It's 2017 Youth football Yay or Nay

[shotsup 830]

With these new CTE results there is a huge debate on sports radio do you let your kids play youth full contact Football.

 

Most of us are old and kids older now but given these new studies do you let your kids play football ?

 

How does this effect the future of football if at all ??

 

Discuss.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Ed already has a thread on it. I gave my comments there.

[shotsup 830]

[kutulu 1,541]

Did you hit your head

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on the moon

[shotsup 830]

Yeah yeah yeah I thought I was contributing something- Eds was on page 2. I haven't looked at page two in years.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I wouldn't. Not just the cte. How many guys do you know in real life walking around with focked up knees from high school football?

 

Hell, a kid on our team got paralyzed in game.

 

It's just not worth all the risk. Especially as any kid with my genes ain't gonna get a dime from it anyway.

[Mike Honcho 3,999]

Pretty sure I'm too old, but if not, I'll dominate those 8 year olds!

[tubby_mcgee 685]

I assume the cte issues are from NFLesqe hits, repeatedly. My kid won't play in the NFL... )although he dominates like a man among boys at his level)... so I'm not concerned at this point. 2 concussions or one major one tho... from the now til senior in h.s....he is done. It's his "2nd sport" so it's not worth the risk.

[vuduchile 1,940]

At ages 7&9, my kids will stay with flag for at least a few more years.

 

If they really want to play at middle school age, they can give it a shot at that time.

[cyclone24 1,790]

I assume the cte issues are from NFLesqe hits, repeatedly. My kid won't play in the NFL... )although he dominates like a man among boys at his level)... so I'm not concerned at this point. 2 concussions or one major one tho... from the now til senior in h.s....he is done. It's his "2nd sport" so it's not worth the risk.

Right but they don't just suddenly get CTE in the NFL. It piles up over middle, high school, and college first......we just don't research the lower levels once kids stop playing at higher levels.

[tanatastic 2,061]

Yea steer them towards basketball, soccer or baseball instead.

[Reality 2,710]

No longer worth the risk, my kid quit playing in the seventh grade, mutual decision. He'll be a freshman this year.

 

He runs track and plays basketball though, both at a high level. The decision would be tougher if football was his only physical activity. I think a kid needs to stay active.

[vuduchile 1,940]

My dad used to get p!ssed if I rode my friend's dirt bikes. He also hated it when I asked for a skateboard for Christmas.

In his mind, those activities were far too dangerous.

 

But when it came to football, he had no qualms about me playing because football was his sport growing up.

 

When I was a freshman in HS, he convinced me to stop playing hoops and baseball so I could concentrate on football year round. Looking back, I wish I hadn't.

 

I never broke a bone. But, I had my bell rung countless times, had 3 actual concussions, my shoulder and neck have some sorta nerve damage, and some days my ankles and knees feel like their held together with scotch tape and dentyne.

 

I'm a huge fan of the NFL and I love watching the local HS team. But, I won't be heartbroken if my sons never play.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I only played basketball in HS and I have ankle issues (bone chips are great).

 

I think that each parent has to make their own decisions. The facts are that we really don't know much about CTE and what causes it. More research is needed.

 

Some good points being made that should be reinforced:

- Kids need to be active

- play more than one sport

 

I gave my views in the other thread, but the youth game is very different than it was before. One thing we do know is that a kid with a concussion is a serious thing and we cannot have people with concussions going back to sporting activities without proper healing. Regardless of sport, you need to err on the side of caution with kids in those situations.

 

Do kids get hurt playing football? Absolutely, there are injuries just like there are injuries in other sports. We have had concussions and broken bones with both happening while playing football and during the offseason with other activities or general horseplay. For my son and the kids on his team, the benefits of playing youth football have far outweighed the risks.

[Reality 2,710]

I only played basketball in HS and I have ankle issues (bone chips are great).

 

I think that each parent has to make their own decisions. The facts are that we really don't know much about CTE and what causes it. More research is needed.

 

Some good points being made that should be reinforced:

- Kids need to be active

- play more than one sport

 

I gave my views in the other thread, but the youth game is very different than it was before. One thing we do know is that a kid with a concussion is a serious thing and we cannot have people with concussions going back to sporting activities without proper healing. Regardless of sport, you need to err on the side of caution with kids in those situations.

