What Does Football Mean?

Is tackle football too dangerous for kids who aren’t even fully developed? Back then, when it came to sports, safety was never one of the main concerns. For example, baseball was played for over half a century without requiring helmets. Recently, society has started to worry about future generations and whether some activities will have long-lasting effects on them, such as football. Although many are advocates for safety, others are arguing that kids should be able to play what they want. While tackle football has been proven to be detrimental to the youth’s health, especially for children under the age of 13, critics have questioned and discussed whether other sports are going to be next and how they can possibly prevent football’s future modifications.

Steve Almond’s story “You Knock my Brains out This Sunday and I Knock Your Brains out the Next Time we Meet” speaks to the underlying truth about America’s Sunday pastime and how concussions can be prevented not only by the industry, but by its viewers as well. Football is well known after having been brought to the public’s eye as study after study was released proving that there was a link from football to head injuries. Although in our modern society we have already subconsciously made the connection between football and concussions. The fact that this problem is not decreasing, could be surprising, as the lack of understanding about who has control and the ability to influence change. We hear that football helmets and pads, are getting better, but that does not stop concussions. We do not hear how helmets make players feel and change their play style based on the feeling of invincibility that people feel while wearing a helmet. Pads and helmets do help protect the players but false senses of security due to lack of knowledge on what

Football remains the most popular sport in America and the ninth most popular sport in the world for a reason. Since its creation in 1869, football has played a fundamental part of American society. Every Sunday, my family along with millions of other Americans turn the television to CBS, NBC or FOX to watch their favorite football team go to battle. My family and I bleed burgundy and gold and root for the home team the Washington Redskins. Americans including myself display great intensity and passion for the game of football and the result of the game often changes my attitude for the better or worse. Watching the game on television may come as exhilarating and entertaining, but playing the game creates the best times. Overall football has made a severe impact on many people’s lives. Football teaches unique lessons in a hands on manner which helps athletes like myself sustain a much more adventurous life. Football has made an immeasurably positive influence upon my life, but the sport has its dangers. Football changes lives.

There’s no doubt that concussions in football has become a major problem, not just for the professional athletes, but for kids of all ages from age 8 to 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that concussion have doubled in the last decade and The American Academy of Pediatrics says that, “emergency room visits for concussions in children ages 8 to 13 years old has doubled, and concussions have risen 200 percent among teens ages 14 to 19 in the last decade” (Keith Dunlap, The Oakland Press). This shows that the seriousness of concussions is not just an issue at a pro level but an issue throughout all levels of play. The risk is definitely present when you play football but it shouldn’t stop parents from letting their children participate in the sport. Playing organized sports such as football isn’t just a place to get injured, it’s a place where your children can learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, toughness, competitiveness, they learn succeed, and also they learn about failure. The parents who don’t allow their children to play sports don’t let their kids learn about these important lessons of organized sports. Football is also a way for kids to take their anger and struggles out in the game and help them express themselves. It can also be a way for kids in bad situations to get a way out, to try and reach the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Concussions occur on a large scale in football. During a concussion, the head can experience a blow directly or can have whiplash. When the head is hit, the brain hits the inside of the skull, giving it a temporary bruise. This bruise or tearing of the brain can lead to mental impairments that can affect a person’s emotional state of being, physical problems like deteriorated mobility and sensitivity to light and sound. Doctors are quick to point out one of the major reasons that youth receive concussions, saying, “... children have big heads relative to the rest of their bodies and weak necks… that elevates the risk of concussions,” (P6). Along with a lack of education and care for the protection of athletes, youth are already at a huge risk. When children wear their football helmets, they are saving themselves from many injuries that could have occurred without them, most especially protecting the brain. But, in many cases, this is not enough.

Every wondered how dangerous a simple sport like Football can be ? I’m sure you’ve seen it at least once on your Television. I’m sure you once thought to yourself how awesome it is to have a career where you can be paid millions to chase around a ball in front of a camera. I’m sure you believe that those football players are living the life, But do you really know the true price they’re paying ? Imagine your son/daughter asks you to allow them to join their school’s football team, Who wouldn’t want a star athlete kid right ! Wrong. I’m positive you believe that the thick armor and helmets they wear are enough to protect them from any serious internal and external injuries right ? You’re wrong again. Wanna know a secret ? Those helmets don’t protect your child against any Concussions at all. According to David Camarillo’s TED Talk titled

In today’s day and age, baseball is no longer considered the past-time of America. Football has gradually become more and more popular and is nothing short of the most watched and anticipated season in America. In the nation today there are 3 million kids who participate in youth football, which consists of children age five to 16. Also, there are an estimated 1.1 million high school football athletes, and 100,000 players at the collegiate level. While the sport is arguably the nation’s most popular sport, it may come with consequences. Over the past few years, concerns have been raised about the risk that players may face from taking repeated hits to the head. Studies show that more than 50 former professional football players have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease caused by impact. The question is, how can these possibly life-ending risks be lessened or even ended.

