Will you let your kid play football?

[cruscott35]

I was talking with my parents this weekend and the subject of my son playing football came up. I told my parents that as it stands now, I don't think I'll allow him to play. My mom asked me why she let me play, and I simply said that the information out now regarding long term problems associated with brain trauma wasn't available when I was in high school. She didn't quite understand.

Simple question, will you let your kids play organized, full contact football?

[AJF_41]

i'm not against it...but i won't push it either.
there are plenty of other lesser contact sports.

[rconverse]

Of course.

[Ascf33]

Yeah, I think so. The helmet is significantly different from even when I played Pop Warner (I'm 27) now. As he gets older, and if he still wants to play, I'm all for it.

[Roose13]

Yes because I won't raise a sissy.

On a serious note, I'd rather him play baseball because that's a true father/son game. But it would be fun to teach him the proper way to block and tackle.

[Timebomb07]

baseball, football, basketball, soccer, whatever.

I just won't throw him into contact until middle school. He can learn the game at the flag football level until then.

I only played 5 years (8th-12th) as a QB so I never really got beat up, but football is a great sport and I want my kid to play if he does.

[cruscott35]

Originally Posted by Roose13

Yes because I won't raise a sissy.

On a serious note, I'd rather him play baseball because that's a true father/son game. But it would be fun to teach him the proper way to block and tackle.

You should let him ride in the front seat of the car at 6 so he won't be a sissy too.

[Ascf33]

I played my whole life. Flag thru Jr. Midgets. Then Middle School. Then High School.

I had my knee destroyed in 8th grade by a pulling guard. (Still have 2 pins in there) Still played all 4 years of high school ball. I will say though, there are lingering effects from that injury. I know i'm going to be walking all fucked up in my later years.

That said, if he wants to play. Fine by me. As long as he doesn't want to dance.

[AJF_41]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

You should let him ride in the front seat of the car at 6 so he won't be a sissy too.

i laughed.

[MOWJO8185]

I don't know that I will necessarily push it given all the safety concerns. But if he finds himself drawn to the game and wants to play, I don't think I would actually not allow him to.

[thebridge15]

I didn't play football, but it's my favorite sport. If he wants to play, I'll let him play.

[Roose13]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

You should let him ride in the front seat of the car at 6 so he won't be a sissy too.

Way to miss the sarcasm, sparky.

[treytreyw222]

Originally Posted by MOWJO8185

I don't know that I will necessarily push it given all the safety concerns. But if he finds himself drawn to the game and wants to play, I don't think I would actually not allow him to.

This. I'll let him play whatever sport he wants to play. For the record, I wasn't allowed to play football but only because I excelled at tennis and my parents didn't want me to get injured in football.

[cruscott35]

For those of you that will, do you not believe the studies, think they are overblown, or just don't care?

[treytreyw222]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

For those of you that will, do you not believe the studies, think they are overblown, or just don't care?

I believe the studies, but I just don't think it will be possible for me to tell my son that he can't play a sport that all of his friends play and he wants to play. Sure there are risk involved and if all his friends jumped off a ledge I wouldn't let him but there are risk involved in a lot of things people do everyday(driving a car). Also, if he were to get a concussion things would change drastically and the odds of him playing past highschool would be very small(limiting his chance of developing multiple concussions).

[cruscott35]

Originally Posted by treytreyw222

This. I'll let him play whatever sport he wants to play. For the record, I wasn't allowed to play football but only because I excelled at tennis and my parents didn't want me to get injured in football.

Even though it's becoming increasingly clear that football at all levels presents a long term risk to the brain?

[Roose13]

I know the risk, I played the sport for one of the top schools in NJ not too long ago and I know the risks. That being said, anyone can get seriously hurt playing any sport. If my future kid wants to play football, then my kid will play football. I know enough about the game, the technique and safety to enable my kid a good chance to put himself in a position where he won't get hurt.

EDIT: And the worst injury I ever sustained was from playing baseball: torn PCL.

[treytreyw222]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

Even though it's becoming increasingly clear that football at all levels presents a long term risk to the brain?

see post above

[Roose13]

Sounds more like Cruscott is just anti football and trying to sway everyone to not let their children play the sport than actually taking a poll.

[cruscott35]

Driving a car is a life skill, proper form tackling isn't. I don't let my daughter (3) do all sorts of shit she wants to. It's part of being a parent.

[treytreyw222]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

Driving a car is a life skill, proper form tackling isn't. I don't let my daughter (3) do all sorts of shit she wants to. It's part of being a parent.

I agree that is part of being a parent, but there is a big difference between denying your kid the option to play a sport that he will grow up loving and watching(most likely) and denying your kid another candy necklace.

[cruscott35]

Originally Posted by treytreyw222

I agree that is part of being a parent, but there is a big difference between denying your kid the option to play a sport that he will grow up loving and watching(most likely) and denying your kid another candy necklace.

You're right, one could argue that football is way more dangerous.

[MOWJO8185]

To be fair, when I say if they really want to play I'll let them play, I must admit that I'm not yet a parent and that I can very easily imagine I'll feel differently when this is a real scenario and not just some hypothetical situation with a hypothetical child.

[cruscott35]

Originally Posted by Roose13

I know the risk, I played the sport for one of the top schools in NJ not too long ago and I know the risks. That being said, anyone can get seriously hurt playing any sport. If my future kid wants to play football, then my kid will play football. I know enough about the game, the technique and safety to enable my kid a good chance to put himself in a position where he won't get hurt.

EDIT: And the worst injury I ever sustained was from playing baseball: torn PCL.

I don't think improper technique and lack of knowledge of the game is the reason why so many long term health problems are popping up. I played the game too, and I would've thought that a RB or LB takes the worst hits, nope, it's the linemen, who take lots of small hits.

[Roose13]

You also have to look at the level of play. It's less dangerous in HS than it is in college. And by then, the kid is an adult and can make his own decisions on whether or not he wants to playa t a higher level where the risk of injury is increased.

[YouNeverKnow25]

I don't think that "I did it and it worked out fine for me" is a very compelling argument. I could rattle off at least a dozen things that I did that I got away with/survived unscathed that I'd blow up at my kid over if I found out he did.

[thebridge15]

By the time I actually have a kid who is of age to play, I figure the sport will be safer than it is now.

[treytreyw222]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

I don't think that "I did it and it worked out fine for me" is a very compelling argument. I could rattle off at least a dozen things that I did that I got away with/survived unscathed that I'd blow up at my kid over if I found out he did.

I agree with this

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by Roose13

You also have to look at the level of play. It's less dangerous in HS than it is in college. And by then, the kid is an adult and can make his own decisions on whether or not he wants to playa t a higher level where the risk of injury is increased.

I completely disagree with the thought that it's less dangerous in high school. There are less and less contact sessions the higher level you go.

[Roose13]

Contact sessions aren't at full game speed and you expect to get hit.