So far in class we have had a couple of brief discussions about concussions and the impact that this has had on NFL players. With the amount of research going into studying concussions it is becoming more evident that repeated micro-trauma may lead to long term brain damage. Below is a link to a video posted by ESPN's Outside The Lines.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12296503
Dr. Robert Cantu is interviewed in this video, and is well known in the Sports Medicine world as a pioneer in concussion research. Cantu has set the stage for most modern concussion research. Contemporary research is showing more focus towards the impact of concussions on youth athletes. The International Conference on Concussion in Sport meets every few years to discuss new research and trends in prevention. The consensus statement released in 2012 suggests that longer return to play considerations are needed for young athletes below the age of 12 (McCrory P, Meeuwisse WH, Aubry M, et al. 2012). Youth Football coaches typically have less medical knowledge and tools available to them then their, High School, Collegiate, or Professional counterparts. A research study conducted from Michigan State University analyzed the "Heads Up" program for coaches (Covassin, T., Elbin, R.J., & Sarmiento, K. 2012). 326 coaches returned the research survey indicating that 70% of them did not have access to concussion material prior to the "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sport" campaign issued by the CDC.
Trends are positive, in that more coaches are receiving this material and educating parents and young kids on the dangers of playing with a concussion.
As a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for BGSU Football, I have established my own opinion on current trends, and risks associated with playing Football.
I am curious to know... What is your opinion on youth football (prior to High School)?
Would you let your child play youth tackle football?
At what age is it appropriate for children to play organized youth football?
Matthias E. Reiber
sources:
1) McCrory P, Meeuwisse WH, Aubry M, et al. Consensus statement on
concussion in sport: the 4th International Conference on Concussion
in Sport held in Zurich, November 2012. Br J Sports Med.
2013;47(5):250-258.
2) COVASSIN, T., ELBIN, R. J., & SARMIENTO, K. (2012). Educating Coaches About Concussion in Sports: Evaluation of the CDC's 'Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports' Initiative. Journal Of School Health, 82(5), 233-238.
I consider it very important that health related issues are discussed not only in pro-sports but also in leisure-, and first and foremost youth sports. Of what I have experienced from coaching and teaching sports, there is often a common sense that youth sport should be played and practiced the same way as adult or pro sport. Since football is so culturally embedded in the US it would be difficult to impose an age restriction that only allows kids to pick up the game at a certain age. Rather, it is the obligation of superior instances, like national federations, to impose rule and equipment changes in order to protect children from severe impairments, as pointed out in the video clip and Matthias’ blog post.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the question of “whether I would let my own child play football” is concerned, from what I have seen in the video clip and what I have heard about the dangers football, I would definitely say no. However, as one of the parents in the video has pointed, it would be probably pretty difficult to forbid your child something they are so passionate about.
Andreas Khuny
I believe that youth football prior to High School should just be flag football with instruction on how football should be properly played. My basis for my thought is rooted in having educated coaches and strength & conditioning programs. I think a lot of the concussions in youth league football can be attributed to the development of kids at that age. In High School, you go through strength & conditioning programs that help kids develop their strength and speed. It gives kids a better chance of defending themselves as well as developing the strength with the proper instruction on performing a tackle. I would let my son play football starting in High School if he wanted to. I would let him know about the risks involved and teach him the safe way to play the game as well as ensure that he is physically ready to play at a high level. Ultimately, it is a violent game and bad things can happen, but driving your car can be dangerous if others do not know how to drive and I’m not going to restrict my kid from driving based on that.
ReplyDeleteMy love for the game leaves me extremely biased in my opinion, I'll openly admit that before answering. With that said, as it concerns the safety of youth football, I am still not against youth football prior to high school. The reason why I am not oppossed to it is because in other areas such as Florida, Texas, etc., that are more invested into football, kids are not as incapable and under developed as we know kids to be here in the Northwest region. You can make an argument that tackle football could be forbidden in areas that are less invested but I think that takes away opportunity for children. You can argue that it's in their best interest so that they don't get hurt but if that's the case then how about we prohibit certain areas from having an education system because in their City they are less invested due to crime. What I'm saying is instead of taking an opportunity away, why not invest the proper amount of training and education it requires to prevent injuries. Limiting them to flag football may prevent injuries but it isn't preparing them for their future. Once you get to the high school level you are immediately in position to be seen by college recruiters and if you are just now learning how to tackle and how to be physical then its crippling your opportunity to play at the next level. Kids are very capable, I've seen a group of 10 year olds run their own practice with discipline and complete awareness of the game. If kids are getting injured then it is because we are not teaching them right. I would most definitely let me kids play tackle football. I will admit that some kids aren't ready at certain ages. I train student athletes of all ages and we have a second grader and a third grader. The second grader isn't ready, football may not be his thing who knows. But our third grader has been in motor cross since he was five years old and I can tell how being introduced to that sport early has prepared him mentally and physically to be able to handle physical contact as well as being able to handle organized sports. With that said, if 5 years old was old enough to handle motor cross, driving a vehicle and jumping huge open gaps then I can't see how football is an issue. Any sport that has any type of physical nature holds a risk for injury, football should not be singled out.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Robinson
I think that Eric’s idea that youth football should be flag football is a practical option. Just watching the video and seeing young kids slam into each other, whipping their heads back and hitting the ground was very unpleasant. If I were a parent I would not want to watch my child experience those hits at such a young age. One of the parents in the video made a comment about numerous football players all going through that and they turned out fine. While the odds of your child suffering consequences such as loss of proper brain function may not be that high, that is not a chance I would be willing to let my child take.
