Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (Full Version)

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SacredDepravity -> Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/10/2012 10:01:46 PM)

Today I had a moment that I have sort of been expecting for a long time, but was hoping to somehow avoid. A recreational league coach approached us at the restaurant we were visiting and wanted to know if one of the anklebiters wanted to play football. I knew this was coming because he happens to be built like a Mack truck, so it wasn’t all that surprising. Then they turned their attention to the other anklebiter. The other one is very young still, athletic, but still. Before the outcries of overprotective mom start up, I want to make my case up front.

I just have my very serious concerns. These are young, developing bodies and brains here. The media has recently been saturated with news of the early demise of football players that have been contributed to long term, pre concussive traumatic brain injury. These gentlemen have suffered from everything from unrelenting headaches, mood disorders, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, impulse control issues, personality shifts, loss of bowel and bladder control, and more. These were not old men. I believe Seau was in his 40’s when he wound up taking his own life.

Folks studying this phenomenon have attributed it to, not the serious and obviously dangerous concussions suffered comparatively infrequently, but to the constant use of the head as a battering ram and the regular, small joltings the brain takes daily in practice and during every hit of the game. While helmet technology can reduce these repetitive beatings somewhat, studies have shown that even the best helmets are woefully inadequate and players still experience significant whipping and shearing of the brain within the skull even in the best of equipment.

Even more disturbing is the link they have found to the age a player starts taking hits and the time and intensity of onset of brain injury symptoms. While the evidence is clear that football isn’t good for anyone’s brain, it seems to have an even more profound effect on younger brains. Obviously, since the brain is still developing and trying to form the appropriate pathway’s, these traumas can disrupt the proper forming of these pathways, so the kids are pretty well out of luck before they even have a chance. There was a stir recently about the MRI of a deceased high school football star that showed brain damage equivalent to that of a person in their 80’s. As I recall, he had been playing since elementary school. Many pediatricians are advising against participation in football prior to middle school at the earliest.

Sadder than all of the above is that many neurologist and psychologists have been sounding the alarm for many years. The studies hadn’t been done, but the links were strikingly clear. Unfortunately, no one seemed to want to address the elephant in the room. More kids went on, with parents in the dark, to play. Most don’t appear to have any symptoms, but time will have to tell. In the meantime, we hear of NFL players falling to drug addiction, violent dispositions, dementia, and even suicide and some parents can now only hold their breath and hope for the best.

Combine this danger with little boys (and girls) wanting to grow up to be football stars, families without the funds to send their children to college, and the multi million dollar contracts out there for the exceptionally talented and it is just a recipe for disaster. Do the anklebiters want to play? Of course they do. Do they have some very strong motivation, as might I, for them to play young so they can gain the level of ability needed for all the goodies dangled in front of them? Sure. So exactly what do you do? Risk their future health for the scholarships and miniscule chance of big bucks? How about forbidding it with the “not my baby” attitude while the kid piles up student loans trying to get through school without it?

Frankly, I love football. I am right on the couch with my big bowl of popcorn screaming like a maniac for my team all year long. I get pumped up at the big hits and cringe and it is marvelous. It is not my intention for there to be no more football. Adults can make that decision and place their bodies at risk if they so choose. But when those adults have to start as children to even have a shot, parents have a heavy decision to make. While I am relatively certain what mine is, I wanted to hear other people’s thoughts on the matter. Kids and football? Worth the risk? Or too high a cost?

SD




poise -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/10/2012 10:12:19 PM)

Heck, I thought I was being unreasonable when I cringed at the enthusiasm my youngest son had for little league baseball.
What fool in his right mind thinks it's healthy to stand out in sweltering 100 degree heat waiting for a ball to come your way?

All I can offer is, buy them alot of books, and hope they find more interest in them than in football. :)



CRYPTICLXVI -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/10/2012 10:33:59 PM)

RUGBY!!! I had my son playing it from age 7 until he stopped at age 16. Recreational leagues since none of the schools have it as a sport. Also, talked and the injuries are nothing like football, everyone moves in the same direction, when they are hit it is forward, no impact running into each other. You don't have the risks of impact injuries... usually broken bones, pulled muscles, etc. if anything and the leagues don't become full contact until they get older anyway.

