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| "If you had an 8-year-old kid now, would you tell him you want him to play football?" Ditka asks Gumbel. When Gumbel answers that he wouldn’t, he returns to the question to Ditka. Ditka shakes his head no. "Nope — and that’s sad," Ditka said in the piece. "I wouldn’t. My whole life was football. I think the risk is worse than the reward. I really do." |
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McMahon (who sounds like a punch-drunk boxer)
Duerson (who committed suicide)
Wilber Marshall (who is completely disabled)
Dent (who has trouble walking)
And that's just off the top of my head
Within less than a decade, from what I have read, there will be tests for CTE that can be performed on living humans. When that is available, we will know a heck of a lot more about the risks in all head-contact sports, including football, boxing and MMA.
The answers concern me, I admit, but I won't give up being a fan until the answers are clearer.
or boxing
or UFC
or MLB in the 90s
or Wrestling
So where do you draw the line?
Billions of dollars are flowing into college football. The player see none of it but they are paying for it all. This will change.
Nude :-)
lol
Its my understanding that youth football is actually safer then HS. That's b/c youth football is organized by weight (at least around here), not just age, so you don't have the problem of getting hit by someone that is 100lbs heavier then you.
That said, I don't think I'll let my kids play football. I love watching the Giants, and hope they grow to love it too, but I just don't think the reward is worth the risk.
Hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of kids play football every year. Most of them don't have the athleticism or drive to hurt themselves or others. However they do get a very real development of self confidence, an understanding of team work and learn the value of perseverance and work. Sure, some get hurt but it's a very low percentage and (warning - unsubstantiated fact coming) very few injuries are long term in nature.
Guys get hurt in the pros and at the highest level of college football because they are freaks playing against other freaks. These guys are fast, big, strong and have developed a disregard for their own bodies. For taking those risks, they are highly compensated. You can argue whether the compensation is worth the risk, but these guys have obviously decided that they think it is.
The tip of the pyramid in football, or any professional sport is very small. The odds of getting to a level where getting hit by a 275 lb man who can run a 4.5 40 is microscopic. To deny your 8 year old son the opportunity to play football because you're worried that he might get hurt as a pro is lunacy.
This site, says Boys Ice Hockey is 2nd, with Girls soccer 3rd.
http://www.headcasecompany.com/concussion_info/stats_on_concussions_sports
Football: 64 -76.8
Boys' ice hockey: 54
Girl's soccer: 33
Boys' lacrosse: 40 - 46.6
Girls' lacrosse: 31 - 35
Boys' soccer: 19 - 19.2
Boys' wrestling: 22 - 23.9
Girls' basketball: 18.6 - 21
Girls' softball: 16 - 16.3
Boys' basketball: 16 - 21.2
Girls' field hockey: 22 - 24.9
Cheerleading: 11.5 to 14
Girls' volleyball: 6 - 8.6
Boys' baseball: Between 4.6 - 5
Girls' gymnastics: 7
Hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of kids play football every year. Most of them don't have the athleticism or drive to hurt themselves or others. However they do get a very real development of self confidence, an understanding of team work and learn the value of perseverance and work. Sure, some get hurt but it's a very low percentage and (warning - unsubstantiated fact coming) very few injuries are long term in nature.
Guys get hurt in the pros and at the highest level of college football because they are freaks playing against other freaks. These guys are fast, big, strong and have developed a disregard for their own bodies. For taking those risks, they are highly compensated. You can argue whether the compensation is worth the risk, but these guys have obviously decided that they think it is.
The tip of the pyramid in football, or any professional sport is very small. The odds of getting to a level where getting hit by a 275 lb man who can run a 4.5 40 is microscopic. To deny your 8 year old son the opportunity to play football because you're worried that he might get hurt as a pro is lunacy.
A) Most of those benefits you listed can be found playing any sport, not just football
B) The concern is not whether they get hurt as a pro, its that the long term impact of youth concussions is still poorly understood. Due to that, I'd prefer my kids to play a sport with a much lower rate of concussions.
The thing about concussions that most get wrong, is that they more often do not come from direct impact to the head. They are very common from the head hitting the playing surface or even just the impact of any head on hit violently jarring the head, which rattles and bruises the brain.
The risks are real and should be discussed because that is the only way they can every be mitigated. I believe a technological answer will present itself over time. Call me crazy but I think a combination of going to real grass and soft helmets vs hard helmets would make a huge difference. I think the game can be saved and can be made safer as long as the league sees a need to do it. Right now, I think the changes are mostly cosmetic to demonstrate that at least something is being done. I don't have a big issue with the rule changes designed to limit concussions. Actually a big fan of the blow to the head penalties and the defender launching against a WR penalty. I've always viewed those types of plays as reckless and unwarranted. I have no problem with the end of Steve Atwater type hits. That being said, throw the defenders a bone and loosen up on the pass interference rules.