ReplyDeleteI think another advantage of having flag football for youths would be it may minimize the culture of “playing through the pain” at a young age. I understand that in sports, especially football, that will always be evident but if it were at least delayed that may eliminate some of the extreme cases of life-altering injuries.
Allie McDavitt
My opinion of youth football changes based on the level of play and staff available. I believe flag football is a great option for youth sports to prevent the high impact and reduce concussions and major injuries. I think of gym class from the time I was young even through high school we still played flag football because it was a safe way to learn the game and still have fun. Ultimately when it comes to playing tackle football I think much of the issues lie with the coaches. At a young age many coaches are parents. Unless they are in the medical or sports field they do not have the experience with concussions. I also see the issue of coaches teaching improper technique. When the coaches are not well verse in teaching the proper skills or just throw kids out on a field is where you see issues. Like Jonathan said he has seen 10 year olds run organized disciplined practices. As a parent I would let my child play tackle football at a young age. My only concern or decision to remove them from it would be if the coaches were not doing their jobs and it offered a significant risk for my child. With that being said I think as young as the program starts is acceptable. I think contact starts around the age of 10. The younger the kids are able to learn proper techniques, which can be a challenge is some areas, the better.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Cox
Amanda Notley
ReplyDeleteAs you have stated youth football coaches may have little to no experience when it come to dealing with concussions, let alone does a child fully understand what a concussion really is. With this I feel that organized football should not begin until after the 6th grade. At this point kids are becoming more aware of their bodies and can properly communicate if something does not feel right. Also these kids are soon to be going into high school where more and more coaches are CPR and first aid certified and can potentially identify signs and symptoms of a concussion. I feel like it is very important to protect our youth from repetitive brain damage even if that means that there is a hold on what age they can begin to participate in tackle football. Without any standard rules and regulations concussions can begin affecting the youth at a very important stage in their growth and produce a traumatic brain injury.
Youth football has become something that has been taken way over the top. I would challenge you all to watch an episode of "Friday Night Tykes." This is a show based in the Texas Youth Football League that shows kids in practice and in games. This show shows collisions of kids that are unnecessary and possibly dangerous. It is a fact that concussions are a serious issue in football of all ages. To me, it is a known risk that players are taking. In my opinion, we need to limit the blows to the head that kids are taking by eliminating tackle football until the 7th grade. There is no advantage to grade school kids playing padded football. They develop bad habits from a football standpoint and take blows that they don't need to take. By waiting until then, you will eliminate the physical part of the game and limit the possibilities of injury. Personally, I will let my children play, but not until then.
ReplyDeleteDerek Shay
Youth football is very popular in America. We can draw these conclusions from the gambling clips we watched in class and from shows like Friday Night Tykes, that Derek mentioned. Like Eric, I believe youth football should have some sort of flag football component. If it were up to me, flag football would be the only football for youths until the 6th grade. I chose the 6th grade because I think that’s the age where kids can comprehend proper techniques of football. Let the kids learn the basics of the game during their flag days, and then graduate to tackle. If we outlaw tackle football until high school, kids are going to do it recreationally on their own, which can cause more injury due to lack of technique, knowledge, and equipment. At this point in time, I will not let my children play football. My mom didn’t let me play, and mother is always right! I look at it this way. If one of my kids were to make it to any professional league, the NFL would be the last league I want them in for multiple reasons. The average length of a NFL athlete’s career speaks volumes about the sport of football. The risks to not out weigh the rewards in my opinion. I think youth football can start as early as 4 or 5, as long as it’s flag football. Good Post!
ReplyDelete-David Sims
Matthias,
ReplyDeletePersonally, it is hard for me to say with absolute conviction, "yes, I will allow my child to play tackle football at young age." That is diluted in my mind by the potential changes in technology that we will hopefully see by the time my child is of that age. If concussion prevention hasn't improved significantly, I would have to take a long look at whether I would want my child to participate in tackle football so young.
As far as the appropriate age for organized football, I would say that organized flag football leagues have changed that threshold for me. Around 3rd or 4th grade would seem to be appropriate for that type of activity, and maybe around 6th or 7th grade they could start playing tackle football. At least at that age they can hopefully start to understand the importance of proper tackling technique and the implications of head injuries.
Joey Durant