Should kids play football?
A recent study found that one in four professional football players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE—a degenerative brain disease. Other analyses suggest about 40 percent of amateur athletes playing contact sports show brain changes that are characteristic of CTE, too. Should kids be allowed to play football and other contact sports?
Reply to This Discussion
Have something to add? Sign in to join the discussion.
As a neurologist, I saw many times the kids, along with their parents, minimized their injuries in order to keep playing football. The pressure on the kids came both internally and from the parents. Athletic trainers are now more aware of the effects of head injuries where even minor blows can be devastating, especially with a second impact coming on the heels of the first impact. I doubt better helmets will do much as it is the repeated insults that accumulate over time and aren’t really prevented to any degree by even the MIPS helmets.
If you play sports, you are going to get hurt, possibly with lifetime disabilities or worst. It shouldn't be a tough decision, but it is. The best response for parents would be to say no. Mine did. I wasn't pleased at the time, but I am now.
If the game of football was invented today and proposed to be played by children with all the knowledge of the physical and mental damaged associated disclosed, I would think
it would be
No. The equipment for children is even worse than that for professional football players, and that isn't adequate. I love professional football, but I think it's doomed. The Guardian Caps help, but that may cut the CTEs in half, which isn't truly a solution. I don't want to watch flag football.
Concern should be not just with football, but boxing, Karate, soccer (not contact with the ball but other heads), even men's lacrosse (sadly - a sport I love), ice hockey...any sport in which head protection is worn by any participant. There are so many sports, and, especially with creative changes, which we can enjoy as audiences without needing to risk participants brain health.
Tradition, money, and powerful lobbying can make repeated head impacts socially acceptable—but they cannot make them safe or justify risking brain damage for benefits safer sports can deliver.
In soccer for kids, it is forbidden to hit the ball with the head. As they grow, it starts to be allowed, but restricting the number of times per week. Martial arts for kids are also contactless. Hits on the head can also affect the retina.
I dont think it is a good idea! May be, prevent kids from spoiling their brain till the suspicion is totally cleared!!
there are plently of other games, football, in any case has become a fashion rather than a sport .
Kids should not play tackle football. The risk is just too great. Children can practice specific football skills ( running, throwing, catching, kicking) and play well supervised flag football through high school. Children’s Competitions can focus on the skills, similar to a track meet. Tackle football can begin in college, but only with full disclosure of the risks.
