TOTALLY GEEKED!

Chris Branch · Guru

While the dangers of concussions and head injuries for NFL players has generated plenty of conversation and litigation in recent years, professional athletes are far from the only ones at risk. Dr. Robert Cantu, author of "Concussions and our Kids," joined HuffPost Live on Wednesday to discuss the risks facing young athletes and to attempt to answer the question, how young is too young to be playing football?

"The research says that the young brain, the developing brain, is particularly vulnerable to trauma compared with an adult brain," Dr. Robert Cantu, author of "Concussions and our Kids," told host Marc Lamont Hill. "There are multiple studies that show the younger brain trauma is taken, the greater chance for later-life problems with both behavioral, mood and cognitive difficulties."

Cantu clarified later that flag-football would be a better option, though that likely has little chance of happening in most parts of the country. Cantu said that children 13 and under, from a medical standpoint, probably shouldn't be allowed to play tackle football.

"This all has to be balanced, though, by the fact that we want youngsters playing sports. I certainly want youngsters playing sports. I just want them playing football using the flag variety under the age of 14. Then, when they're in high school, pick up the tackle techniques."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/18/youth-football-concussions_n_6344128.html?cps=gravity_3914_-4295583171115665504

TrudyML · Guru

I watched a marathon of Friday Night Tykes yesterday. Anyone see that show? Football in TX. Yikes. Out of control. 8yo hitting away.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

TrudyML wrote:
I watched a marathon of Friday Night Tykes yesterday. Anyone see that show? Football in TX. Yikes. Out of control. 8yo hitting away.

They probably start them at 6 months...

flan

TrudyML · Guru

I swear they do. Hard hitting, not allowed to cry. Screaming, swearing. I was not able to turn away.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

TrudyML wrote:
I swear they do. Hard hitting, not allowed to cry. Screaming, swearing. I was not able to turn away.

I would have thrown something at the TV.

flan

TrudyML · Guru

I was just amazed.

FNW · Guru

That's horrible.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

With what we know, if I had boys there is no way I would let them play football. I also wouldn't let them box. There are other ways to enjoy sports and stay fit.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

In utero. That is too young.

Most of the first few years of football, I think it is 6 when they can start, is flag football. They learn the basics.

Then they learn to play.

If you are a person who enjoys football, then you understand those players are not born great. They become great. Those awesome players you all like to watch were playing football at 6 and 8 and 10 and they were hitting hard cause that is how you take down the opponent.

It's football. It isn't tea parties.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lily, we understand what it takes to become an elite football player. For me, I wouldn't want my son's brain turned to playdoh so he could play. At any level.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

So don't wear your seatbelt, don't use car seats, don't use sunscreen and don't look both ways before crossing the street. None of those are necessary either. But we choose to do certain things to mitigate the risk of something terrible happening. As a parent it is my job to remove the things that pose a risk to my child. I am not saying wrap them in bubble wrap. I am saying don't let them play a sport that results in freaking brain damage! There is a difference between helicopter parenting and reckless parenting. It isn't all or nothing.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.

1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?

2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.

flan

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Flan wins the internet today !

huskerbb · Guru

Age is pretty much irrelevant on the "young" side.

The chances of a 10 year old hitting hard enough to cause a concussion is FAR less than a 16 year old. The chances of a concussion would dramatically INCREASE as they got older. I'm sure it's happened--but it certainly isn't common. Even in junior high football most kids don't hit that hard.

Starting them young--and teaching proper tackling techniques might actually reduce their chance of getting them later.

This issue is overblown, anyway. Sure, people have had serious repercussions from concussions due to football--but these were players who made it to the highest level and sustained DOZENS of concussions over a period of two decades or more.

Most kids, even if they start at 6 or 8 years old will be done by the time they are 18, anyway.

They are FAR more likely to have serious issues with their knees than their head.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan

Not very at the level discussed.

Blankie · Guru

Why can't they just play flag football while they are young?

There's no need to do the full tackle stuff until they are older.

huskerbb · Guru

The weenieing of American children.

Blankie · Guru

DS played football in 8th grade. I'll never forget his first game. They went through 3 ambulances.

The first play of the game a kid broke his arm. Then another player injury, I don't remember how serious.

The third ambulance was because the announcer had a heart attack.

huskerbb · Guru

Blankie wrote:
DS played football in 8th grade. I'll never forget his first game. They went through 3 ambulances.
The first play of the game a kid broke his arm. Then another player injury, I don't remember how serious.
The third ambulance was because the announcer had a heart attack.

Exactly. They are more likely to experience another injury than a concussion. It's really a non-issue at that level.

