Will you let your kid play football?

[cazzie34]

A lot of libertarian parents in here. Ron Paul would be impressed!

[Bostonsux013]

I just want to say that Football is the ultimate team sport and those that did not play may not understand the camaraderie that comes with playing the sport. As an offensive and defensive lineman, I saw most of the action on the field. I was responsible for protecting my teammates on the field and we developed a bond off the field. Playing football in high school changed my life for the better and I am still very good friends with my teammates. I have respected very few men in my life more than my coaches and teammates. The feeling of walking onto that field ready to compete and walking off the field with a sense of pride is something that can't be found in many lesser contact sports. The overwhelming concensus of my friends who have played multiple sports is that football was the best sport they have ever played. While some injuries do stick with you for a long time, the overwhelming response among players is that they would gladly do it all over again if they had the chance. I would never want to take those feelings away from my kid.

Ironically the OP joked that we should let 6 year olds ride in the front seat. Well, that six year old has a better chance of dying in that car, backseat in a safe harness or not, than they do of not only dying from football related injuries, but even facing an injury that would seriously affect his life. I understand the want to protect our children from harm, but I think taking away the choice to play a relatively safe sport is the wrong way of going about it. I also think that this coddling attitude towards our children is a bit too much, but that's a whole different argument that I wish to not get into.

[Bostonsux013]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

The medical community isn't releasing study after about other sports. Holy cow.

Hockey? Do some research. Higher incidence of concussion.

[Bostonsux013]

I also love how the dude with the Ron Swanson avatar is arguing that football is too dangerous for our youth

[cazzie34]

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

Hockey? Do some research. Higher incidence of concussion.

Oh rly?

I'll trust these guys over you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287642

[Bostonsux013]

Originally Posted by cazzie34

Oh rly?

I'll trust these guys over you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287642

I guess you could do plenty of different surveys. This report had woman's hockey at #1 followed by mens hockey and football. Either way, OP was wrong about the medical community not releasing study after study about other sports.

[DMBCardinal]

I wouldn't necessarily deny my son the opportunity to play football if he was dead set on it, but I would definitely encourage other sports like baseball, basketball, or tennis.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

I just want to say that Football is the ultimate team sport

Agree 100%

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

I think taking away the choice to play a relatively safe sport is the wrong way of going about it.

It is NOT relatively safe. To suggest this would be to imply you're ignorant to the facts.

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

I also think that this coddling attitude towards our children is a bit too much

Agree 100% you can't keep your kids in a bubble. Let them experience life.

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

Hockey? Do some research. Higher incidence of concussion.

This is crazy false. Hockey is a much safer sport than football.

Originally Posted by Bostonsux013

I also love how the dude with the Ron Swanson avatar is arguing that football is too dangerous for our youth

I love football. I think it's the greatest sport out there. I don't know how many times I have to say this. I'm not worried about a normal sports injury. If my kid tore his ACL in football, UCL in basbeall, fractured his foot in basketball, ect. ect. injuries happen. You can't protect your child from everything. I'm not worried about my kid needing to toughen up.

Brain damage is brain damage. Sometimes we all really love something, and it's super fun. That doesn't mean it's good for you. If I was a parent before the brain trauma studies were conducted? I'd have encouraged my kids to play football. You can't stop your children from experiencing life, but it's your job to hand them a life at 18 worth living.

[dontdrink36]

I wouldn't push for him to play it but if he wanted to play he would absolutely be able to. My dad played for nearly 20 years from Pop Warner all the way to college and at 60 now he has absolutely no negative side effects mentally! His shoulder is a bit messed up but that's it. I know and understand all the potential risks but it's not like it's a guarantee that if you play you will suffer major consequences. It happens to a small percentage of people who participate. And now with so much attention payed to the topic that in the next 5-10 years we could see much better safety precautions in place that could make it safer.

[dre2142]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

I assume you're talking to me... I'll provide those studies when you provide where I implied that.

The entire crtuch of your argument against your son playing football is based on recent studies.