Player safety has always been and will always be one of the most controversial topics in all of sports. In particular, the safety of young football players is an extremely controversial topic. Many different studies have been conducted on concussions specifically. These studies research the different variables and what causes concussions and the most effective ways to prevent them. A recent study was done by the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University, they tracked 468 participants ages 8-12 from 4 different youth football leagues. The basic information that they found was that nearly every concussion was sustained during a game, only

Players of the modernized Nation Football League are tremendously bigger, faster, and stronger than they once were. Taken from the Current Events of the Weekly Reader Corporation, the article “Hit Men” explains, “one reason concussions are becoming more severe and frequent in the NFL is that the average size of the players is increasing.” The physical expectation set by the NFL constantly pushes these athletes to achieve their most preeminent physical state. Although this “survival of the fittest” notion may sound encouraging, the result is seen in the amount of concussion numbers increasing over the years. However, this necessity to greater themselves can be seen on both sides of the argument. Jeb Golinkin, the author of “Why Parents Should Let Their Kids Play Dangerous Sports” acknowledges how “between the lines, our children learn the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, toughness, and competitiveness”(11). The qualities attained through contact sports are essential in order to make it in todays working world, not to mention how valuable they are in managing interpersonal relationships. With that being said the argument could be made that these life skills could be learned elsewhere. Sports like baseball and volleyball both offer the opportunity to learn these qualities and many other skills, without the same risks football imposes on its players. Overall, although football

The ability to tackle properly can lessen the chance of being hurt seriously, whereas using improper techniques can be catastrophic. “According to an article from The New York Times, youth leagues have limited contact in practice time, and have adjusted weight and age limits to try to reduce head injuries and the risks associated with them” (Belson, 2015). Additionally, drills that involved full speed head-on blocking and tackling were eliminated. “According to an article from The Denver Post, many observers highlighted the importance of improving football safety” (Bachynski, 2015). Youth football leagues are taking precautionary action to protect children; nevertheless, injuries are inevitable in a collision sport. While children certainly benefit from participation in team sports, it remains a question whether other sports can offer those same benefits while posing less risk of brain injury than tackle

One thousand children suffer sports related concussions in just the state of Minnesota each year (Olson). With cases of concussions in youth sports becoming more and more frequent, concern on the subject is rising. Though all sports present a high risk, “football still causes the most concussions” (Emerson). In the documentary Frontline: Football High, director Rachel Dretzin demonstrates that high school football sets excessive pressure over aspiring teen athletes and presents a high risk of injury through concussion. By using actualities, interviews and archival footage in her film, Dretzin conveys the message that concussions in high school football are common, dangerous and worth exposing.

Football is a rough sport. Many fans of the game watch it for the hard hits. These hard hits and the potential for injury is part of what makes the game so exciting. Some people say that football is too brutal and should be banned. Parents all over the United States don’t allow their children to play because of the risk of head injuries. Others allow their sons, and every now and then their daughters, to play and risk injury for a chance to earn a college scholarship and for a small percentage of players, the chance to play in the National Football League (NFL).

“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.

Have you ever wondered how much damage the brain suffers during and after a football players playing career? All throughout history there have been cases of serious head trauma in a series of sports besides football such as boxing, soccer, baseball and hockey. Since football is a more contact sport than others there’s a spike of head injuries in that field of sports. To really understand how to make football helmets safer and more efficient, you must understand how effective they are right now, their history, and comparing how much damage they can resist comparing to other head injuries. Football in our youths and professional programs have caused a lot of controversy. For younger individuals, many people wonder if it is a safe sport to play

Football is often labeled as a dangerous, unsafe sport, but there are many good things that come along with playing football. In the past two weeks I have learned about the risks that accompany football. Many kids suffer with concussions and face injuries from the sport, which scares many people away. But, despite the risks and the unsafe label, I would allow my child to play football because it promotes health, builds friendships, and helps gain toughness.