I think the "problem" with football is the same with all sports. In my day, kids played a variety of sports, got a lot of exercise in various muscle groups, and never considered playing inside. Today each sport is extremely competetive, forcing most kids to choose one sport early in his/her life. Coaches and parents push kids far harder than they did in my day. Unfortunately this leads to not only serious life-long injuries, but burn out. The end result for most kids is that it is not as much fun, feeling they are not good enough and/or potentially worn out body parts in their 20's-30's.

 

 

As someone who had been there, I would say, play whatever you want, have fun, but have some balance.

Wife has said absolutely not.

I have no problem with that position.

If it was something I felt passionate about and felt it was important for him to play, I would take up that battle.

Don't see the need when there are other sports that he can get the same life lessons.

What a bunch of weenies.

Just kidding (kind of).

 

Would we be having this discussion if three monster hits hadn't been delivered in NFL games within the space of a couple of hours the Sunday before last?

Just kidding (kind of).

 

Would we be having this discussion if three monster hits hadn't been delivered in NFL games within the space of a couple of hours the Sunday before last?

 

Yes. Did you see the SI article today about the high school kids in Indiana? I'll link it when I'm on my laptop, but this has been brewing. The thing that gets lost is as of now nobody is saying eliminate football like some people on here are portraying. It was a question of would you allow your kid to play.

Yes. Did you see the SI article today about the high school kids in Indiana? I'll link it when I'm on my laptop, but this has been brewing. The thing that gets lost is as of now nobody is saying eliminate football like some people on here are portraying. It was a question of would you allow your kid to play.

 

No, I get most of my sports news from BGP. But if you'll link it, I'll read it.:thumb:

 

What intrigues me is that there seem to be more than a few that have major problems with football; yet millions go watch car races to see crackups and watch MMA or UFC or whatever it's called to watch people beat each other to a bloody pulp.

 

I know - we're talking "your kids" here and so maybe I'm comparing apples to papayas, but you get my drift.

Just kidding (kind of).

 

Would we be having this discussion if three monster hits hadn't been delivered in NFL games within the space of a couple of hours the Sunday before last?

I would have. I posted Gladwell's NYT article on concussions awhile back.

No, I get most of my sports news from BGP. But if you'll link it, I'll read it.:thumb:

 

What intrigues me is that there seem to be more than a few that have major problems with football; yet millions go watch car races to see crackups and watch MMA or UFC or whatever it's called to watch people beat each other to a bloody pulp.

 

I know - we're talking "your kids" here and so maybe I'm comparing apples to papayas, but you get my drift.

 

I'll find the link tomorrow. I didn't have any luck just now.

 

There's a huge difference. I'll let my kids watch football, MMA, and Nascar if they want. I won't let them fight MMA or drive a race car though

I was at a Children's Hospital event a few years back and the Dr. speaking said they see more injuries from soccer than any other sport.

 

Of course. If you get hurt in football you just play through it. :lol:

No, I get most of my sports news from BGP. But if you'll link it, I'll read it.:thumb:

 

What intrigues me is that there seem to be more than a few that have major problems with football; yet millions go watch car races to see crackups and watch MMA or UFC or whatever it's called to watch people beat each other to a bloody pulp.

 

I know - we're talking "your kids" here and so maybe I'm comparing apples to papayas, but you get my drift.

The main issue I have is with head trauma and other debillitating issues, i.e former football players having issues walking. I don't follow NASCAR at all so I would be an idiot to try and discuss it. As a former wrestler I have no issues with any of my kids, nephews, little brother wrestling. But wrestling itself has had to work on some ugly issues mainly associated with weight cutting. Thankfully the sport has been proactive on dealing with them. As far as MMA is concerned, I feel at a young age fighting competitively would not be something I'd be for. But I would have no issues with training MMA. Kids have been getting karate lessons for years with no issues I know of.

 

I think a lot of posters are trying to group all issues into one basket when there is actually only a small group of I injuries I'm referring to. Those issues are what's troublesome with football in my mind.