I simply said that I believe that driving a car at a high rate of speed is taking on an unnecessary risk for a child.

you could say that about any sport a child participates in then

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by cruscott35

I've explained this a few times in the thread, but yes I will teach him to drive a car. Learning a lifelong skill that carries with it risk is not the same as letting him play a sport (of which there are comparable ways of achieving the benefit) that carries with it unecessary risks to his mental health.

So you can differentiate driving and sports, but you can't figure out the difference between smoking cigarettes and sports?

What. the. hell.

[dre2142]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

Agree 100%


It is NOT relatively safe. To suggest this would be to imply you're ignorant to the facts.

Whats the percentage of kids that come away from playing football with brain damage?

From what I can see.....14 instances in 2011, out of 1.6 million. (at the high school level)

Whats the total number for all youth?

This is crazy false. Hockey is a much safer sport than football.

You can state that as fact?

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

This is crazy false. Hockey is a much safer sport than football.

what....

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

This is crazy false. Hockey is a much safer sport than football.

http://youtu.be/RLbLiGXqHIA?t=36s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYGT3JWQsJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0

I could keep going for hours and hours...hockey isn't "much safer" than any sport. That's ridiculous.

Watch all three of those. Please.

[cazzie34]

Originally Posted by lockman21

So you can differentiate driving and sports, but you can't figure out the difference between smoking cigarettes and sports?

What. the. hell.

I'm pretty sure he was being facetious.

Originally Posted by dontdrink36

I wouldn't push for him to play it but if he wanted to play he would absolutely be able to. My dad played for nearly 20 years from Pop Warner all the way to college and at 60 now he has absolutely no negative side effects mentally! His shoulder is a bit messed up but that's it. I know and understand all the potential risks but it's not like it's a guarantee that if you play you will suffer major consequences. It happens to a small percentage of people who participate. And now with so much attention payed to the topic that in the next 5-10 years we could see much better safety precautions in place that could make it safer.

Personal story. I do not care. I'll use science.

Originally Posted by lockman21

http://youtu.be/RLbLiGXqHIA?t=36s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYGT3JWQsJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0

I could keep going for hours and hours...hockey isn't "much safer" than any sport. That's ridiculous.

Watch all three of those. Please.

Anecdotal. I do not care.

I could show people tripping over a crack in a sidewalk and breaking their leg. Doesn't mean it's more dangerous.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by dre2142

Whats the percentage of kids that come away from playing football with brain damage?

From what I can see.....14 instances in 2011, out of 1.6 million. (at the high school level)

100%

Do you mean debilitating? Obviously that's less. I'm not worried about just the here and now. Your kid may play (x) amount of years through high school and appear fine. I'm worried about down the road.

Originally Posted by dre2142

Whats the total number for all youth?

I'll look into this. High school may have the lowest number. It's much worse to play football at a young age while the brain is developing. At least by high school your brain is much father along.

Originally Posted by dre2142

You can state that as fact?

Originally Posted by lockman21

what....

Yes.

If we are talking general safety I don't know which is safer. I've been over this I don't care about the general safety aspect. If my kid lost a tooth getting checked, or wound up with bad knees from playing goalie... whatever.

The sub-concussive hits do not happen on every play in hockey the way they do in football. That is just a fact. Concussions happen more frequently in football. I don't want my kid to have to worry about mental problems when they hit middle age. They could always develop dementia, CTE, alzheimer, ect. on their own, but with football players those odds start getting a lot higher.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by lockman21

http://youtu.be/RLbLiGXqHIA?t=36s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYGT3JWQsJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0

I could keep going for hours and hours...hockey isn't "much safer" than any sport. That's ridiculous.

Watch all three of those. Please.

It's not just about getting a concussion. It's the repeated beating your brain takes in football. It's not always about the big hit. Hockey is safer. I'm not taking a shot at hockey's manhood. It's not a soft sport. Hossa and Toews probably have a lot less brain damage than say Brian Urlacher despite the fact he's never had a known concussion the way those two have.

