High school football

[Broomd]

...

As far as other sports, I've seen WAAAAAAAAAY more concussions in wrestling, soccer and girls volleyball(which I have coached). Three of our best wrestlers are permanently done with the sport because of repeated concussions.

Best of luck to you and your boy.

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Can honestly say that as a wrestler--middle school & varsity...I never had a single head injury and don't know of one either. Cauliflower ear was common obviously.
As a varsity soccer player (and coach) I did experience concussion, and know of others who did as well. It's very hard on the head. Dangerous sport for head injuries.
I'm no snowflake, I love hard nose sports, but the older I get the more I think football should be banned at any age. Hairston's struggle with CTE is everywhere and it's getting worse and worse.
The class action lawsuit that is going to hit the NFL will be EPIC. I told the wife I wonder if the word 'trillion' will cover it...

Hard to imagine full contact football existing in 10-20 years.

 

[bowtech840]

Actually- glory days should be your entire life.....So instead of asking ‘why not allow them to experience football for a few years’, we should be asking ‘how do I develop my children to enjoy life always’. You say ‘they can work the rest of their life’, I teach, if you make the right decisions, ‘you never work a day in your life, you simply understand your calling in life and ENJOY it daily’......just different perspectives and approaches. None better than the other!

I chose the words "glory days" because you said you liked that statement. Those were your words not mine. I do agree there is a lot more to life than hs football but you only get one chance to experience it. Having your dad make you work a minimum wage job behind the counter at McDonald's while your buddies play football would seem to have more of a lasting impact to me. Agreed, different strokes for different folks.


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[idahohikker]

The CTE research is too damning for football. Changes are too slow coming. I was a pretty good hs quarterback but my kids won't play. The Washington State kid that committed suicide had CTE. Never started in college or had any concussions history. Obviously as a QB he didn't get touched in practice. Seriously.

 

[Takem]

Quitting mid season is tough but if my kid was consistently getting his bell rung I would consider it.
I have a 5 year old boy and I don’t want him playing football because of CTE. Like his older sister he’s already into baseball and basketball which are both good for team building. I’ve stopped watching football because I don’t want to be a hypocrite and I don’t want him exposed to it. It’s also a terrible time of year to be tied up. I’d rather they play winter and spring sports as much as possible and leave late summer and fall for hunting and fishing.

 

[woods89]

I chose the words "glory days" because you said you liked that statement. Those were your words not mine. I do agree there is a lot more to life than hs football but you only get one chance to experience it. Having your dad make you work a minimum wage job behind the counter at McDonald's while your buddies play football would seem to have more of a lasting impact to me. Agreed, different strokes for different folks.


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I guess my dad was one of those dads. By the time I was 17 I was paying my own cell phone bill, had paid for a cheap car and all associated costs myself, and had a construction job. Took a high school home course in my spare time. And paid a quarter of my income home until I left home at 21 and got married.
Now I'm 29, run my own construction business with my brother, am happily married with two children, and am thankful every day that my dad taught me that life is serious business. Did I miss out by not getting to play football? You must be kidding......
And as to the OP's question, no way. I don't want them losing their memory before I lose mine.....

 

[idahohikker]

I don't watch football anymore either to not be hypocritical as well. Not support the machine that ignores the brain injuries.

The toughness football teaches is why I'd want my kids to play. I do think that can be found elsewhere though. Basketball gets plenty rough in the lane. Running 400s and 400m relays is agonizing by the last corner. Hunting hard in rough country is as tough as bashing heads in football. I think that other team sports and hunting will teach sufficient lessons.

 

[LostInSpace278]

For myself, I would not encourage it, nor do I even allow my own son to play. After 9 years of playing football in school, I blew my knee out my junior year and could not play anymore. I was the starting half back and the starting corner back that year. By my senior year, none of the coaches had time to even say hello to me. This was in the 90's and the culture has only gotten worse since.
In this world of throw away people, keep your kids as far away from football as possible.