It's not even all that common in high school. I coached for 6 years. We probably had half a dozen serious concussions during that time that required missing playing time. We had WAY more knee and ankle injuries.

ed11563 · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
Blankie wrote:
DS played football in 8th grade. I'll never forget his first game. They went through 3 ambulances.
The first play of the game a kid broke his arm. Then another player injury, I don't remember how serious.
The third ambulance was because the announcer had a heart attack.
Exactly. They are more likely to experience another injury than a concussion. It's really a non-issue at that level.

It's not even all that common in high school. I coached for 6 years. We probably had half a dozen serious concussions during that time that required missing playing time. We had WAY more knee and ankle injuries.

The big problem with these arguments is,

the brain damage is cumulative, and not easily recognized right away.

And people do not actually recover from it.

"We probably had half a dozen serious concussions"

How many concussions occurred that weren't recognized, but had long-term consequences? You have NO WAY of knowing.

When the consequences include problems with short-term memory, difficulty figuring things out, and behavior / violence issues six months or a year or five years later,

as their coach, how would you know?

Are some former football players violent bullies because they started that way and that made them good football players? Or did repeated concussions have the cumulative effect of making them compensate for brain issues?

WYSIWYG · Guru

For me, I'd say "too young" isn't specifically about an age, it's more about a physical development state. Some kids reach that state at 6 to 8 years old, others may not reach it until 10 to 12 years old. Some may never reach it.

The important thing to me would be to have boys of a specific size on the field against other boys of roughly the same size. Maybe group the teams by height, into 4'0" to 4'4", 4'4" to 4'8", 4'8" to 5'0", and so fourth. Or maybe do it by weight class, like boxing is done.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

huskerbb wrote:
The weenieing of American children.

My son played high school football. He was a tight end , center and lineman through the years. He played special teams. He had 5 sacks one gane. And was great at tackling. He broke his arm in 10 th grade 11 th grade blew out his left knee and 12 th grade his right knee. He LOVED playing. In retrospect it wasnt worth it. I am sorry i didnt make him quit in 10 thgrade.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan

A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.

And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Mellow Momma wrote:
Flan wins the internet today !

What win?

How does one "win the internet"?

huskerbb · Guru

ed11563 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Blankie wrote:
DS played football in 8th grade. I'll never forget his first game. They went through 3 ambulances.
The first play of the game a kid broke his arm. Then another player injury, I don't remember how serious.
The third ambulance was because the announcer had a heart attack.
Exactly. They are more likely to experience another injury than a concussion. It's really a non-issue at that level.

It's not even all that common in high school. I coached for 6 years. We probably had half a dozen serious concussions during that time that required missing playing time. We had WAY more knee and ankle injuries.
The big problem with these arguments is,
the brain damage is cumulative, and not easily recognized right away.
And people do not actually recover from it.
"We probably had half a dozen serious concussions"

How many concussions occurred that weren't recognized, but had long-term consequences? You have NO WAY of knowing.
When the consequences include problems with short-term memory, difficulty figuring things out, and behavior / violence issues six months or a year or five years later,
as their coach, how would you know?

Are some former football players violent bullies because they started that way and that made them good football players? Or did repeated concussions have the cumulative effect of making them compensate for brain issues?

You are dead wrong. ANY and EVERY study ever done on this issue has studied those who played either professionally, or at least in college. They had MANY more years of cumulative effects than just high school players.

There is ZERO evidence to support the notion that except in the rarest of circumstances that high school players suffer long term effects from playing football.

On the other hand, there are MANY cases of high school kids--especially girls--tearing ACL's and having other injuries that require surgery and do often have long term effects.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
The weenieing of American children.
My son played high school football. He was a tight end , center and lineman through the years. He played special teams. He had 5 sacks one gane. And was great at tackling. He broke his arm in 10 th grade 11 th grade blew out his left knee and 12 th grade his right knee. He LOVED playing. In retrospect it wasnt worth it. I am sorry i didnt make him quit in 10 thgrade.

He would have hated you for it.

However, you are making my point. The problem isn't with pee wee league teams where serious injuries are RARE, or with concussions--which don't have the type of cumulative effect at that level that people are so paranoid about.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan
A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.
And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

Not if they're wearing a helmet.

Know what's really "ridiculous?" The visual of being tube fed in a rubber room.

flan

FNW · Guru

My son, age 6, suffered a concussion playing kickball on the driveway a couple months ago. Now that he is back to full activities, he plays football during recess at school. I believe it's flag, but tackling still occurs. Because that's what they do. I don't like it, but what can I do. Just hope and pray he doesn't get hurt. Sure, I could instruct the teachers to make him sit recess out, but I did that while he was recovering from his concussion. He was sent to the front office with a bin of legos to play with. I don't know what was worse, the idea of his concussion, or knowing he was singled out and made to play alone with a bunch of blocks while his brother and friends ran free in the field.

