I myself grew up playing football since middle school. I was lucky enough to only ever have 1 concussion where I lost memory of that game my Jr year. That was my final game, mostly because my team was absolute garbage and was not worth risking myself for.
I’m turned out pretty normal, maybe a few screws loose. But if I try to remember what happened that night, my brain definitely hurts.
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Education is important. I would do my level best to make sure my child knows what they’re getting into. They’re going to get hit, they’re going to hurt, they might get injured; but if they’re still willing to go forward with it then I’m willing to support them.
Played from pee wee all the way through high school. I dealt with a few concussions (defensive line) and finished my playing “career” with a leg injury I still haven’t been able to fix properly. Personally, I would try and help them find a sport that wouldn’t leave them waking up with problems the rest of their life.
Nope. I’d direct him to other sports.
I’d encourage it. I have no problem with it. Personally, before high school, I played rugby, football, judo, ice hockey, greco-roman wrestling, gymnastics, the works. And I played football straight through high school.
To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never been concussed once, despite a lifetime of playing sports expressly designed to give you one. Never hurt my back or neck, either. You get kids started on contact sports at an early age, they learn how to take a hit and endure a fall. And that’s the most important part about sports.
I wouldn’t. Even without concussions there are many other risk of injuries that worry me.
If he wants a contact sport, I look towards boxing or kickboxing so he has something useful if he needs to defend himself
Their father does a whole lot of shit that is dangerous and can easily lead to death. So they would never be forbidden from playing a sport because of the risk of injury. They will be well educated on all the risks though and the decision will be up to them to play. Then we will see how/when they get injured and reevaluate after every major injury.
Hell. No.
I played football throughout my childhood and I love the sport, but I’d have serious discussions with my kids if they really wanted to play. If they really wanted to, I wouldn’t stop them, but it’s a dangerous game.
I grew up in a “pads are for pussies” household… so hopefully he plays rugby.
But if the kid wants to play foozeball, I’ll support it. I’ll just ensure his school focuses on safety
I’d let them, provided they were doing so aware of the risks. The odds they go past high school with it and end up running really serious risk is pretty low.
I’d be curious as to why. Did their friends get them interested? Was there some other adult putting the idea in their head? Do they just want a legitimate way to knock other kids over?
I was first knocked unconscious on the football field when I was 7 years old back in the early ‘80’s. It wasn’t the last but it led to life long behavioral and emotional issues before I was even out of my teens. A single concussion can change the course of a child’s life. Repetitive head impacts children receive playing contact sports can cause CTE and derail their future. I would encourage further reading here https://concussionfoundation.org/stop-hitting-kids-in-the-head or on r/cte.
I wouldn’t allow it.
Too dangerous.
I told both our grandsons I wouldn’t train them play footall. Wrestling (scholastic, freestyle, greco), soccer (right back, sweeper, goalie), and wifey and I taught them baseball* (I played catcher but wouldn’t teach them, shortstop, 3rd) but not football. “Boot” plays shortstop and “Arty” plays 3rd. Both have made their respective league’s Select Teams.
*Wifey went to community college to play softball, I played baseball at community college because I was already on a football scholarship.
Only if the shithead and throw a pigskin over them mountains.
There was something floating around on the news about how youth leagues are considering or propositioning for flag and no-touch football for younger kids. I noticed they did that for this year’s pro bowl too. Honestly why not, cuz it’s more fun looking anyhow. With today’s tech and medical sports sciences, it’s hard not to think it might be the better option despite all the people who are arguing that ‘tackle ain’t never hurt nobody’.
He’d be shit out of luck. There are no teams. He can play rugby, though. He has the build for it and has a tendency to pick up the ball and run with it when he plays football. Must be genetic.
I played from pee wee league up into the Semi Pro league. Loved every minute, but I do know it’s a dangerous sport. However I don’t want to just tell my kid not to. If they want to play football then I’ll support them all I can.