 

Do kids get hurt playing football? Absolutely, there are injuries just like there are injuries in other sports. We have had concussions and broken bones with both happening while playing football and during the offseason with other activities or general horseplay. For my son and the kids on his team, the benefits of playing youth football have far outweighed the risks.

 

 

I played basketball at a relatively high level into my early 20's in college, my ankles are trash. Several high ankle sprains, would have been better off breaking the ankle...

 

Definitely not limited to football.

[shotsup 830]

Son had a concussion and now susceptible to migraines. Related ?? Don't know. Even his numerologist won't commit to it being related.

But you don't mess with brain injuries. Not worth it. Especially knowing he was not going to be a NFL player.

[vuduchile 1,940]

 

 

I played basketball at a relatively high level into my early 20's in college, my ankles are trash. Several high ankle sprains, would have been better off breaking the ankle...

 

Definitely not limited to football.

Good point. My knees and and ankles can't take the pounding to play hoops at all. I hit the wall with that about 5 years ago.

[shotsup 830]

 

I gave my views in the other thread,.

I thought you weren't going to post in my thread liar. Do I have to rename you digby##s ??

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I thought you weren't going to post in my thread liar. Do I have to rename you digby##s ??

When did I type that I wouldn't post here? I only was telling you that there was a moon landing

[Voltaire 4,550]

Let the kids play if that's what they want to. Sports are good exercise and good for learning cooperation and strategy. I will encourage my kids to play, I'll let them choose, and won't be saying 'no' to any of them. If their mother has a problem, I'll stand up for the kid.

[cyclone24 1,790]

I have all girls I think mainly because between the years of 96 to 99 I banged the whole town of Ames Iowa in college and this is my penance.

Anyway...i can't see me allowing boys if I had them to play football. Knowing the limited that we know now and more that will come in the next 10 to 15 years.

In my opinion this isn't pussification where you just don't want Little Johnny to get hurt. This is more like I don't want your brain to be scrambled so you kill yourself when you're forty.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I have all girls I think mainly because between the years of 96 to 99 I banged the whole town of Ames Iowa in college and this is my penance.

Anyway...i can't see me allowing boys if I had them to play football. Knowing the limited that we know now and more that will come in the next 10 to 15 years.

In my opinion this isn't pussification where you just don't want Little Johnny to get hurt. This is more like I don't want your brain to be scrambled so you kill yourself when you're forty.

I guess I missed the epidemic of guys killing themselves at age 40 from playing youth football.

[Bier Meister 1,512]

I have all girls I think mainly because between the years of 96 to 99 I banged the whole town of Ames Iowa in college and this is my penance.

Anyway...i can't see me allowing boys if I had them to play football. Knowing the limited that we know now and more that will come in the next 10 to 15 years.

In my opinion this isn't pussification where you just don't want Little Johnny to get hurt. This is more like I don't want your brain to be scrambled so you kill yourself when you're forty.

 

i have 1 daughter, but this would be my stance if i had a son. i mostly enjoy watching, and when i was younger playing, football (recreational). the risk for head injury would be my deterrent.

[vuduchile 1,940]

This study shows playing tackle before age 12 is a bad idea.

 

Again, a very small group, but I believe we'll continue to see more of these results in the coming years.

 

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/sports/football/tackle-football-brain-youth.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

[listen2me 23 1,529]

Have this talk with them senior year if they are good enough to play college.

 

With the new rules and media rage football is and will be much more safe. All these old guys ran into eachother every day head on and it was viewed as normal. Getting your bell rung was routine in practice.

 

If they are good enough to play at a higher level then weigh the options.

 

For now let them run around and have fun.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

This study shows playing tackle before age 12 is a bad idea.

 

Again, a very small group, but I believe we'll continue to see more of these results in the coming years.

 

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/sports/football/tackle-football-brain-youth.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

It is another flawed study for a variety of reasons. Here are some off the top of my head:

- Individuals averaged 51 years of age, so it did not take into account players playing under current rules and conditions

- Individuals volunteered for the study. This is similar to the study of NFL players where people with problems sought out being part of the study

- interviews were done online and over the phone. No actual review of the individual was done

- individuals played only football and no other sports. This can be good for separating pools, but it causes the pool to be skewed towards players who did not have access to other sports.

- study was performed by Dr. McKee whose career is essentially buoyed by the existence of CTE and that football is a key component

 

It is odd that we have so many kids who have been playing football for a long time (millions every year) and yet we do not see that a high predominance of these kids end up in the situations that are described in the study.