The downside, my son is shorter and at the time he was in his early teens, his muscles were forming so fast he got stretch marks on his upper arms, so low center of gravity... and the point is, when he was 12 or 13 he got into it with some football players in Middle School, getting into a fight with six of them when after they started with him, he told them that pads were for pussies. I got to "bail" him out of the principal's office... and when he returned from his suspension, the football coach tried to recruit him. He turned him down saying that it was a whole different dynamic and he didn't want football to fuck with his rugby playing.

A couple of years ago, he was actually receiving interest from the University here to play rugby for them... though now, after years of not playing, he would have needed to have lost weight and gotten back into shape. Still, rugby is a good choice with out running the risk of major injuries.



DaddySatyr -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/10/2012 10:43:36 PM)

Two of my boys played football and all of them played baseball.

I played both sports, when I was younger and I coached my boys (when I could) and gave them the benefit of my experience.

While the information coming out about brain injuries is relatively new, if I knew about these things then, I wouldn't have been as supportive of my sons', wanting to play (My youngest is 24 and my eldest is 33). In all fairness, I wouldn't have "laid down the law" against them playing, either.

I have no idea how old your UMs are but, I believe that once they're about 14 (High School age or so), we've probably taught them all we can about a plethora of things and we have to start the process of independence by allowing them to make decisions.

Abso-freakin'-lutely, it is our responsibility to make sure that they have all the information they need to make those decisions but, there are still going to be "kids" that decide to risk the injuries because they really do love the game (I wish more professional athletes could remember their love for the game).

I know it is a scary proposition, as a parent and I don't envy you your position. I'm glad I didn't have to face these things, when mine were growing.



Peace and comfort,



Michael



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 12:52:30 PM)

Thanks to everyone for alleviating the concern I had that I was being an alarmist. This is a very serious consideration and one not to be taken lightly. At least, that's my take on it. No one could be more of a proponent of allowing a kid to be a kid than me, but the parents have to draw the line when necessary. I am of the mind to let them try it out for the season and see if there is even any deeper interest. By next season, we will have a better handle on what is going on. We will know if it was just a stage or if we have to examine things further in consideration of a long term path.

I spoke to both coaches and asked about the types of gear used and what types of hits were allowed. I asked about how they provided for their safety beyond pads and helmets including how they train the players to hit and be hit. I made it clear that if I ever thought it was going too far, I would pull them immediately. I plan to attend their practices and games so I can see for myself exactly what they are subjected to on a regular basis. I am also there if, God forbid, something were to happen to ensure they are cared for properly to prevent further damage. For the rest, I guess prayers and jitters in my seat will have to do it.

It was amazing to me as I talked to the other parents who were returning members how little they knew about how and why things were done on the field and what kinds of outcomes are possible. This has been all over the news, but it was as if none of it had reached many of their ears. I certainly can't judge or fault them for it necessarily. I had background on this before the NFL inquiries began. It just happened to be part of the field in which I have expertise. If this isn't a normal topic that would draw your attention, I guess those reports would have been too unclear for a person to understand the link they were attempting to make. My reactions ranged anywhere from outrage to concern. It is not that individual parents are completely in the dark. I think every football mom says at least once, "...but it's so dangerous." which is a subconscious understanding that the game is inherently risky. There was no fact sheet or attempt to inform parents or players of what these risks are and how prevalent. There was just contact information and money for the most part. I was shocked and still don't know what to say.

SD



littlewonder -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 1:10:49 PM)

I'm not sure how I feel about this topic. I have a girl who never played sports so that may be why I'm kinda torn on this subject but I have many nephews who all play football and baseball since they were about 6 years old or so. Each one has been hurt in some way from it...broken bones, torn ligaments, concussions, etc.... My one nephew who is now on rounds to become a physician's assistant, played baseball up until he started college. He's broken his clavicle, arms, legs, had a concussion, hit in the stomach leading to a hernia. Despite all of that, he loved to play even though my sister did not want him to. She knew however that she needed to allow him the freedom to play. I also think that kids have always played sports and I would see this as part of the "ritual" of becoming an adult. I think we try to protect our children far too much in this new society of ours. But I also see your point about the new facts out and such but I think it's also too early to be an alarmist or become frightened.

