Pros and Cons of Youth Football

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       I decided to begin by researching the pros and cons of Youth Football. I gained much insight from reading both sides.

       Articles against kids playing football warn heavily about the risks of kids playing football. Jonathan Zimmerman, a teacher at New York University, points out football has a high impact rate, especially to the head, which is serious for kids’ fragile bodies. Kids' necks aren't fully developed, so they can't brace for a hit the way an adult can. And their brain cases haven't finished hardening, which makes their skulls more vulnerable to impact. Frequent head impacts can cause brain disease and other neurological issues. In high school, kids are more likely to get a concussion with each passing season. Men’s Health states that all head collisions have consequences, not just concussions. These are called “subconcussive” hits, and although they don’t knock anyone out, they can be more hazardous than concussions. Subconcussive hits can permanently alter the brain’s structural integrity. The more hits a person experiences, the longer it takes to recover each time. It doesn’t take long for the brain to get overwhelmed, which can eventually result in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Manifesting CTE has several symptoms relating to mental health, including major depression, anxiety, loss of intelligence, loss of memory, dementia, and suicidal thoughts, which can sometimes go as far as actually committing suicide. Football is so dangerous that an editorial for the New York Times likened it to alcohol, smoking, and driving; among other age-restricted activities. The editorial declared that we must not let kids play football until they are fully grown adults, capable of consent and able to fully weigh all of the dangers and benefits. The recent surge against football caused a drop in youth football participation and even NFL viewership. Kids are choosing other sports over football.

  

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        Despite all these risks, advocates for kids playing football say the advantages of outweigh the risks. They acknowledge the dangers but say helmets and safety gear is now more advanced than ever, and it’s improving at a rapid pace.  Football is just as risky as any other sport, and youth football is carefully controlled to decrease these perils. Laws have been passed to limit full contact during practices, and kids are taught to tackle properly. Kids who are trained to tackle properly are more confident and less fearful, which reduces endangerment on the field. Kids who don’t know how to tackle correctly pose a greater threat to all involved. 

          Flag football is often mentioned as an alternative to tackle football, but tackle football has greater intensity and is more of a challenge. Flag football depends mostly on speed, whereas tackle football utilizes multiple muscle groups to complete complex movements necessary for the game. Tackle football develops motor skills and establishes discipline at a young age. Not only do kids learn physical toughness, but mental toughness as well. Tackle football also promotes teamwork and camaraderie because every player is as important as the next, and all are counted on for a successful game.

          In addition to all these factors, football is a multimillion dollar sport with the backing of hundreds of companies, colleges and of course, the NFL itself. Football is embedded in American society and culture, and loved by millions of Americans. Parents must choose between love of the sport and dangers of the game.

Works Cited: 

 Zimmerman, Jonathan. "We Must Stop Risking the Health of Young Football Players." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/VWETBE693994308/OVIC?u=west59484&sid=OVIC&xid=1299a871. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018. Originally published as "Football: Unsafe at any level," Los Angeles Times, 13 Sept. 2014.