As noted, other sports have high rates of concussions as well and I don't see the commensurate amount of concern and outrage. Why? Probably the money. Hockey and women's soccer don't come close to the NFL, and I think the NFL gets singled out as the only evil here. Contact sports carry these risks. Even non-contact sports, like track can result in cardiac arrest. A life lived is not for the timid or faint of heart. I guess I would rather live my life doing what I cared about and enjoyed, and I don't think anyone should deny an individual that choice. (Not that anyone is at the current time)
I haven't done a study or anything but I would think the following would reduce the incidents of concussions in the NFL.
1. Get rid of turf and go with grass. So many concussions occur when the head makes contact with the ground. Sure, grass is not as durable, but make the owners eat the cost for their cash cow.
2. There is soft protection inside the helmet and a hard outer shell. Add a soft outer layer of protection to eliminate the ability to use the helmet as a weapon and add an additional layer of protection. Think car airbag.
3. Form tackle, form tackle, form tackle. Watch a rugby game. No one tries to make a BIG hit...why? Because they don't wear pads and would hurt themselves. They always wrap up and tackle using leverage. Pads make a defensive player feel invincible and that's how you get big guys running fast and delivering a hit, but not a tackle. The NFL needs to educate "hitting" out of the game, and return to tackling.
4. Any thing above the neck is out of bounds. It pretty much is now anyway.
5. Invest in technologies to reduce impact to the head. Some helmet designs claim to be better than others. The NFL needs to partner with companies to build a better mousetrap.
Just some thoughts. I don't by any means have the answers, but the NFL is not going to stand by and watch the sport get picked apart (unfairly I think). They will work to save it. Concussions can never be removed from the game, but if the NFL could achieve a sizable reduction, then I think the issue will slowly die down.
Thank you!
Second, concussions aren't the only health issue players deal with. They have joint issues, improperly healed broken bones and soft tissue injuries, repetitive motion injuries, and just much added wear and tear on their bodies. The stories of players in the 40s and 50s not even being able to walk is ridiculous. The average lifespan of an NFL player is significantly less than other American males.
And maybe this particular technology is not the perfect answer, but it shows there is much research to be done in this field and no one is resigned to this simply being the state of affairs.
Military to use new gel that stops bullets - ( New Window )
Second, concussions aren't the only health issue players deal with. They have joint issues, improperly healed broken bones and soft tissue injuries, repetitive motion injuries, and just much added wear and tear on their bodies. The stories of players in the 40s and 50s not even being able to walk is ridiculous. The average lifespan of an NFL player is significantly less than other American males.
Matt, point taken on the grass. Just offering a thought. As for the joint injuries and the wear and tear, that certainly sucks for the individual. But people playing today know all these risks going in. I don't want to say I'm not sympathetic as I certainly am, but former football players aren't the only people who have joint issues and have a hard time walking once their careers are over. It's a life choice, which some would make and some wouldn't. I don't condemn the sport for it nor the person making the choice. I'm not one to play the macho card in any way, but I strongly think that any argument against the continuation of the NFL because of the health issues experienced by retired players is not a determination any of us can or should make. If enough people continue to chose to accept the risk then ok. The league will thrive and survive. If enough people decline, then society has voted with their feet. In the meantime, the NFL has a responsibility to make things as safe as possible and should devote their immense resources to that.
Matt, I agree with you. And I would also acknowledge that the repetitive & jarring hits to the brain are the big issue. Interested in hearing what you think might help.
I don't think concussions can ever be eliminated, but I think their instances can be reduced and that should be the goal.
Preventing Sports Concussions - ( New Window )
If that happened then we no longer live in a free society. According to the Mayo clinic there is a 5-10% chance of getting a concussion while playing a contact sport. The actual rate depends on the sport and the position you play.
The average tackle occurs at 25 mps. The average soccer ball travels to the player's head (for a header) at 70mph.
Of note, motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death among adolescents, and teenagers account for 12% of all auto accidents. Do we punish those parents for negligence?
Not trying to compare apples and oranges here, but there is risk in all things in life. Concussions in contact sports is just one of them and it needs to be mitigated. Some doctors think that neck strengthening exercises and working on balance on stretching can help mitigate the impact of jarring hits.
Second, as for what might help with concussions, it's tough. There were always and will continue to be a lot of concussions in the sport. For a good portion of the league's history, there were probably 100s, if not thousands, of concussions that were never diagnosed or treated. As I said, better padding and shaped helmets/facemasks will eliminate some concussions and other injuries from direct hits to the head. I actually have heard some compelling arguments for reducing the padding and strength of helmets to force players to go back to form tackling and not using their bodies as missiles. Outside of that, only drastic measures like eliminating a lot of contact will work.