I just think we should allow kids to enjoy these sports and just keep a watchful eye out for them. Let children be children for awhile.



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 1:40:24 PM)

Yes. And at the same time, hold the adults we entrust with their safety accountable for teaching safe, clean play, providing appropriate equipment, and enforcing the rules.

SD



littlewonder -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 1:42:08 PM)

Well yeah there is that as well but kids are gonna get hurt...period, no matter how safe we try to keep them. It's just the nature of both the sports and being a kid. We can't wrap them in plastic bubble wrap and tell them to go have fun. Well, we could but I think people may look at him kinda strangely. [8D]



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 1:51:35 PM)

Nothing is foolproof and in the best programs kids get hurt and that's like a fine print they don't even have to put on the permission slip. At the same time, if I discovered, for example, too late that the school or league was using substandard helmets, I have to look myself in the mirror for not so much as even asking the question. Proactive and reactionary are two different things. I hope that how I have chosen to handle it is proactive. My impulse last night was reactionary.

SD



CynthiaWVirginia -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 2:46:46 PM)

My son was huge for his age and has broad shoulders. They all pushed for him to be on some ball team (I live in redneckville) but I said no and I'll tell you the several reasons why.

I used to watch the little kids playing football and soccer when I lived in California. They played using our college's field some of the time. Little five year olds running around, doing what should have been fun (I enjoyed lots of sports as a kid, but it was kid organized, often backyard baseball and such. It was FUN.)...but these games were very stressful, uber serious instead. Adults behaved in ways that deserved a beating, and I frequently saw the five year old kids being screamed at and cussed out and I was like, WTF??? Let the kids play? Indeed. This was all about adults and what they wanted, not about the kids actually having fun. In WV, most of the little kids involved in team sports joined up for the pizzas afterward, and to prove to other six and seven year olds that they weren't "faggots". It didn't matter if a boy had girlfriends, the term didn't have much to do with being accused of being gay, but an ephet (sp?) to label someone for not "being a man". I still miss the times when sports were fun and more than the cheerleaders and quarterback had a positive experience. Am only saying this from my area of the country, mkay? Maybe it's better elsewhere.

Health wise, I knew of a kid who got hit on the head with a baseball and they thought he was fine, but to be safe the coach took him to the hospital. I don't remember what state I was in at the time. Anyway, this was a LITTLE kid, not a jr. high school kid. The boy died in the hospital waiting room while waiting for his turn to be seen. (This was over 25 years ago.)

My son was lucky to have a mom with three old back fractures...cuz when I sat in the bleachers and people started stomping their feet, the vibration from the stands would totally mess up my back and I would be in agony, lol. I would have to leave half way through a game. Years before when I was a nanny, among my many assorted past jobs, two little boys I was in charge of had to be taken to their ball games and practices. I saw too much and it wasn't fun like I had as a kid, but their dad expected them to "be men" and play sports, even at six and seven years of age. I used to get sun burnt waiting outside in the stands and the whole soccer mom type thing was a complete drag. In other words, my son would have had to have been obsessed with playing sports before I would have been willing to suffer that much.

The year I spent in Ohio as a kid during the years where they did bussing...the school had to invent a new grade for the ball players. They were not allowed to keep playing ball if they got an F in one of their classes on a report card...so the school invented a D - - (yep, that was a D with TWO minueses after it). It was funny that ball playing was held in such high esteem but actually learning in school wasn't. Playing ball takes a lot of energy, and very few seem to be able to earn good grades and have time to play ball too, so some schools bend to make it easier on the sports team players. Very few kids grow up to make it to the big time and make big bucks...isn't it something like thousands of wannabes for every one player who makes it? Around here, our whole town was poor as dirt so most of the boys dreamed of leaving through becoming a big time ball player. Over twenty years later, our town has still had nobody who made good money through sports. Teaching kids to give up learning in school to put all of their energy into sports so that they can become famous someday is...selling them the Brooklyn Bridge. If their energy had been channeled into becoming doctors, lawyers, computer experts, they would have been much better off than they are now...working part time at Walmart and McDonalds and whatever. My son was a slow learner and I decided to put education first and save any sports for fun, running around and squealing "kid time".

