High school football taking lots of hits

[Nwalls]

We got 2 players cheap shooting an official, and now we got a J.V. player in Georgia being severely beat
up in Georgia by his teammates as 3 coaches watched. Afraid high school football is losing what high school
athletics is suppose to be and educational experience for all involved. Coaches need to be role models at
all times and handle adversity the correct way. The awesome thing about sports is young people working
for a common goal, doesn't matter the race of the student athlete, and learning how to deal with disappointment. If the coaches can't lead in a very constructive matter they need to get out of the profession they are doing great damage.

 

[kaching]

Hadn't heard about the JV thing in Georgia. Have enough problems getting kids out for football already. This stuff doesn't help

 

[JoeyNorthlandoKCMO]

I have taken some insults for being a "bad parent" for letting my kids play football. But the fact is, if my kids wanted to climb K2 or Everest...I would support them. I would rather them die living their dreams than live wishing they had.

 

[WaggleQB]

I love football, played in HS and no higher. I love watching football. Loved the experience. I do not have a son, if I did or ever do, I am not sure If I'd want him to play. It's a very dangerous/violent sport, its much more time consuming than it was when I played, it seems like it is year round now, and SOME, not all, HS football players act as though they are someone special and that rules do not apply to them. I have a nephew who plays Pop Warner in the north KC area and man, those people are freaking CRAZY. He has 11 coaches, nicer uniforms than the high school he will attend, plays 10 games (more than he will play in Jr High or as a Freshman). My sister and Bro-in-law are worried he will not get to play in HS if they don't do PW. I think I'd risk it.
NCAA players want to be paid, a full ride scholarship just isn't enough.
NFL is all kinds of messed up with cheating scandals and players doing stupid stuff after stupid stuff.

 

[Liberator Dad]

I have to say that I believe football, if coached properly, is a safe sport. The recent attacks are more a sign of problems in our society with discipline than with the sport. My son is fortunate enough to play college ball and he has payed for his schooling and enjoyed the companionship of some great fellow players. Even some he used to play against in high school. I do think we need to look long at hard at contact before middle school. Many youth programs do not have good equipment and there may be safety issue there. Flag football teaches the basics and makes the sport more of a learning experience regardless of the size of the players.

 

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

We got 2 players cheap shooting an official, and now we got a J.V. player in Georgia being severely beat
up in Georgia by his teammates as 3 coaches watched. Afraid high school football is losing what high school
athletics is suppose to be and educational experience for all involved. Coaches need to be role models at
all times and handle adversity the correct way. The awesome thing about sports is young people working
for a common goal, doesn't matter the race of the student athlete, and learning how to deal with disappointment. If the coaches can't lead in a very constructive matter they need to get out of the profession they are doing great damage.

That is not a problem with high school football any more than a hit and run at Arrowhead Stadium is a problem with Camaros..

 

[cardsbeatwriter]

Because of the 24-hour news cycle and the creation of hundreds of "online news outlets" we are bombarded with the noisy minority as I like to call them. These issues we read about are serious and need local attention. But a team in Texas and another in Georgia do not represent high school football. There are thousands of programs across the country doing things the right way, teaching kids, and molding them to be better citizens. But those stories don't sell papers and attract clicks.

 

[WaggleQB]

Because of the 24-hour news cycle and the creation of hundreds of "online news outlets" we are bombarded with the noisy minority as I like to call them. These issues we read about are serious and need local attention. But a team in Texas and another in Georgia do not represent high school football. There are thousands of programs across the country doing things the right way, teaching kids, and molding them to be better citizens. But those stories don't sell papers and attract clicks.

Absolutely 100% true!

 

[JoeyNorthlandoKCMO]

I love football, played in HS and no higher. I love watching football. Loved the experience. I do not have a son, if I did or ever do, I am not sure If I'd want him to play. It's a very dangerous/violent sport, its much more time consuming than it was when I played, it seems like it is year round now, and SOME, not all, HS football players act as though they are someone special and that rules do not apply to them. I have a nephew who plays Pop Warner in the north KC area and man, those people are freaking CRAZY. He has 11 coaches, nicer uniforms than the high school he will attend, plays 10 games (more than he will play in Jr High or as a Freshman). My sister and Bro-in-law are worried he will not get to play in HS if they don't do PW. I think I'd risk it.
NCAA players want to be paid, a full ride scholarship just isn't enough.
NFL is all kinds of messed up with cheating scandals and players doing stupid stuff after stupid stuff.