 

Here is a take from a brain scientist on why he lets his son play football (same University as Dr. McKee, BTW):

 

http://footballscoop.com/news/brain-scientist-explains-hes-letting-son-play-football/

There’s a common strain of thought out there that football is dying. And that thought is based on one assumption: Following the (horrifying) stories of former NFL players shooting themselves in the chest to preserve their brain for posthumous study, and subsequent studies that find signs of CTE in 110 of 111 former NFL brains, the game will collapse in on itself from the ground floor up, beginning with middle- and upper-class parents no longer allowing their sons to participate.

 

And while possibility should not be dismissed, it shouldn’t be taken as gospel, either. One person who doesn’t believe football is as dangerous as some fear — and who has the knowledge to know better — is Dr. Peter Cummings. Described as a “board certified in anatomic pathology, neuropathology and forensic pathology” on his Boston University bio page, Cummings posted an essay explaining why he allowed his 11-year-old son to play football in an essay for Yahoo Sports.

ETA: We do need to do more studies to find out what is causing CTE and to see if the game of football can be played either more safely or should be played at all. Until then, the notion that kids should not play football is over-reaching and will result in even more couch potatoes.

[parrot 789]

 

It is another flawed study for a variety of reasons. Here are some off the top of my head:

- Individuals averaged 51 years of age, so it did not take into account players playing under current rules and conditions

- Individuals volunteered for the study. This is similar to the study of NFL players where people with problems sought out being part of the study

- interviews were done online and over the phone. No actual review of the individual was done

- individuals played only football and no other sports. This can be good for separating pools, but it causes the pool to be skewed towards players who did not have access to other sports.

- study was performed by Dr. McKee whose career is essentially buoyed by the existence of CTE and that football is a key component

 

It is odd that we have so many kids who have been playing football for a long time (millions every year) and yet we do not see that a high predominance of these kids end up in the situations that are described in the study.

 

Here is a take from a brain scientist on why he lets his son play football (same University as Dr. McKee, BTW):

 

http://footballscoop.com/news/brain-scientist-explains-hes-letting-son-play-football/

 

ETA: We do need to do more studies to find out what is causing CTE and to see if the game of football can be played either more safely or should be played at all. Until then, the notion that kids should not play football is over-reaching and will result in even more couch potatoes.

 

 

Interesting article. I was just coming to link it. Saw it earlier on the FB feed of my buddy who is a high school science teacher and football coach. Classic case of selection bias.

[parrot 789]

 

i have 1 daughter, but this would be my stance if i had a son. i mostly enjoy watching, and when i was younger playing, football (recreational). the risk for head injury would be my deterrent.

Will you let your girls play soccer? Girls soccer has a concussion rate higher than football.

[Bier Meister 1,512]

Will you let your girls play soccer? Girls soccer has a concussion rate higher than football.

 

 

i would have let her, but she did not want to play soccer after 1st grade. she plays lacrosse and volleyball

[parrot 789]

 

 

i would have let her, but she did not want to play soccer after 1st grade. she plays lacrosse and volleyball

Concussions are pretty common in lacrosse too. Are helmets standard in girls' lacrosse these days?

[Bier Meister 1,512]

Concussions are pretty common in lacrosse too. Are helmets standard in girls' lacrosse these days?

 

 

concussions are prevalent in lacrosse, more so in men's than women's. there is conflicting research regarding how protective helmets are in preventing concussions. our league has been debating enforcing mandatory helmets. biggest argument against i that aggression increases when the helmets are present.

[drobeski 3,061]

I say do it, it may knock out some of the indoctrination of idiocy forced into there skulls during school each day.

[parrot 789]

 

 

concussions are prevalent in lacrosse, more so in men's than women's. there is conflicting research regarding how protective helmets are in preventing concussions. our league has been debating enforcing mandatory helmets. biggest argument against i that aggression increases when the helmets are present.

 

That's a good point.

[Bier Meister 1,512]

 

That's a good point.

 

 

even at our age group (U12) the girls control their sticks pretty well- somewhere GF is losing his chit. you see some occasional tomahawks but it's rare.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

 

 

even at our age group (U12) the girls control their sticks pretty well- somewhere GF is losing his chit. you see some occasional tomahawks but it's rare.

I believe that there has been an increase in hockey injuries as a result of the full cages AND the football style shoulder pads.