I do remember, though, a Sports illustrated article in the 80s about equipment. eric Dickerson (still with the Rams) was on the cover and a focal point of the piece. He basically said, if they make it, I'll wear it. He had a neckroll, thick thigh pads, knee pads, rib pads, forearm pads, upper arm pads, etc. He bucked the trend of skill position players foregoing thigh pads and/or knee pads to add speed (although I think that more applied to WRs). He did remain relatively injury free.
I will say that to eliminate a good deal of other soft tissue injuries, much stricter drug testing for PEDs needs to be enacted. I laguh every time I hear the NFL referenced for its strict testing policies. When MLB first implemented testing, this was common. The truth is, the NFL allows an obscene amount of testosterone in its testing (something like 9x the normal levels). These are levels the body couldn't reach naturally. so, there are countless players passing drug tests with years of PED usage. The PEDs increasing muscle mass are putting huge strains on ligaments in joints that were not meant to bear the brunt of such oversized muscles. This is also where you see a lot of otherwise rare muscle tears, like biceps and pectoral tears. It is also why you see a lot more hamstring injuries. It also may factor into more foot injuries, as average body mass has skyrocketed in the NFL over the last couple of decades.
Second, as for what might help with concussions, it's tough. There were always and will continue to be a lot of concussions in the sport. For a good portion of the league's history, there were probably 100s, if not thousands, of concussions that were never diagnosed or treated. As I said, better padding and shaped helmets/facemasks will eliminate some concussions and other injuries from direct hits to the head. I actually have heard some compelling arguments for reducing the padding and strength of helmets to force players to go back to form tackling and not using their bodies as missiles. Outside of that, only drastic measures like eliminating a lot of contact will work.
I do remember, though, a Sports illustrated article in the 80s about equipment. eric Dickerson (still with the Rams) was on the cover and a focal point of the piece. He basically said, if they make it, I'll wear it. He had a neckroll, thick thigh pads, knee pads, rib pads, forearm pads, upper arm pads, etc. He bucked the trend of skill position players foregoing thigh pads and/or knee pads to add speed (although I think that more applied to WRs). He did remain relatively injury free.
I will say that to eliminate a good deal of other soft tissue injuries, much stricter drug testing for PEDs needs to be enacted. I laguh every time I hear the NFL referenced for its strict testing policies. When MLB first implemented testing, this was common. The truth is, the NFL allows an obscene amount of testosterone in its testing (something like 9x the normal levels). These are levels the body couldn't reach naturally. so, there are countless players passing drug tests with years of PED usage. The PEDs increasing muscle mass are putting huge strains on ligaments in joints that were not meant to bear the brunt of such oversized muscles. This is also where you see a lot of otherwise rare muscle tears, like biceps and pectoral tears. It is also why you see a lot more hamstring injuries. It also may factor into more foot injuries, as average body mass has skyrocketed in the NFL over the last couple of decades.
Matt, I agree with all you just said. I am an advocate of reducing the padding that unintentionally encourages players to behave as missiles. I also think every player should adopt Dickerson's approach. If a neck role or collar can limit instances of injury, then do it.
Along with the testing (which I agree with) the league also needs to look at strength and conditioning. Some franchises seems to have a lot of emphasis on strength and little on conditioning. Team trainers need to emphasize flexibility and building the durability of tendons and ligaments. Big biceps actually don't do much for you athletically. (and over generalization for sure)
Flexibility is super important and becomes more important when players bulk up. I remember in the 70s there were a few players who did ballet in the off season and some mocked them, but it was actually smart. Then in the 80s and 90s you saw some guys doing martial arts for the same reason. Now, it is yoga. I feel like some sort of yoga or other movement and flexibility regimen should be a staple in every teams strength and conditioning program these days.
Flexibility is super important and becomes more important when players bulk up. I remember in the 70s there were a few players who did ballet in the off season and some mocked them, but it was actually smart. Then in the 80s and 90s you saw some guys doing martial arts for the same reason. Now, it is yoga. I feel like some sort of yoga or other movement and flexibility regimen should be a staple in every teams strength and conditioning program these days.
Matt, I should have specified. What I mean is the second half of your first paragraph. Smaller and lighter pads, but add more pads, like the neck role etc...
To assume that an 8 year old will/can not develop some degree of impairment through youth fb (8-12) and HS (13-17) is lunacy. Those are the years I would do everything I can to protect him against unnecessary risks. Playing at the college or pro levels is his choice.
