about 10 feet before the pool he tripped took a header and now has over 20 plus stitches in his face, body all turn up, possible torn ligaments in wrist and a very serious concussion.

 

Whats more dangerous?

 

 

The most important pieces of gear for safety are the helmet, shoulder pads and mouthpiece.

 

I am sold on Xenith. Those run about $200. Shoulder pad prices vary but the ones I like best sell for around $200 each if you buy a bunch of them.

The most important pieces of gear for safety are the helmet, shoulder pads and mouthpiece.

 

I am sold on Xenith. Those run about $200. Shoulder pad prices vary but the ones I like best sell for around $200 each if you buy a bunch of them.

 

Same here. Awesome helmets and IMO, there is no better fitting helmet. Their bonnet system is engineering at it's best (well, not really, the Hoover Dam, highway systems, etc. lol, but you know what I mean).

I have no problem coaching football and encouraging my sons to play.

 

1- I still think the risks of what they would be involved in were they not at football practice combined with the life lessons and experience they get make football the sport and place to be.

 

2- My dad was an offensive and defensive lineman in HS & college. Late 50s to early 60s. His HS coach did some brutal stuff to them. My dad, and all the old coaches I know are fine. If those guys can think straight after what they went through, I think kids today will be ok as they get older. What kids do today in practice can't touch what use to happen. I do think the old NFL is an entirely different scenario than what the guys did that played through college in the 60s because of the frequency and greater force of the impacts.

 

Completely agree.

 

If I had to do it all over again with my sons, I'd have zero reservations about them playing youth and high school football. If anything, they'd probably be safer today playing youth and high school football because of equipment improvements, rule changes and the much greater education and knowledge of concussions, heat dangers, etc.

 

I do have reservations about playing college ball. In fact I strongly discouraged both of my sons from playing college ball. The higher the level of ball, the fiercer the impacts and the more likely concussions are to concur in my opinion.

 

And I completely agree with your follow up post also!

It never ceases to amaze me how everyone talks of restricting contact, better equipment, buy expensive helmets.

 

All the new "safety" precautions are great, but in many cases are killing the game that we love.

 

Address the real problem and train the athletes for the violent game of football.

Put the game=boys down, get off the couch and put some work in.

 

Train the neck, upper back and build a solid core strength so the athlete will be able to sustain the violent impact of a collision without his brain bouncing around like a pinball.

 

Most training programs that I have seen do not put enough emphasis on developing a big thick neck to protect the kids.

 

Let's play some Rugby.

Let me be more clear. It was a bit open-ended.

 

I am asking specifically about head injuries.

 

Clyde you know who I am and what I do for a living so without revealing that to the general population please vouch for me if asked that I have some inside knowledge about this. I don't know that we're seeing more concussions I thinks that we're recognizing more concussions especially in places where no AT is present on a daily basis. Those of us long in the tooth can remember kids "getting their bell rung" and sitting on the sideline making us all laugh because he couldn't remember where he was. The only reason he didn't go back in the game was because he couldn't remember the plays. The NFL IMVHO has such a potential PR black eye brewing because of the way that they have dealt with concussions over the years that they have flooded the sports scene with information about concussion as well as spending mega-bucks to get legislation regarding concussions passed in all states, Kentucky included. You're now seeing concussions that would have gone undiagnosed 10 years ago being treated. There are still kids who don't let anyone know they've taken a head shot during activity because they don't want to sit. Their parents then notice concussion signs when they get home and get them evaluated. Because of the legislation coaches and officials are more vigilant for potential concussions. When you have potential legal implications if you allow a kid to continue playing you tend to see more.

For the record there is no "concussion proof" helmet and in my experience (Clyde please vouch for me) I haven't seen that any one is better then any other. As someone else on here said the key is proper fit and maintenance including annual reconditioning.

This will not be an issue for Highlands. They rarely hit during practice and only turn them loose on Friday nights. It's kind of why you see some very poor tackling techniques early in the season. The most Highlands hit in practice is during Spring Football where the coaches determine who needs to get stronger at a certain positions. Now it doesn't mean that a head injury will not happen during a game but the overall chances of a Concussion has seemed to be limited to post game play. That's kind of how I have noticed it the last 5-6 years....Maybe I'm wrong!!!