[dre2142]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

100%

Do you mean debilitating? Obviously that's less. I'm not worried about just the here and now. Your kid may play (x) amount of years through high school and appear fine. I'm worried about down the road.

What? 100% of youth that play football have brain injury?

I'll look into this. High school may have the lowest number. It's much worse to play football at a young age while the brain is developing. At least by high school your brain is much father along.

Ok, ill wait for you to present the facts.

Yes.

If we are talking general safety I don't know which is safer. I've been over this I don't care about the general safety aspect. If my kid lost a tooth getting checked, or wound up with bad knees from playing goalie... whatever.

The sub-concussive hits do not happen on every play in hockey the way they do in football. That is just a fact. Concussions happen more frequently in football. I don't want my kid to have to worry about mental problems when they hit middle age. They could always develop dementia, CTE, alzheimer, ect. on their own, but with football players those odds start getting a lot higher.

I simply do not agree.

What about spinal injuries? Head injuries in hockey? Ive done some quick research on hockey injuries.....you may want to do some research yourself before you make a factual statement like that.

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by dre2142

What? 100% of youth that play football have brain injury?

Yes you suffer soft tissue damage from just playing football. It's the nature of the game. A sub-concussive hit is still brain damage. It's just not trauma to the brain. I'm not worried just about the big monster hit that causes concussions. If that was it then I'd let my kids play football. It's the fact that brain damage happens no matter what that bothers me.

Originally Posted by dre2142

What about spinal injuries? Head injuries in hockey? Ive done some quick research on hockey injuries.....you may want to do some research yourself before you make a factual statement like that.

If spinal injuries are a big issue in hockey, I haven't looked into it, than I probably wouldn't let them play hockey. I just don't hear of it being a regular thing.

Head injuries is what we're talking about, and studies on head injuries/concussions say football is the worst and it's not close.

[JRS1386]

Zep you are on fire today, keep it up.

I think we need to ban all sports in the US since each on can lead to brain damage eventually down the line some time maybe

[DMBZeppelin]

Originally Posted by JRS1386

I think we need to ban all sports in the US since each on can lead to brain damage eventually down the line some time maybe

A dumb over exaggeration of what's being talked about. "down the line some time maybe" read any of the links posted in here. Contradict the studies instead of just reading what I'm saying and assuming what you're saying makes any sense.

[dre2142]

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

A dumb over exaggeration of what's being talked about. "down the line some time maybe" read any of the links posted in here. Contradict the studies instead of just reading what I'm saying and assuming what you're saying makes any sense.

good article
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...sks/55150850/1

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by cazzie34

Anecdotal. I do not care.

I could show people tripping over a crack in a sidewalk and breaking their leg. Doesn't mean it's more dangerous.

What? This is one of the more idiotic posts I've seen in the sports forums.

Those aren't people tripping on a crack on a sidewalk, those are high speed hockey plays that happen all the time. What a horrible comparison.

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

Yes.

If we are talking general safety I don't know which is safer. I've been over this I don't care about the general safety aspect. If my kid lost a tooth getting checked, or wound up with bad knees from playing goalie... whatever.

The sub-concussive hits do not happen on every play in hockey the way they do in football. That is just a fact. Concussions happen more frequently in football. I don't want my kid to have to worry about mental problems when they hit middle age. They could always develop dementia, CTE, alzheimer, ect. on their own, but with football players those odds start getting a lot higher.

Originally Posted by DMBZeppelin

It's not just about getting a concussion. It's the repeated beating your brain takes in football. It's not always about the big hit. Hockey is safer. I'm not taking a shot at hockey's manhood. It's not a soft sport. Hossa and Toews probably have a lot less brain damage than say Brian Urlacher despite the fact he's never had a known concussion the way those two have.

Debatable, but agree to disagree.

When guys are laying out 200+ hits a season, puck battles in the corners, blocking shots with their face/bucket/etc, fights, etc...it's really grasping at straws trying to figure out which one is worse, IMO. They both are 1a and 1b if you ask me.

