Persuasive Essay: High School Football Should Be Banned

A concussion is, “a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth” (“What is a Concussion?”). Concussions can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and sleepiness. Although these symptoms seem terrible, these are only short term symptoms of a mild concussion. More severe concussions can cause life-long problems with memory, learning, coordination, emotion, and even sight (“What is a Concussion?”). One poor play can cause a severe concussion and, furthermore, a permanent end to the life the player knew before the incident. While not all concussions are that critical, every concussion has consequences. Unfortunately, thousands of high school players face these consequences annually. Studies show that, “Some 67,000 high school football players suffer concussions every year, according to official tallies, and many more concussions go unreported” (“Farewell to Football”). Even if an exceptional football player beats those odds, one in every twenty NFL players suffers from at least one concussion in his career (“Farewell to Football”). Players under the age of eighteen are even more likely to experience severe brain damage from the game. According to ESPN, getting hit hard on the field can be the equivalent to being hit over the head

In recent years, there has been a backlash from all kinds of doctors throughout the world that believe the National Football League or NFL needs to make adjustments to the way they treat head injuries, specifically concussions. A concussion is a brain injury characterized by an onset of impairment of cognitive and/or physically functioning and is caused by hits around the head and neck area. This NFL is under destress because of numerous studies that show concussions can lead to a large amount brain injuries way after the player has played his last game. However, this isn't just a problem the NFL is facing, the real problem is our youth contact sports and head-related injuries. High school athletes are extremely more exposed to concussions than

Think about this, “how many people have had a concussion this year?” Probably more than one can count on one hand. On average there is close to 2.5 million concussions in the US that are caused by sports or recreational activities. In high school sports alone, “High school athletes are three times more likely to sustain catastrophic injuries than those people in college” (Gorgens.) Getting a concussions does not only cause physical pain, it can cause mental problems. There needs to be more precautions taken in protecting the players.

The consequence of a concussion will generate health issues. “I found myself receiving e-mail after e-mail from people presumably motivated by by keyword searches for ‘football, concussion, trauma, disease.’ Every new study drawing a correlation between head injuries and post career brain disease and would find its way to my inbox, almost daily.” (Fujita 3) As shown in the quote, the word football has a connection with trauma, disease, and concussion. Such a “fun” sport should not be associated with words that define health issues. At a very young age, children have the need and want to play football and be a player and will do

U.S. Football reported a 6.7% decrease in youth participation (ages: 6–14) for the 2011 season. Further, Pop Warner, the United States largest youth football organization saw a decline in participation during this time, off 9.5% between 2010 and 2012 (Fainaru & Fainaru-Wada). In other sports, a study done by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association recorded more kids than ever are not playing at all. Inactivity among children approached 20% in 2014, continuing a six-year upward trend. In the same age bracket, the average number of team sports played per participant has fallen 5.9% over the last five years and now sits at 2.01 (Murphy). This downward trend shows parents are worried of the effects concussions can have on kids. Key players in the sports industry have come forward and discussed the long-term difficulties they are experiencing from head trauma. Former NFL Minnesota Vikings player Fred McNeill, star of the 1977 Super Bowl, can hardly remember his glory days or even what events happened yesterday. With the NFL recently being under the spotlight for occurrences of concussions and former players coming forward with their experiences, it’s no wonder parents are being cautious with what sports their kids are

A nationwide epidemic is occurring throughout the United States and is on the rise. Although many know about it, they fail to realize the side effects and diseases that can that lay dormant, waiting to be awakened and devastate their lives and potentially end them. Concussions are increasing annually among athletes in contact sports. Children and adults participating in these particular sports are potential victims of concussions and the long lasting side effects. The concerns of athletes receiving concussions is rising because as studies progress, many are leading to the conclusion that concussions impose future health complications.

Our society would not be what it is today without the world of sports. In the United States, football has become an essential part of Sunday plans to over 250 million people. While numerous people of all ages watch the sport, many people play it as well. This includes over one million high schoolers who participate in the sport at their schools. For many, football games are some of the most memorable high school moments. However, football isn’t all about the fans and school spirit; the players themselves face enormous risks just by stepping out on the field. Concussions and other health concerns have become more common than ever in football, especially with the youth. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury, and in sports, they are usually caused by an impact or blow to the head. These injuries leave a lasting impact and can greatly impact one’s life. High school football is too dangerous in today’s world due to the extensive and life threatening injuries that commonly occur in the sport.

There have been multiple cases in which a child has severe symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or irreversible brain damage, such as depression, memory loss, and suicidal thoughts (“Don’t Let Kids Play Football”). Those who support the banning of tackle football for today’s youth and for future generation are only campaigning to terminate the existence and possibilities of C.T.E. The effects of C.T.E have been found throughout the ages between the teenage years to the 40s (“Don’t Let Kids Play Football”). A chunk of the US population is concerned because these symptoms tend to be permanent and incurable. Yes, football is “America’s sport,” but is it worth the harm? Some will say that it’s not as severe with adults, but for children to be exposed to such hard contacts will forever damage their developing brains (“Don’t Let Kids Play Football”).