I don't have a link, but the Indiana Study is being conducted at Lafayette Jeff HS by Purdue. They are measuring the force of a hit during games with technology in the helmits. They are finding changes in the brain on scan after hits that do not cause concussion symptoms. To soon for long term findings. I think this will lead to helmit changes.

BTW. My boys played and one is a coach. I would let them again.

The main issue I have is with head trauma and other debillitating issues, i.e former football players having issues walking. I don't follow NASCAR at all so I would be an idiot to try and discuss it. As a former wrestler I have no issues with any of my kids, nephews, little brother wrestling. But wrestling itself has had to work on some ugly issues mainly associated with weight cutting. Thankfully the sport has been proactive on dealing with them. As far as MMA is concerned, I feel at a young age fighting competitively would not be something I'd be for. But I would have no issues with training MMA. Kids have been getting karate lessons for years with no issues I know of.

 

I think a lot of posters are trying to group all issues into one basket when there is actually only a small group of I injuries I'm referring to. Those issues are what's troublesome with football in my mind.

 

My high-school sport.:thumb:

The main issue I have is with head trauma and other debillitating issues, i.e former football players having issues walking. I don't follow NASCAR at all so I would be an idiot to try and discuss it. As a former wrestler I have no issues with any of my kids, nephews, little brother wrestling. But wrestling itself has had to work on some ugly issues mainly associated with weight cutting. Thankfully the sport has been proactive on dealing with them. As far as MMA is concerned, I feel at a young age fighting competitively would not be something I'd be for. But I would have no issues with training MMA. Kids have been getting karate lessons for years with no issues I know of.

 

I think a lot of posters are trying to group all issues into one basket when there is actually only a small group of I injuries I'm referring to. Those issues are what's troublesome with football in my mind.

 

The part about players having touble walking...that is almost always NFL players.

 

To the people who say no, refusing to let a little kid play football is just crazy to me. You have to take the bubble wrap off the kids sometimes. I promise if they don't like it, then they will probably quit. But if they like it, then you are taking away one of the best/most fun/exciting experiences or your kids childhood.

 

Don't take life to seriously, you'll never get out alive

http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1112/mainpageS1112P0.html

 

Basketball - In 1998, nearly 200,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries. The majority of the injured persons (70 percent) were boys.

 

Baseball and softball - Nearly 117,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries, and nearly 26,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated for softball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children and adolescents ages five to 14, with three to four persons dying from baseball injuries each year.

 

Bicycling - In 1998, more than 320,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. In addition, 225 children and adolescents ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes in 1997.

 

Football - In 1998, more than 159,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.

 

Gymnastics - In 1998, nearly 25,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for gymnastics-related injuries. Among girls' sports, gymnastics has one of the highest injury rates, increasing with the level of competition.

 

Ice Hockey - According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, over 18,000 young people under the age of 18 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries in 2001-2002.

 

Ice Skating - Nearly 10,600 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.

 

In-line skating/roller skating - More than 38,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for roller-skating-related injuries.

 

Skateboarding - In 1998, more than 27,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.

 

Sledding - In 1998, nearly 8,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.

 

Snow skiing/snowboarding - More than 29,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. Another 9,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snowboarding-related injuries.

 

Soccer - In 1998, more than 77,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.

 

Trampolines - Nearly 80,000 children ages five and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5538a1.htm

 

An estimated 1,442,533 injuries occurred among U.S. high school student athletes participating in practices or competitions for the nine sports studied. The overall (i.e., practice and competition) injury rate in all sports combined was 2.44 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures (Table). Football had the highest injury rate (4.36 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures) followed by wrestling (2.50), boys' (2.43) and girls' (2.36) soccer, and girls' basketball (2.01). Boys' basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball each had injury rates of less than 2.0 injuries per 1,000 athlete exposures. In each sport, the injury rate was higher in competition than practice settings. Although boys' soccer had slightly higher injury rates than girls' soccer, and girls' basketball had slightly higher injury rates than boys' basketball, no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) by sex were observed for soccer and basketball.