Youth football deemed "generally safe."


http://www.momsteam.com/health-safe...stion-that-limiting-contact-practices-mistake

 

[wcfanfourever]

Only not safe if you start talking about doing away with it around here

 

[cardsbeatwriter]

I agree youth football as a whole in this country needs to be looked at. As long as Dads are primarily in control there be an issue. As a parent I would like to see what make little Timmy's father qualified to coach my kid and more importantly qualified to teach the safest way to play the game. Have they attended a Heads Up program?
Ultimately it may be asking to much of these kids, many are still struggling with coordination and I think may times their poor mechanics are a result of them struggling to control their body in the first place.

 

[ou812]

I coached HS football for many years.
I currently have a son that is a sophomore and plays the game.
It is still a great sport that offers many kids an opportunity to grow, learn how to handle success and more importantly learn how to handle adversity.
The media today is, without a doubt, waging a war on football and every misstep by a player or coach is magnified like never before.
The game itself is dangerous. That cannot be debated. With proper teaching and technique, those dangers can be decreased but they cannot be eliminated. That said, I worry much more about my son being injured or killed while texting and driving than I do from playing the game of football.
I would never tell a parent they are wrong for not letting their child play the game. That is a choice that each family needs to make, but the sport doesn't make it easier on itself when negative things that can be controlled by coaches are allowed to take place.
It is not the same game it was a generation ago and never will be. It has evolved since its inception and will continue to do so. That's a good thing, because the evolution of the game will give it the best opportunity to survive.

 

[bullitpdq68]

When you are trying to relive your glory days through your son and his friends on Saturday afternoons you have issues. Youth football is not about the wins or loses, Its about having fun playing a game and learning the rules and fundamentals of that game. It should be just as fun as playing tag on lazy summer night for those kids. I think now days coaches try to hard to win titles and championships and make it about you and not the kids and how fun the game can be, they stress that if you are not a winner in 3rd grade you won't be a winner later and that is wrong not everybody can win those loses can be just as important to the child development and lessons as wins.

 

[WaggleQB]

I agree youth football as a whole in this country needs to be looked at. As long as Dads are primarily in control there be an issue. As a parent I would like to see what make little Timmy's father qualified to coach my kid and more importantly qualified to teach the safest way to play the game. Have they attended a Heads Up program?
Ultimately it may be asking to much of these kids, many are still struggling with coordination and I think may times their poor mechanics are a result of them struggling to control their body in the first place.

I think, I may be wrong, that every one of the coaches on the field (according to my bro-in-law) must pass the Pop Warner coaching test. Its pretty much a test on-line that is pretty much open book. There is a HUGE safety piece involved. My sister is very confident my nephew is being coached the correct and safe way to play.

 

[red & black brotherhood]

If i have a son that wants to play football then i will support and encourage him to do so as long as he is having fun and enjoys it. I enjoyed my days playing and the memories that i made. One thing about football being year round teaches better than any class in the highschool is that life is a grind. So you better figure out how to love the work and do it with a smile on your face. Once youre in the real world theres no 3 month summer break to relax.
"Love the work to win"
"The reward for hard work is more hard work" - coach bailey

 

[StefanDjordjevich]

I played pop warner football all the way up. In Ampipe we get pads day 1 of 3rd grade and immediately get into a goal line defense and play man behind it. If the other team score then you aren't allowed to ever play football again. Thats how i grew up, i know it is alittle different these days. They do allow the offense to score 1 time. But if they score a second then those kids are not allowed to play football. PERIOD

Go Bulldogs.

 

[JoeyNorthlandoKCMO]

I played pop warner football all the way up. In Ampipe we get pads day 1 of 3rd grade and immediately get into a goal line defense and play man behind it. If the other team score then you aren't allowed to ever play football again. Thats how i grew up, i know it is alittle different these days. They do allow the offense to score 1 time. But if they score a second then those kids are not allowed to play football. PERIOD

Go Bulldogs.

I liked your TopGun Movie better, Tom.

 

[shoot90draw]

I liked your TopGun Movie better, Tom.

Tom? That is THE Stefan Djordjevich! They made a documentary about him! He is this boards' famous person and one heck of a football player! Even got a scholarship to Cal Poly!

 

[wcowherd]

Would you feel comfortable letting your child play football now knowing what we know about concussions and repeated head blows that are not concussions?

 

[footplayer54]

Tom? That is THE Stefan Djordjevich! They made a documentary about him! He is this boards' famous person and one heck of a football player! Even got a scholarship to Cal Poly!

So wait. I thought that movie was fake. Was it actually based on a true story?