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[bowtech840]

I guess my dad was one of those dads. By the time I was 17 I was paying my own cell phone bill, had paid for a cheap car and all associated costs myself, and had a construction job. Took a high school home course in my spare time. And paid a quarter of my income home until I left home at 21 and got married.
Now I'm 29, run my own construction business with my brother, am happily married with two children, and am thankful every day that my dad taught me that life is serious business. Did I miss out by not getting to play football? You must be kidding......
And as to the OP's question, no way. I don't want them losing their memory before I lose mine.....

Happy you're doing so well! Congratulations! But how do you know you didn't miss out on anything since you didn't play? I played football and have had a real job since I was 14. Payed for my own car, cell phones weren't real popular until I was leaving for college. So it is possible to do both. I remember playing on Friday nights and working Saturday morning? 34 married with 2 children and also thankful every day. I must be one of the few million ppl that escaped high school and college football without incident? I guess I'll just consider myself lucky!


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[amassi]

Add me to the list of millions of people never Injured playing football, I played tackle football for 13 years from pop Warner to college. I played LB/ FB and was on special teams so I had my fair share of collisions

Thanks to my time in the marine corps I've participated in a number of studies on TBI comprised of different brain scans and all clear.

Granted, over 15 years of athletics I didnt come through unscathed sports are dangerous after all:
Broken ankle- soccer
Broken orbital bone- baseball
Broken wrist- wrestling
Dislocated shoulder- wrestling
Wrestling also accounted for my only likely concussion, but coaching protocol at the time was to toughen through it
Miniscus tear- track and field: discuss
Broken fingers (2)- basketball

Back to football,
-Coaching and awareness is much better than it was when I played. The age of bear Bryant coaching is way Over
-Tackling technique has improved and targeting isn't allowed. The helmets and mouth pieces are much better and required to be worn.
-Concussion protocols are standard around the us. -Coaches, referees, training staff and parents are all experts in recognizing symptoms and removing players.

Some high school football players even go on to live normal lives, have careers, find love and can recognize their friends and family well into their golden years.

I guess what I'm trying to say

#dontbubblewrapyoursnowflakes

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[idahohikker]

Tyler Hilinski, who died last year at age 20, proves all of that wrong about the greater awareness of concussions and tackling technique. CTE isn't something that happened from old school football. The game involves bashing heads and collisions.

The other thing to bear in mind is that broken wrists and torn knees heal, usually. A broken brain is a lifelong tragedy. My dad likely has CTE or something serious from a high school concussion. I had high school concussions like most of my teammates. I graduated in the 2000s. Research shows that even non concussive hits have negative effects. Serious business that's being ignored for $ by the leagues.

I get it's hard to walk away from because of love for the game. Looking at it from a logical rather an emotional perspective makes football a lot less appetizing to play or watch.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Nope. Wouldn’t push football for any reason and would discourage it if it occurred. Evidence given today, that was scarce or unavailable when we were kids, shows the risk isn’t worth the benefit. We’re given a certain responsibility as parents to make informed decisions for our children. Macho, tough as nails attitude to play or die just isn’t a need I have for me or my son.


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[mtmiller]

This is getting me all fired up. You’ve never lived till you can go back and say “ I put that multi-millionaire moon cricket’s dick in the dirt.

Classy racist crowbar. Doubtful CTE issue.

 

[Savage99]

I don't watch football anymore either to not be hypocritical as well. Not support the machine that ignores the brain injuries.

The toughness football teaches is why I'd want my kids to play. I do think that can be found elsewhere though. Basketball gets plenty rough in the lane. Running 400s and 400m relays is agonizing by the last corner. Hunting hard in rough country is as tough as bashing heads in football. I think that other team sports and hunting will teach sufficient lessons.

Wife’s father and brother ran D1 in the 400. FIL says 400 is the most grueling event because it’s the longest sprint.




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[woods89]

Happy you're doing so well! Congratulations! But how do you know you didn't miss out on anything since you didn't play? I played football and have had a real job since I was 14. Payed for my own car, cell phones weren't real popular until I was leaving for college. So it is possible to do both. I remember playing on Friday nights and working Saturday morning? 34 married with 2 children and also thankful every day. I must be one of the few million ppl that escaped high school and college football without incident? I guess I'll just consider myself lucky!