What I hate more than the sport itself is the parent who forces their child to play (any sport) in order to fulfill some of their own lost childhood dream.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

There are not necessarily more concussions in football. Soccer is a big culprit for concussions. Purposefully hitting a ball off of your head has always seemed strange to me. I just never could get the logic in that. And, my son got a concussion playing basketball when he got mauled on a break away layup. So, you can't single out football in that regard.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan
A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.
And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

Not if they're wearing a helmet.
Know what's really "ridiculous?" The visual of being tube fed in a rubber room.
flan

Which doesn't happen from playing pee wee football. Quit being absurd.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan
A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.
And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

Not if they're wearing a helmet.
Know what's really "ridiculous?" The visual of being tube fed in a rubber room.
flan
Which doesn't happen from playing pee wee football. Quit being absurd.

I think I'll continue being logical.

flan

huskerbb · Guru

There is NO MORE RISK to playing football that most other sports. Girls' basketball is notorious for girls tearing their ACL's. Kids get concussions from soccer. Ever get popped in the face by a baseball or softball pitch or a line drive?

Even running is not without risk of tendon or joint injuries.

Plus, as you go down from the high school level, the risk of injuries gets FAR less as the players get much smaller, weaker, and less skillful.

If we are TRULY concerned about the risk of kids getting hurt or even killed by an activity they will engage in--then don't let them drive. That is on the order of THOUSANDS of times more risky than playing sports of any kind.

If you let your kid drive, then don't even pretend you care about this. You have lost all credibility.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan
A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.
And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

Not if they're wearing a helmet.
Know what's really "ridiculous?" The visual of being tube fed in a rubber room.
flan
Which doesn't happen from playing pee wee football. Quit being absurd.
I think I'll continue being logical.
flan

You haven't been. You can't even show that there is the risk you claim.

huskerbb · Guru

People need to actually read the article.

The article does NOT say that there is a high risk of such injuries by playing pee wee football. It doesn't even attempt to do so. Why? Because they can't even find anecdotal evidence that is true. It just doesn't happen with any frequency at all.

The cannot demonstrate that children who play pee wee football have any higher rate of such brain injuries as kids who play other sports--or kids who don't play sports at all.

It is paranoia at its finest--and people can't even be bothered to read the article to see what it does and does not say.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

huskerbb wrote:
People need to actually read the article.

The article does NOT say that there is a high risk of such injuries by playing pee wee football. It doesn't even attempt to do so. Why? Because they can't even find anecdotal evidence that is true. It just doesn't happen with any frequency at all.

The cannot demonstrate that children who play pee wee football have any higher rate of such brain injuries as kids who play other sports--or kids who don't play sports at all.

It is paranoia at its finest--and people can't even be bothered to read the article to see what it does and does not say.

Are we talking about THIS article?

"The research says that the young brain, the developing brain, is particularly vulnerable to trauma compared with an adult brain," Dr. Robert Cantu, author of "Concussions and our Kids," told host Marc Lamont Hill. "There are multiple studies that show the younger brain trauma is taken, the greater chance for later-life problems with both behavioral, mood and cognitive difficulties."

Cantu clarified later that flag-football would be a better option, though that likely has little chance of happening in most parts of the country. Cantu said that children 13 and under, from a medical standpoint, probably shouldn't be allowed to play tackle football.

"This all has to be balanced, though, by the fact that we want youngsters playing sports. I certainly want youngsters playing sports. I just want them playing football using the flag variety under the age of 14. Then, when they're in high school, pick up the tackle techniques."

flan

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
People need to actually read the article.

The article does NOT say that there is a high risk of such injuries by playing pee wee football. It doesn't even attempt to do so. Why? Because they can't even find anecdotal evidence that is true. It just doesn't happen with any frequency at all.

The cannot demonstrate that children who play pee wee football have any higher rate of such brain injuries as kids who play other sports--or kids who don't play sports at all.

It is paranoia at its finest--and people can't even be bothered to read the article to see what it does and does not say.
Are we talking about THIS article?
"The research says that the young brain, the developing brain, is particularly vulnerable to trauma compared with an adult brain," Dr. Robert Cantu, author of "Concussions and our Kids," told host Marc Lamont Hill. "There are multiple studies that show the younger brain trauma is taken, the greater chance for later-life problems with both behavioral, mood and cognitive difficulties."
Cantu clarified later that flag-football would be a better option, though that likely has little chance of happening in most parts of the country. Cantu said that children 13 and under, from a medical standpoint, probably shouldn't be allowed to play tackle football.
"This all has to be balanced, though, by the fact that we want youngsters playing sports. I certainly want youngsters playing sports. I just want them playing football using the flag variety under the age of 14. Then, when they're in high school, pick up the tackle techniques."
flan

Yes. NOWHERE in that article does it say that kids who play football at any level have a higher risk of such injuries. NOWHERE.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
MM, I understand that is a possibility but it a certain. There are lots of ways a person can get hurt. A concussion can happen with even a slight bump on the head. It could happen in regular play time.