If I had stayed in California things might have been different. In WV, all the boys were into football, baseball, and basketball. My son was obsessed with golf, hockey, and volleyball. None of these were available in this area. I would have bought a lawn chair, sat in a motorized go cart, or would have just plain suffered for that last one. I think the hockey thing would not have panned out in the very first year and he would have gotten it out of his system sooner, lol, and I could always have burned our copy of The Mighty Ducks or whatever that movie was called. We had no ice rink in the area.



littlewonder -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 2:51:15 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SacredDepravity

Nothing is foolproof and in the best programs kids get hurt and that's like a fine print they don't even have to put on the permission slip. At the same time, if I discovered, for example, too late that the school or league was using substandard helmets, I have to look myself in the mirror for not so much as even asking the question. Proactive and reactionary are two different things. I hope that how I have chosen to handle it is proactive. My impulse last night was reactionary.

SD


I can understand that. Where I grew up and my nephews live still, the kids had to raise their own money and buy their own uniforms so if it was substandard it was the fault of the parent. It's how the school kept liability down.



OsideGirl -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 3:49:42 PM)

This is "M", OsideGirl's Master & Husband. Apologies for the wall of text, but it's mostly necessary.

I played high school football and was very successful at it. In my senior year, I was an all-state linebacker and 2nd team All-American. I also went on to earn a full-ride scholarship to a California university. I didn't play Pop Warner or any of the junior leagues of youth football because we moved around so much when I was younger and didn't settle into a league. I had a game where I had 32 tackles. That single-game tackle record stands at my HS 30 years later. I'm proud of it.

I will give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of my experience.

The good:

Football is, without a doubt, the greatest team-building sport there is. In no other sport does a young man (or woman, if she so chooses) learn the importance of putting team before self, doing your job well, protecting the man next to you. I won't be so trite to say football is war and football players are warriors, but there are a lot of parallels. I learned a lot about myself on that football field and gained a great deal of confidence and strength. I learned teamwork, honor and respect. There is a bond among men who have played football, we know these guys when we see them. It's in their walk. It's in their eyes.

The bad:

I got hurt. A lot. And some of it was bad. People ask me how many concussions I had playing high school and college football and I always say "1 or 2...............................hundred" That is not an exaggeration. We called it "Getting our bell rung". It's not uncommon to have it happen 4 or 5 times a game, 1 or 2 times a practice. Back when I played (late 70s-early 80s) we didn't think it was a concussion unless you lost consciousness or became severely disoriented. We now know that each of those "bell rung" incidents was a small concussion. We used to practice the answers to the concussion questions so we could remain in the game.

Q "What day is it?" A: "Friday" (Had to be Friday, we were playing football)

Q "How many fingers do you see?" A: "Two"

Q "HOW MANY?!" A: "Three" (It's always either 2 or 3)

Q "How you feeling?" A: "Good, put me back in"

I once had a concussion so severe that I stopped in the middle of practice on Wednesday and looked around confused. Coaches and friends wanted to know what was going on. I asked "Where is XXXXXX (our opponent the previous week)?. They were saying "What are you talking about? We beat those guys!" Long story short, I got a concussion during a game on Friday night, lost all memory of the remainder of that night, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday. To my perception, it was like someone flipped a switch. One moment I was in the stadium under the lights, the next moment I was on the practice field in full daylight. I remember tht precise moment vividly. I still don't have any memory of the 5 days I lost. I laughed about it then, but we now know that was a very severe concussion that could have been life threatening.

I broke my collarbone, more fingers than I can count (they get stuck in facemasks), my nose and finally ended up getting a catastrophic knee injury that ended my collegiate football career. 30 years later, I have constant chronic foot pain, a knee that is sometimes excruciating to even straighten out, back and neck problems. Thankfully, I have no post-concussive symptoms.