 

[ou812]

Would you feel comfortable letting your child play football now knowing what we know about concussions and repeated head blows that are not concussions?

Absolutely, however, in hindsight, I would wait until middle school to allow him to begin playing tackle football.

My son started playing tackle football in 5th grade (that's the earliest they can start in our town). He enjoyed it but I'm not convinced he gained any more from it than he could have gained playing flag football.

I would encourage all parents to wait for middle school to start the tackle version of the sport. I coached many kids that didn't begin until middle school, or even high school, and they excelled just as much as kids that had played since 5th or 6th grade.

 

[StefanDjordjevich]

So wait. I thought that movie was fake. Was it actually based on a true story?

The REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD BABY! I was there. I lived it. I cant help it, if my senior year made for a heck of a HS football movie.

 

[StefanDjordjevich]

I liked your TopGun Movie better, Tom.

low blow,sir, low blow

 

[bullitpdq68]

Would you feel comfortable letting your child play football now knowing what we know about concussions and repeated head blows that are not concussions?

I would, and their mom has no issues with it as we discuss it. But our daughter has already suffered two major concussions playing basketball and softball. One knocked her out for an entire basketball season. Her mom will tell you it can happen in any sport she would actually prefer her boys not play basketball because of how the refs let them play now and after seeing how her daughter got hurt. She thinks football is safer. Our daughter now plays college ball and her mom always worries.

Now we don't see our sons going on to play college or pro ball. And I don't think you see a lot of kids that just played youth, Junior high and High school walking around with head issues from their glory days. Just a curious question out of those in that you know who played football just in youth threw high school, do you know any that are suffering because of all the head trauma they suffered while playing football? Serious question I know alot of people around these towns that played in youth threw high school and knock on Wood I have yet to hear of any who have been diagnosed with brain damaged because of it. I would like to see a study done on the affect of those who just play youth threw high school and brain damage? because yeah we see all these studies on Pro players who played for years but I want to know more about the risk of the average player who will never play beyond high school?

 

[W Card]

Just a curious question out of those in that you know who played football just in youth threw high school, do you know any that are suffering because of all the head trauma they suffered while playing football? Serious question I know alot of people around these towns that played in youth threw high school and knock on Wood I have yet to hear of any who have been diagnosed with brain damaged because of it.

I know of none but Lord knows there are some that I suspect!

 

[Rock Hard Corn Frog]

Would you feel comfortable letting your child play football now knowing what we know about concussions and repeated head blows that are not concussions?

Frog Jr gave up football a couple years back mostly for other reasons but I don't know that I would have been totally comfortable with it though had he wanted to keep playing I would have been all for it. I think JoeyNorthlandoKCMO put it pretty well. I have my limits but I wouldn't let my comfort level get in the way of my kids dreams.

I think parents and students should be armed with the information of potential risks and then make decisions for themselves. I also agree the bullitpdq68 that I don't know of problems with concussions and repeated head blows from kids playing in pee wee leagues.

 

[wcowherd]

I would, and their mom has no issues with it as we discuss it. But our daughter has already suffered two major concussions playing basketball and softball. One knocked her out for an entire basketball season. Her mom will tell you it can happen in any sport she would actually prefer her boys not play basketball because of how the refs let them play now and after seeing how her daughter got hurt. She thinks football is safer. Our daughter now plays college ball and her mom always worries.

Now we don't see our sons going on to play college or pro ball. And I don't think you see a lot of kids that just played youth, Junior high and High school walking around with head issues from their glory days. Just a curious question out of those in that you know who played football just in youth threw high school, do you know any that are suffering because of all the head trauma they suffered while playing football? Serious question I know alot of people around these towns that played in youth threw high school and knock on Wood I have yet to hear of any who have been diagnosed with brain damaged because of it. I would like to see a study done on the affect of those who just play youth threw high school and brain damage? because yeah we see all these studies on Pro players who played for years but I want to know more about the risk of the average player who will never play beyond high school?

There are high school kids that do have CTE from high school football. They highlighted a case on dateline.

The scary thing is that our knowledge about football and CTE is still in its infancy. Until a few years ago we didn't even know subconcussive blows could cause CTE, but the evidence is quite clear that they do.

I love football and I'm not sure I would prevent my kid from playing. I just know I wouldn't base my decision on people that I know or anecdotal evidence. I'm afraid when I get to the age that I have kids, the scientific evidence will be that even blows to the head in the high school level will be enough to cause CTE in an average brain. I hope there's some helmet technology on the horizon that it renders this issue obsolete.