If a kid wants to play. I don't see why they shouldn't.

But I understand those who don't want to and those who don't want their kids to play.

But if we take away everything that poses a danger of some something going wrong, we are going to end up in a rubber room being tube fed.

Life is an unknown.
1> But how much MORE likely is a brain injury to happen in FOOTBALL?
2> Nope...this is where common sense comes in. So...if YOU want your kids to play dodgeball with grenades and juggle chainsaws, go for it. Just don't expect us not to roll our eyes.
flan
A brain injury is more likely to happen riding their bike.
And the comparison of grenades and chainsaws is just ridiculous.

Not if they're wearing a helmet.
Know what's really "ridiculous?" The visual of being tube fed in a rubber room.
flan

Um, you do realize that they wear a helmet in tackle football, right?

Again, you can point to NOTHING to back up what you say. You have ZERO evidence to show that playing tackle football is more likely to result in such injuries than riding a bike. ZERO.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

husker, LILY is the one who brought up riding a bike.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Yes I did.

I brought it up to say that a concussion is just as likely if not more likely than playing football.

I brought up the rubber room too. Cause if you want kids to be completely safe without any risk what so ever, they would have to live in one.

There is nothing wrong with a kid playing football.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
Yes I did.

I brought it up to say that a concussion is just as likely if not more likely than playing football.

I brought up the rubber room too. Cause if you want kids to be completely safe without any risk what so ever, they would have to live in one.

There is nothing wrong with a kid playing football.

When did anyone say that kids should be "completely safe?" But as a parent, we should be using common sense...that is why we put baby-proof locks on cabinets, for example.

For me, it depends on the age of the child. The TV show that Trudy mentioned sounded sickening.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Did your boys play football?

Mine did for a while.

What she watched is no different than that Toddlers and Tiara that was on for a while.

It only showed the down side. The crazy side.

Kids learn a lot from competitive team sports.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
Did your boys play football?

Mine did for a while.

What she watched is no different than that Toddlers and Tiara that was on for a while.

It only showed the down side. The crazy side.

Kids learn a lot from competitive team sports.

One did, but that was in HIGH SCHOOL, not at 8 years old.

What kids learn from sports depends a lot on the coach.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

He didn't play until high school? Either the team really needed to bump up it's numbers or he was just the one in a hundred to be good enough without prior playing time to win a spot.

He did have to try out for it I am assuming.

And a lot of what kids learn from sports depends on the parents.

Most coaches are parents.

At 8, the kids are just learning to tackle. And they are just plain falling on each other ore than actually hitting.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
husker, LILY is the one who brought up riding a bike.

flan

I know--and you are the one who is disputing that they can be hurt in this manner just as easily, or even more so, than by playing football--with ZERO evidence to back up your assertion.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Did your boys play football?

Mine did for a while.

What she watched is no different than that Toddlers and Tiara that was on for a while.

It only showed the down side. The crazy side.

Kids learn a lot from competitive team sports.

One did, but that was in HIGH SCHOOL, not at 8 years old.
What kids learn from sports depends a lot on the coach.
flan

And that's ridiculous. They would be FAR more likely to be seriously hurt in high school than at 8 years old. If your concern is injury, and specifically injury from concussions, then you failed here.

huskerbb · Guru

flan327 wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Yes I did.

I brought it up to say that a concussion is just as likely if not more likely than playing football.

I brought up the rubber room too. Cause if you want kids to be completely safe without any risk what so ever, they would have to live in one.

There is nothing wrong with a kid playing football.

When did anyone say that kids should be "completely safe?" But as a parent, we should be using common sense...that is why we put baby-proof locks on cabinets, for example.
For me, it depends on the age of the child. The TV show that Trudy mentioned sounded sickening.
flan

And as they get older, bigger, and stronger--as well as their opponents--the chances of injury goes UP dramatically.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
He didn't play until high school? Either the team really needed to bump up it's numbers or he was just the one in a hundred to be good enough without prior playing time to win a spot.

He did have to try out for it I am assuming.

And a lot of what kids learn from sports depends on the parents.

Most coaches are parents.

At 8, the kids are just learning to tackle. And they are just plain falling on each other ore than actually hitting.

Nope, he was big but not that coordinated.

DS2 played soccer, and later was a ref. Some of those parents were NASTY.

flan

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

So no trying out.

Soccer is more apt to give a concussion than football.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
So no trying out.

Soccer is more apt to give a concussion than football.

Why?

No tackling and most of the younger kids are not coordinated enough to bounce a ball off their heads.

flan

TOTALLY GEEKED!

How Young Is Too Young To Be Playing Football?