While concussions are an unpreventable injury with current technology, the media is blowing it out of proportion, saying it causes brain deformities later in life for all players. This “evidence” is anecdotal, because the NFL only tested players who had played professional or college football. High school is a much different game in that it is less violent. The hits are decidedly less powerful, because in a sport where “bigger, stronger, faster” is the goal, high school players are “smaller, weaker and slower” than the pros. When a player has experienced or shown signs of head trauma (e.g., loss of consciousness, visual disturbance, headache, inability to walk correctly, obvious disorientation, memory loss), that player should receive immediate medical attention from an appropriate medical provider and should not be allowed to return to practices or games without

Memory and intelligence loss, suicidal thoughts and action, and lack of sleep are some of the many serious and severe side effects from the head trauma that can last from a couple weeks all the way up to months. Guskiewicz explains that sportsmen who have reported at least one concussion have a risk of a 1.5-fold chance of depression but those who have reported at least three concussions they are then exposed to a threefold of having depression from the medical expenses, suicidal thoughts, or even the thought of their life being ruined and never being able to play football again (Guskiewicz ). Later in the player’s life, dementia or ALzheimer's are not rare when previously having a concussion. The article of NCBI-Journal of Athlete Training, the author, John Powell mentions concussion and brain injury rates because of football have dramatically increased since 1879. Equipment provided to the athletes are not up to date or protective. Powell even states within the article that the victims who are experiencing concussions who drop an extreme amount if the sports community would improve and advanced the equipment (Powell 307-311). More severe issues will come later in life to the victim. A lot of the retired football players are suffering from the long term consequences of playing

It has been found that the average high school football player receives somewhere near 650 hits to the head each season (Tyler). Imagine the impact this has on the brain. Then imagine how much worse the impact must be when getting hit by highly trained, full grown men. The NFL for the longest time would have liked us to think differently. “According to the doctors in the NFL’s employ, playing a game involving violent, head first collisions had no connection to future brain injuries,” reports “The Progressive” in their article “High Price of Concussions”. Finally, in 2009, “(the National Football League) acknowledged publicly for the first time that concussions suffered while playing football

According to the department of Orthopedic Surgery, at Wayne State University, “Youth football programs across the United States represent an at-risk population of approximately 3.5 million athletes for sports related concussions” (Buzas 1). Despite these risks, it is easy for some parents get involved in the game and overlook the danger that their children are in. There are parents who do not realize the severity of effects a concussion can have, as there are parents who do not know exactly what a concussion is. In order to recognize how severe the effects of concussions are, the individual must first understand what a concussion is. According to Medicine.Net, a concussion is, “a traumatic injury to soft tissue, usually the brain, as a result of a violent blow, shaking, or spinning. A brain concussion can cause immediate but usually temporary impairment of brain functions, such as thinking, vision, equilibrium, and consciousness” (Medicine.Net). Concussions can increase in effect or cause permanent damage if not taken care of properly. Learning how to properly deal with concussions is essential for all ages; it is more crucial for youth football players because younger children are more susceptible to long-term risks from head injuries (Buzas 1).

For decades, football has been one of the most admired sports in America but also considered one of the most harmful. The injuries in football can vary from shin splints, fractured wrists and to torn ACLs but the injury that causes the most damage are concussions. It is not unheard of for football players to have concussions but it is surprising how unaware they are about the long-term effects. The coaches are not any better because they are telling the players to shake off the injury and then encouraging them to get back in the game. For too long football programs have been downplaying concussions, while they have denied it for too long, the new interest and attention in concussions has the potential to improve athletes’ safety.

“The hard hits of football lead not only to sprains, broken bones and other physical injuries, but concussions as well. This brain injury has become a major concern for football players of all ages, and among young players, the problem appears to be getting worse. Between 1997 and 2007, the number of emergency department visits for concussions doubled between 8 and 13 year olds and tripled for older youth, according to the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association. While part of the spike is likely due to increased surveillance and awareness, it still outlines a major problem in youth sports, says Lori Cook, director of the Pediatric Brain Injury Programs at the University of Texas–Dallas Center for BrainHealth. “Head injury is an obvious risk of kids playing football,” she says.

One of the biggest issues in dangerous sports is that it cause many minor/major effects to the brain. Wake Forest Baptist Health, Dr. Alexander K. Powers estimates that, “Each year U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 135,000 children ages 5 to 18 for sports-related brain injuries.” Dr. Alexander K. Powers also reported, “Repeated concussions could put a child at risk for such crippling conditions as early onset