Study: Tackle Football Before Age 12 Increases Brain Risks

[Sam A. Blitz]

In other news, locking your kids in their rooms drastically decreases their chances of getting hurt.

In all seriousness, it is an interesting study and makes a good point on brain development at a young age. I agree that tackle football is really unnecessary before junior high. Although, I do feel it is important for kids to learn technique tackling at a young age. I would argue that many concussions are the consequence of poor tackling technique...

Rugby is actually a good sport to get your kids into if they plan on playing football. Many high schools and college programs are teaching rugby style tackling as a safer and more effective form of tackling.

 

[Ursa Major]

I have never understood why tackle football needed to be started so early. Which is not to say that I kept my boys out of tackle football when it started for everyone else.

Part of the problem with football (and I assume other sports) is not just the big hit/concussion, it's the constant pounding of smaller hits. I know the ladder is a problem for lineman, especially NFL lineman. Don't know if people think lots of smaller hits are problems for younger kids.

Link to a new helmet: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/zero-1-football-helmet-helps-prevent-concussions/

Good thread PR. I'm a bit astonished with the posts here and it seems like most of us have evolved somewhat over the past few years. Hard to not ignore the growing evidence that is out there. It gets a lot more real if you have your own kid is out there. I feel like I received a lot from athletics as a teen. Especially football. That said, would I have not gotten the same if for example I had played flag football? I would have hated it but perhaps the lessons and values learned would have been the same.

 

[PlayerRep]

Here's a link to an article by a brain guy who allows his kid to play football. This provides a counterpoint, to the media coverage and media agenda on this subject. The article was posted in an email discussion group composed of many of the guys I played with at Dartmouth. This article came from an ortho surgeon who was the team doctor for Coastal when they came to Missoula a few years ago. Our email group has frequent discussions about football head injuries. The group was started years ago by one of our team captains who is now a lawyer in NYC. Good discussions and a fun way to keep in touch.

https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/im-brain-scientist-let-son-play-football-135727314.html

Credentials of the author of the article: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/anatneuro/our-people/faculty/peter-cummings-m-sc-m-d/

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

Intersting read thanks PR.
I see why parents are keeping kids away from football, however many other sports have a huge risk also.
The four worst concussions I have been associated with have been 2 soccer , 1 cheer and a bicycle accident. 3 of the kids had long lasting effects from their concussions.
I wonder what the future of football will look like in 10yrs?

My son played football for 7 yrs only sustained a badly broken wrist thank god. He has given it up this year his sophmore year to concentrate on B-ball and Golf. Maybe it will save him some issues down the road.

In my opinion...as long as poor inner city kids best route to huge financial payouts is football.....there will be football and kids playing football.

How many inner city kids play football, as opposed to basketball?

Football rosters are a lot bigger tho. I believe Basketball has the lowest percentage of going pro out of the main sports.

 

[PlayerRep]

Intersting read thanks PR.
I see why parents are keeping kids away from football, however many other sports have a huge risk also.
The four worst concussions I have been associated with have been 2 soccer , 1 cheer and a bicycle accident. 3 of the kids had long lasting effects from their concussions.
I wonder what the future of football will look like in 10yrs?

My son played football for 7 yrs only sustained a badly broken wrist thank god. He has given it up this year his sophmore year to concentrate on B-ball and Golf. Maybe it will save him some issues down the road.

In my opinion...as long as poor inner city kids best route to huge financial payouts is football.....there will be football and kids playing football.

How many inner city kids play football, as opposed to basketball?

Football rosters are a lot bigger tho. I believe Basketball has the lowest percentage of going pro out of the main sports.

Yes, understand and agree, but my impression has been that football has never been a big sport in the inner city. That was meant to be my main question.

 

[Skookum-Jim]

I have never understood why tackle football needed to be started so early. Which is not to say that I kept my boys out of tackle football when it started for everyone else.

Part of the problem with football (and I assume other sports) is not just the big hit/concussion, it's the constant pounding of smaller hits. I know the ladder is a problem for lineman, especially NFL lineman. Don't know if people think lots of smaller hits are problems for younger kids.

Link to a new helmet: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/zero-1-football-helmet-helps-prevent-concussions/

Reading this, I guess I was lucky to grow up in a small (class B) town where we had no youth football until HS. We played a lot of sandlot, but I never recall anyone taking a serious head hit - no equipment and mostly arm tackling. I took a knee to the noggin and was knocked out cold once as a HS junior and undoubtedly had a concussion as I was exhausted and rather ill that night. Of course only missed a couple plays; once the eyelids popped open with an ammonia capsule under the nose, back into the game. Hey, it was an important game.

Same with me, and I'm sure you have zero head problems now, and won't ever, at least due to football.

At least some people have a clue in this football nuts society we live in.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

In my opinion...as long as poor inner city kids best route to huge financial payouts is football.....there will be football and kids playing football.

How many inner city kids play football, as opposed to basketball?

Football rosters are a lot bigger tho. I believe Basketball has the lowest percentage of going pro out of the main sports.

Yes, understand and agree, but my impression has been that football has never been a big sport in the inner city. That was meant to be my main question.

Ahh I see, I think it depends on the region honestly.