Coaches look to future of football safety emphasis

Coaches look to future of football safety emphasis

 

Chief, what do you think the game will look like in 20 years? Is the game going to evolve into "flag football" with pads?

 

It is the nature of competition that each generation gets bigger, stronger, and faster, which means more and more momentum behind collisions. Safety precautions cannot change the physics behind these collisions. When I was a senior in HS, I was 6' "3 235 lbs playing OT. My son is a junior and is 6'4" 315 lbs. That is just one generation!

I had the privilege to attend the U.S. Army All-American Game this past season and seen some of the up and coming football technology they plan on using including a helmet that has things to keep track of brain waves,body heat, etc. Most of what I seen had to do with concussions and helmet to helmet contact including a helmet made of material that absorbs most of the shock can't remember the exact percentage.

Chief, what do you think the game will look like in 20 years? Is the game going to evolve into "flag football" with pads?

 

It is the nature of competition that each generation gets bigger, stronger, and faster, which means more and more momentum behind collisions. Safety precautions cannot change the physics behind these collisions. When I was a senior in HS, I was 6' "3 235 lbs playing OT. My son is a junior and is 6'4" 315 lbs. That is just one generation!

 

Some of the old guys may say we are already playing flag with pads.

 

I am optimistic that we will find ways to keep playing football. Even at the HS level, but maybe too expensive for all schools. I still believe that the positives far outweigh the negatives. The life lessons are great. And, I don't see much accountability for kids in alot of places these days. I would hate to see the HS football coach and program taken away from the kids- especially the ones that don't have a dad.

 

I do believe the game will continue to be less physical. And, clock management will be adjusted or quarters shortened. If anyone finds a way to conclusively connect injuries, especially catastrophic ones, to fast-paced, no huddle football- litigation will force changes.

 

Having said this, I have no concerns with my sons playing or encouraging all kids to play. In the big picture, they are still safer and better off in the long haul for the experience. But, the thousands of kids that play the game without incident don't generate interest or attention. I am not saying we should not do all we can to protect our kids. I am saying that those incidents are smaller in number than we realize. We had an earlier thread and I included AFCA statistics that showed the decrease in catastrophic injuries.

 

But, I don't take anything for granted. We as coaches need to be smart and vigilant in protecting our kids and doing what is right for their sake. Parents, state associations, the NFHS, even the players themselves need to make good decisions that will make players safer and allow us to continue playing the great game of football.

Some of the old guys may say we are already playing flag with pads.

 

I am optimistic that we will find ways to keep playing football. Even at the HS level, but maybe too expensive for all schools. I still believe that the positives far outweigh the negatives. The life lessons are great. And, I don't see much accountability for kids in alot of places these days. I would hate to see the HS football coach and program taken away from the kids- especially the ones that don't have a dad.

 

I do believe the game will continue to be less physical. And, clock management will be adjusted or quarters shortened. If anyone finds a way to conclusively connect injuries, especially catastrophic ones, to fast-paced, no huddle football- litigation will force changes.

 

Having said this, I have no concerns with my sons playing or encouraging all kids to play. In the big picture, they are still safer and better off in the long haul for the experience. But, the thousands of kids that play the game without incident don't generate interest or attention. I am not saying we should not do all we can to protect our kids. I am saying that those incidents are smaller in number than we realize. We had an earlier thread and I included AFCA statistics that showed the decrease in catastrophic injuries.

 

But, I don't take anything for granted. We as coaches need to be smart and vigilant in protecting our kids and doing what is right for their sake. Parents, state associations, the NFHS, even the players themselves need to make good decisions that will make players safer and allow us to continue playing the great game of football.

 

Coach, we agree that football teaches great life lessons. My great high school coach taught me accountability and the value of teamwork. Nothing in the proposed well-being of players will change or diminish those values in any way. Many areas have seen decreases in roster sizes and much of that is due to fear of injury by parents. IF we can eliminate some of that fear we MAY get more kids out for football who will learn the same lessons I learned and you learned.

My farther took me 30 some odd years ago and signed me up for football without my mother knowing it because she forbade it. We came home and told her, she was not happy, and she was even more unhappy when I told her I couldn't quit because she taught me to never quit what I started. There have always been parents not wanting their kids to play for fear of injury.