It's actually an easier statement to make from a wheelchair or hospital bed. As a player, coach and broadcaster for almost 4 decades I believe he has seen enough for his opinion to be valid. It seems he has been fortunate enough to get through clean, not so some of his teammates. To degrade his opinion makes no sense.
Tens of millions of American men played youth and high school football, but no higher level. If the risk of impairment were so great simply from those levels, wouldn't there be a helluva lot of evidence of it?
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To deny your 8 year old son the opportunity to play football because you're worried that he might get hurt as a pro is lunacy.
To assume that an 8 year old will/can not develop some degree of impairment through youth fb (8-12) and HS (13-17) is lunacy. Those are the years I would do everything I can to protect him against unnecessary risks. Playing at the college or pro levels is his choice.
I do think you can make a good argument that it should all be flag football until junior high at the earliest. No telling what kinds of injuries these pee-wee players are incurring that only get compounded as they get older and continue to play. Better to have them work on skills without the hitting at such a young age.
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To assume that an 8 year old will/can not develop some degree of impairment through youth fb (8-12) and HS (13-17) is lunacy. Those are the years I would do everything I can to protect him against unnecessary risks. Playing at the college or pro levels is his choice.
Tens of millions of American men played youth and high school football, but no higher level. If the risk of impairment were so great simply from those levels, wouldn't there be a helluva lot of evidence of it?
At this point in time, no. The case is barely open.
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To assume that an 8 year old will/can not develop some degree of impairment through youth fb (8-12) and HS (13-17) is lunacy. Those are the years I would do everything I can to protect him against unnecessary risks. Playing at the college or pro levels is his choice.
Tens of millions of American men played youth and high school football, but no higher level. If the risk of impairment were so great simply from those levels, wouldn't there be a helluva lot of evidence of it?
No one is arguing that the chance of brain injury is high for youth sports. At least I don't think they are. The stats I listed above say the concussion rate for Football is like 80 out of every 100000 kids. So thats like 0.08%. But the risk of concussion playing football is far higher then other sports. So if it comes down to a choice between football or soccer/baseball, I'd prefer my kids to play the safer sport.
And the science is still up for debate regarding concussions and things like CTE. First of all, CTE can't be diagnosed till after death, and only if an autopsy is performed. So people may have some issues due to youth sports that never get diagnosed. Is grandpa forgetful and grumpy b/c he is old and has alzheimers, or is he forgetful b/c he had too many concussions as a kid? That can't be proven till after death.
by Dr. Alexander K. Powers
I am a pediatric neurosurgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Health and I love sports. Sometimes these two passions collide.
I grew up playing soccer, basketball, baseball, and rowed crew. I also have three children, including two boys, ages six and eight, who play Pop Warner football. [...]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 135,000 children ages 5 to 18 for sports-related brain injuries. Most of these injuries are concussions, and the children recover. But the prognosis for children who suffer repeated concussions, even mild ones, is unknown. It’s hard to imagine your child as a disabled, middle-aged man, but repeated concussions could put a child at risk for such crippling conditions as early onset dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders that require neurosurgery that no one wants to think about on the sidelines at a football game.
[...] Children and teens are more likely to get a concussion than an adult. And the younger they are, the longer it takes for them to recover. [...]
Often young players and their parents don’t want to take my advice. They want their child to play --- in spite of a lingering headache, in spite of an injury to their growing brain. I understand. Remember, I love sports as much as the next guy. But I have a rule for my own boys. If either one suffers a concussion at this tender age, he’s done with football. The risk for future complications is too great. That’s their dad, the neurosurgeon and sports lover, speaking.
That's his take. There are probably other doctors with different opinions. If I had an 8 year old son I can't imagine my gambling his future, maybe his life. But that's just me.
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To assume that an 8 year old will/can not develop some degree of impairment through youth fb (8-12) and HS (13-17) is lunacy. Those are the years I would do everything I can to protect him against unnecessary risks. Playing at the college or pro levels is his choice.
Tens of millions of American men played youth and high school football, but no higher level. If the risk of impairment were so great simply from those levels, wouldn't there be a helluva lot of evidence of it?
Maybe not. For example, I played HS football for one year and was forced to choose between baseball and football. Anyway, at one point in the season, I was practicing on the kick blocking unit along the line. I got my clock rung more than a few times just from banging head on with a guy 4-50 pounds heavier (if not more). Looking back, I may or may not have suffered a concussion during one practice. It went undetected by coaches and normally would at that level. But, I also knew little about concussions at that point. It wasn't until a few years later, in college, when I confirmed with a doctor having suffered a concussion that I became more aware. The bottom line is, at every level including the NFL, concussions went unreported and even undetected in many instances, until the last decade.