Clyde you know who I am and what I do for a living so without revealing that to the general population please vouch for me if asked that I have some inside knowledge about this. I don't know that we're seeing more concussions I thinks that we're recognizing more concussions especially in places where no AT is present on a daily basis. Those of us long in the tooth can remember kids "getting their bell rung" and sitting on the sideline making us all laugh because he couldn't remember where he was. The only reason he didn't go back in the game was because he couldn't remember the plays. The NFL IMVHO has such a potential PR black eye brewing because of the way that they have dealt with concussions over the years that they have flooded the sports scene with information about concussion as well as spending mega-bucks to get legislation regarding concussions passed in all states, Kentucky included. You're now seeing concussions that would have gone undiagnosed 10 years ago being treated. There are still kids who don't let anyone know they've taken a head shot during activity because they don't want to sit. Their parents then notice concussion signs when they get home and get them evaluated. Because of the legislation coaches and officials are more vigilant for potential concussions. When you have potential legal implications if you allow a kid to continue playing you tend to see more.

 

 

AT speaks from experience and knowledge.

 

One of the challenges he listed was one the study I cited earlier listed as well. Kids now know that if they mention a potential head injury they MAY not get back into the game so they hide it. Second Concussion Impact Syndrome then becomes a scary potential hazard.

I just wish the media would talk about the % of kids, teens, adults who play and DON'T suffer any kind of head trauma vs. those that do. With that said, I can promise you that you aren't going to find more of a football fan who is in favor of ways to make this game safer, all while keeping everything that makes it so great.

 

I think somebody above posted that anywhere from 4-20% of all kids across the country suffer some type of head trauma over the course of the year. Well, why don't they state it as, " 80+% of all kids who play football will be head trauma free."? .

 

 

Do the math. If you have 50 kids on a roster the study says 2 to 10 of them will suffer some type of head trauma. That should be enough to catch our attention. Why do we need to say 40 to 48 will not? The potential of 10 should be what we're focusing on.

Do the math. If you have 50 kids on a roster the study says 2 to 10 of them will suffer some type of head trauma. That should be enough to catch our attention. Why do we need to say 40 to 48 will not? The potential of 10 should be what we're focusing on.

 

Here's some math. 38 of those kids will have a heart attack. Better back away from the McDonald's and bacon. Look millions of kids play football without incident. You can find an isolated incident in any situation. Statistics say you'll have 3 to 4 car accidents in your lifetime. Better stop driving. Do your homework, go watch a practice. If a coach practices football and not hitting then everyone out there is pretty safe. Are they completely safe no but they aren't in anything.

Here's some math. 38 of those kids will have a heart attack. Better back away from the McDonald's and bacon. Look millions of kids play football without incident. You can find an isolated incident in any situation. .

 

4 to 20% is not an "isolated incident."

Would I let my kids play football (although like some on here they are adults now so that is not a decision I have to make)? I would not let them play tackle football until middle or high school and then I would want to know several practices of how they teach kids and practice. This may sound mamby pamby to some, but tackle football should not be allowed until kids are 12-13. This is arbitrary, but just my initial thoughts. Kids can play touch or flag football until then and learn many of the concepts of the game. The skill positions would not be affected as much. Interior linemen skills would be delayed, as well as, skills in blocking and tackling. I know that blocking and tackling are fundamental to the game, however, I believe you have to be prudent. There is no way I will ever believe that long term head injuries are equal in many sports. There is not a more violent game that football and that is the Catch 22. The popularity is due to that. The other key point now is we do have research that supports the long term affect on a perectage of individuals. With that knowledge, more people and organizations have to make more informed decisions or you/insurance companies will literally pay through the legal system. As we all know, whether we like it or not some might face criminal charges with the knowledge from research that is out there. As an educator, I had no problem swatting kids for punishment in the 70's and early 80's and did, but had to quit due to legal reasons. It wasn't that I agreeed not to swat, I just was not going to jeopardize my career. You just cannot take the chance as an adult with football or with your kid any more. A bummer, but prudent.