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Thanks. I went back and read my post again and wish I hadn't been quite so prickly. Obviously I feel strongly about it but it's easy for me to forget that typed out comments come across so different than face to face. You obviously also take life seriously, and have things squared away.
Best of luck this fall!

 

[JWP58]

I guess my dad was one of those dads. By the time I was 17 I was paying my own cell phone bill, had paid for a cheap car and all associated costs myself, and had a construction job. Took a high school home course in my spare time. And paid a quarter of my income home until I left home at 21 and got married.
Now I'm 29, run my own construction business with my brother, am happily married with two children, and am thankful every day that my dad taught me that life is serious business. Did I miss out by not getting to play football? You must be kidding......
And as to the OP's question, no way. I don't want them losing their memory before I lose mine.....

Dad-gum! World by the tail by 17, and a fledgling entrepreneur to boot. If only we all had the drive and work ethic to live with the folks until 21.....must be the brain damage....

To the OP, if your child isn't getting playing time, encourage him to work harder.

 

[Shrek]

Knowing the damage I did to my body and the long term health issues I wouldn’t let my son play football. There’s other sports that don’t have near the risks of permanent injury.

 

[AK Troutbum]

If only we all had the drive and work ethic to live with the folks until 21.

I got a pretty good chuckle out of this one.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Classy racist crowbar. Doubtful CTE issue.

Lololololol

Didn’t think yall had that particular species of cricket in the mountains of Montana. You must be envious of all the beautiful music they make here in the Southeast. They also require a lot of government sponsored up-keep in order to be graced with their beautiful music.




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[CrzyTrekker]

It occurred to me football isn't the only sport where tough decisions have to be made. You have to protect your children, because they will almost always choose glory over their own future health.

My oldest son, now in college, was a very good baseball player. He was a starting pitcher from age 10 on up. Thinking back, I remember several games where coaches, accustomed to winning, didn't want to remove my son after a certain number of pitches. One of us in the bleachers always kept a count and when it was time I'd approach the coach and say "he's done." In a tight championship game, one of the coaches tried to convince his mother and I to keep in in. Sorry no can do. Let the other guy pitch.

I wouldn't let my boys play football and even in other sports, you have to do the right thing for your kids.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

This is really a question only the OP and his child can answer. There's hundreds on here that can make a strong case against HS Football and hundreds in support of it... Everything you do, every day has calculated risks. Make a piece of toast, drive your car, etc... All come with a certain level of risk, most of which we identify as acceptable but when you get into pastime's and sports the answers start to get a lot more gray. You can hide in the confine's of your home with all your appliances and lights off for fear of the outside or you can take some calculated risks and enjoy life. How much risk is acceptable? That's for each individual (or in this case the parent/child) to answer. A good friend's kid is doing the HS rodeo bit right now... you look at anyone that's rode for any amount of time and there's almost always major fractures, concussions, etc... but the kid loves it, is aware of the risk and genuinely has fun.

One thing I don't buy is the life lesson nonsense. Sure there's some nostalgia in the Friday night lights, varsity blues, etc... romantic idea of HS football but you learn lessons in life by living life. Football didn't teach me a thing about hard work... actual hard work did. A couple hours of practice after school each day was a walk in the park compared to real life work. It didn't teach me anything about work together for a common goal, working with co-workers did. It never taught me how to be financially responsible, succeed as a husband&father, not go into unnecessary debt, payoff student loans, build a business, manage people, etc... That was all learned at the school of hard knocks. Football was fun and that's why I played, and that's why it should be played. Using it in lieu of parenting (i.e. hoping football toughens a kid up, hoping it builds them into men, teaches them life lessons, etc...) means the parent is doing a poor job on their end and is selfish at best.

To the OP: If the two of you decide football isn't right then great. Find something else constructive and do it. You only have a short amount of time with your kids before they aren't kids. Maybe that's hunting, maybe it's organized sports in some other area (HS trapshooting has exploded in areas), maybe you guys make a commitment to each other to go play shuffleboard on Saturday mornings.... it doesn't matter. Spend time together as much as possible. You only get 1 chance to be a kid.... may as well enjoy it.