https://www.si.com/2013/10/22/nfl-concussions-head-trauma-special-report
Why should football be banned and not other contact sports?
Football is by far the most dangerous. In the NCAA, football has the highest
concussion rate overall, according to a study by the American Journal of Sports
Medicine. This study also found that player-to-player contact was
the leading cause of concussions, as opposed to contact with the ground, ball,
or equipment. Player-to-player contact is an integral part of football, unlike other
sports such as soccer. Another study, conducted by MedStar Sports Medicine, focused on high school athletes and concluded that football accounted
for more than half of all concussions and had the highest incident rate.
All sports have a risk of injuries, but most of these
injuries can heal over time, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, or sprained
ankles. Concussions will heal, but multiple ones take their toll. While we
can’t eliminate the risk of injuries entirely, shouldn’t we eliminate a sport that
can permanently change lives for the worse? Going back to Omalu’s New YorkTimes editorial, how is football any different from drinking
alcohol or smoking cigarettes? Cigarettes harm the lungs. Alcohol harms the
liver. Football harms the brain. Is it not adults' job to help prevent
kids from engaging in harmful activities?
www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/10/ncaa_and_concussions_a_talk_wi.html
According to the CDC, “A concussion is a type of
traumatic brain injury that can have serious effects on a young, developing
brain. These may include changes in how the child or teen thinks, feels, and
acts, as well as their ability to learn and remember.” Shouldn’t we protect our
kids from a sport with a high risk of brain injury? While I strongly believe we
cannot take away all risk from kids, I do think we should eliminate the ones
that could ruin a child for life.
Would kids be able to settle for flag football until they
reach 14, or even 18? Should we deny even high school aged kids the ability to
play tackle football? High school/college football is a culture in and of
itself. Would stopping football in high school eventually affect the NFL? When
kids get to high school, most have chosen one or two sports to focus on and
hone those skills, with little room to try out other activities. Some argue
that if football isn’t available for teens and preteens, no one will play the
sport (as a career) later in life.
Over the course of researching and writing these three blogs,
I’ve become knowledgeable about the dangers of football, the adversities of concussions
and their effects, and the reasons people continue to let their kids play
football. I do not believe children under the age of 14 should play contact football
and will take this stance in my argument essay.
I had no idea that football had the highest rate in concussions. Or how football’s the most dangerous sport. I can agree why player-to-player contact can lead to many concussions in football. Why try to get rid of the sport or minimize it to flag football? My dad put me in wrestling when I was 7 and did it throughout high school. Sometimes it’s okay to get rewarded to hit another player. My opinion is kids should be able to play football, because like your blog said their most likely to not play it as their career. What’s more dangerous than football? Does Rugby have more injuries or concussions than football?
ReplyDeleteReading your article was really interesting! I did not know how Football is a very dangerous sport. I did know that with all these games there’s a higher risk of getting a concussion. I do agree with you about kids under age 14 to not play football just because it is very dangerous for them, I do believe children can play other sports out there like, soccer or basketball etc. I do think it would be better for them to play football once they’re a little bit older around the age 14 and up like you said. Is flag football dangerous? Would flag football be better for kids under age 14 to play?
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