The ugly:

There are some people who are around that game for the wrong reasons. (Coaches and supporters) They will prey on a young man's athletic talent and use him up, then toss him away like an old dishrag. The youth coaches tend to be old warriors who want to reclaim glory they once achieved on a football field, or worse pretenders who never got to that glory but want to live it through others.

I had a game where opposing players kept going after my knees over and over again. (There's an unwritten rule that you don't do that) I realized that I was a marked man on that football field and they were trying to take me out of the game. On the next play, I went hard after the quarterback and broke his leg. Did I mean to break his leg? No, I did not. But I wanted him out of the game, to send a message. When we went back to playing, they were still coming after me with cheap shots. I ended up hitting their backup QB and giving him a concussion. There was no intent on my part on this particular play, but I knew enough to send a message even if I hadn't meant that particular hit in that way. I walked over to their sideline, looked the coach straight in the eye and said "You're gonna run out of quarterbacks if you don't stop trying to hurt me!" I got called for unsportsmanlike conduct and got a 15 yard penalty. On the next play, one of the players came out and said one word to me. "Truce".

Performance enhancing drugs are prevalent in that sport, even today. When I played, steroids were so common that they weren't even kept remotely secret. I did them and they worked. I got bigger, stronger and faster. I also got meaner. The day I left HS for college, I was 6ft 2in 256 lbs. I had a 32 inch waist and could not wear jeans because my legs were too big. I ran a 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds (very fast for a big man). Some of that was my own genetics and hard work, some of it was steroids.

It was not uncommon at all to get an injury treated with a cortizone shot in order to get a player back into action. The problem with cortizone is that you cannot feel you are injuring yourself further.

This is not near as prevalent in youth football as it is in higher levels.



Would I play again? In a second. Does that make me a sick man? Nope, there are lots of other things that make me a sick man.

Would I let my son play? I don't have any kids, but yes I would. I would be slightly hesitant to let them play youth football because coaching is so hit or miss. Better to have no experience than to learn bad habits. But a good HS program, I would have no problem with. I would make sure that they had the best safety equipment that money could buy, even if the school didn't provide it. Technique is everything. It is what makes you excel at your position and it is also what keeps you from getting hurt. I see so many injuries at the NFL level that are due to bad technique.



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 4:11:51 PM)

littlewonder- I wish I had the option to purchase the equipment, but it is actually against the league rules and would mean he couldn't play in games. I don't know how I feel about that yet.

CynthiaWV and M- Thank you so much for your wonderful responses from the inside, both as a parent and a player. They have given me valuable information and help me to know what to look for in a good program or be alarmed by in a bad one.

If we can coax M out of the shadows again, would you be willing to tell me how many of the gentlemen you played with HAVE had concussion related issues immediately or after the fact and how it has affected their lives?

SD



OsideGirl -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 4:28:16 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SacredDepravity

littlewonder- I wish I had the option to purchase the equipment, but it is actually against the league rules and would mean he couldn't play in games. I don't know how I feel about that yet.

CynthiaWV and M- Thank you so much for your wonderful responses from the inside, both as a parent and a player. They have given me valuable information and help me to know what to look for in a good program or be alarmed by in a bad one.

If we can coax M out of the shadows again, would you be willing to tell me how many of the gentlemen you played with HAVE had concussion related issues immediately or after the fact and how it has affected their lives?

SD


SD, you're welcome. I'm happy to help.

I don't know of any players that I played with who had any long or short term concussion effects. (Well, I see the QB from my alma mater on TV a lot because he's now an NFL analyst, and he seems to be an asshole, but that may be genetic) [8D]



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 4:56:59 PM)

LOL

While we may want to and sometimes can blame assholery on a brain condition, it just usually isn't so.

Thanks!

SD



DomKen -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/11/2012 5:11:26 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl
The bad:

I got hurt. A lot. And some of it was bad. People ask me how many concussions I had playing high school and college football and I always say "1 or 2...............................hundred" That is not an exaggeration. We called it "Getting our bell rung". It's not uncommon to have it happen 4 or 5 times a game, 1 or 2 times a practice. Back when I played (late 70s-early 80s) we didn't think it was a concussion unless you lost consciousness or became severely disoriented. We now know that each of those "bell rung" incidents was a small concussion.