[recentlyJTR41]

Hockey seems more dangerous just because they fight every 10 minutes.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by recentlyJTR41

Hockey seems more dangerous just because they fight every 10 minutes.

I think there are more devastating big hits in hockey that just destroy guys than football, but football there are many more "sub-concussion" hits.

As I said, I think it's 1a and 1b if you ask me. Neither one is clearly "safer" than the other.

...but there aren't fights that often. Unless it's games like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIlLbJHKw8M

[cazzie34]

Originally Posted by lockman21

What? This is one of the more idiotic posts I've seen in the sports forums.

Those aren't people tripping on a crack on a sidewalk, those are high speed hockey plays that happen all the time. What a horrible comparison.

Those hits don't happen all the time. The Toews one is rare. The Chara one is worse because his head got caught in the glass thing. and the other one was an illegal hit.

You showed isolated incidents of horrible hits in hockey and said that those were reasons why the sport isn't much safer than football.

My example was showing how I can show isolated incidents of horrible walking yet that doesn't mean walking is more dangerous than football or hockey overall.

It's like if I showed a bunch of face-offs and said "Look! Hockey is safe! Nothing is happening here therefore it must be safe!"

[Bostonsux013]

There are proper ways to tackle in football that don't necessarily require helmet to helmet contact. Yeah, you get shaken up every once in a while but its not enough to cause serious brain damage. I know of not one person who I've played football with that has had any problems mentally dealing with concussion. If you start talking College and Pros youll start to see more, but by that time they are old enough that their parents cannot make the decision for them anymore.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by cazzie34

Those hits don't happen all the time. The Toews one is rare. The Chara one is worse because his head got caught in the glass thing. and the other one was an illegal hit.

You showed isolated incidents of horrible hits in hockey and said that those were reasons why the sport isn't much safer than football.

My example was showing how I can show isolated incidents of horrible walking yet that doesn't mean walking is more dangerous than football or hockey overall.

It's like if I showed a bunch of face-offs and said "Look! Hockey is safe! Nothing is happening here therefore it must be safe!"

What? No. 1+1 does not = 2 in this case.

We're talking about the dangerous side of the game, not the safe side. Those aren't really "isolated incidents" when they are happening frequently.

When talking about this past season:

...almost 90 players and 1,700 man games will be lost to head injuries or concussion-related symptoms

When comparing pure #'s, the NFL is higher (more reported concussions - 171 in the regular season), but when you look at what percentage of the league that is:

NFL -

171 / 1,696 players (32 teams x 53 man roster) = 10.08% of the league suffered from "concussion-like symptoms"

NHL -

90 / 690 players = 13.04% of the league suffered from "concussion-like symptoms"

I don't see how those are isolated incidents anymore than showing clips of guys getting tackled would be. They are the part of the game leading to these staggering numbers. Face-offs have nothing to do with the argument at hand.

[bonzo48280]

I think it is 1a and 1b between hockey and football. Both have concussion problems with active players and long term brain deteriorating injuries to retired players.

[Bostonsux013]

Originally Posted by lockman21

What? No. 1+1 does not = 2 in this case.

We're talking about the dangerous side of the game, not the safe side. Those aren't really "isolated incidents" when they are happening frequently.

When talking about this past season:



When comparing pure #'s, the NFL is higher (more reported concussions - 171 in the regular season), but when you look at what percentage of the league that is:

NFL -

171 / 1,696 players (32 teams x 53 man roster) = 10.08% of the league suffered from "concussion-like symptoms"

NHL -

90 / 690 players = 13.04% of the league suffered from "concussion-like symptoms"

I don't see how those are isolated incidents anymore than showing clips of guys getting tackled would be. They are the part of the game leading to these staggering numbers. Face-offs have nothing to do with the argument at hand.

Where are all the numbers people?

No hockey for your kids either?

It's ok, if you are the ones raising them then I probably wouldn't want my kid playing yours in football since you'll be the parents trying to sue the school or another parent for a unsafe hit or some garbage.