The ugly:

There are some people who are around that game for the wrong reasons. (Coaches and supporters) They will prey on a young man's athletic talent and use him up, then toss him away like an old dishrag. The youth coaches tend to be old warriors who want to reclaim glory they once achieved on a football field, or worse pretenders who never got to that glory but want to live it through others.

I had a game where opposing players kept going after my knees over and over again. (There's an unwritten rule that you don't do that) I realized that I was a marked man on that football field and they were trying to take me out of the game. On the next play, I went hard after the quarterback and broke his leg. Did I mean to break his leg? No, I did not. But I wanted him out of the game, to send a message. When we went back to playing, they were still coming after me with cheap shots. I ended up hitting their backup QB and giving him a concussion. There was no intent on my part on this particular play, but I knew enough to send a message even if I hadn't meant that particular hit in that way. I walked over to their sideline, looked the coach straight in the eye and said "You're gonna run out of quarterbacks if you don't stop trying to hurt me!" I got called for unsportsmanlike conduct and got a 15 yard penalty. On the next play, one of the players came out and said one word to me. "Truce".

Performance enhancing drugs are prevalent in that sport, even today. When I played, steroids were so common that they weren't even kept remotely secret. I did them and they worked. I got bigger, stronger and faster. I also got meaner. The day I left HS for college, I was 6ft 2in 256 lbs. I had a 32 inch waist and could not wear jeans because my legs were too big. I ran a 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds (very fast for a big man). Some of that was my own genetics and hard work, some of it was steroids.

It was not uncommon at all to get an injury treated with a cortizone shot in order to get a player back into action. The problem with cortizone is that you cannot feel you are injuring yourself further.

This mirrors my experience in high school football. Personally until better helmets and better treatment for concussions comes along I'd be against a child of mine participating. If I did let the hypothetical play I'd monitor them closely for steroid use as the stuff is easy to get, commonly used and very bad for health in the long term.




MercTech -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/12/2012 11:14:48 AM)

Football - the OTHER religion

Only true believers are allowed a chance at popularity in High School



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/12/2012 11:20:15 AM)

While I have decided to let the anklebiters play, I am doing so, as you stated, DomKen, with eyes wide open. If I see something that is inappropriate or dangerous, I will say something. If it is not corrected, they are out of there. There are always other leagues and other teams. Frankly, one of them is just happy to play a sport...any sport. I might turn to basketball, soccer, or even rugby. He doesn't care as long as he gets to run around, work out, and hopefully win a game or two. The other one has decided to just work out with his team and learn a position while he gets himself in better shape and will go out for the school team next year. He is more adamant about sticking with football, but he found out very quickly he wasn't ready for competitive play yet. Still the momma vigilance is up and I know what we are getting into.

SD



DaddySatyr -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/12/2012 11:44:02 AM)

I just re-read some of this and I did forget to mention a few things.

As parents (in general) with our first, we are ill-prepared for a lot of things.

The difference in age between myself and my eldest is relatively small, when considering what we knew about sports injuries in 1976 and 1986 (I think that's when he started playing).

By the time I got 'round to my youngest playing, I had new information (he started in 1998).

I bought him the best (through trial and error) mouthpiece that money could buy and I kept several on-hand in case something should happen to the "game piece".

I was constantly checking and replacing the padding in his helmet. I became something of an "equipment manager" including tapping information from a local college equipment manager in whom I had some faith.

I bought him arm pads, rib protectors, shin guards, and a face shield for his helmet. None of these things were provided by the league/schools for which he played.

I took every precaution I could to ensure that he would be as protected as possible.

My youngest was a line backer and was somewhat reminiscent of Troy Palomaulo (or however the hell he spells it; number 43 on Pittsburgh) in that he might not have been in on every tackle but he had this uncanny "football radar". he knew where the ball/play was going and was always right there, at the play even if he didn't make the tackle.

He had ability and talent and dedication ...

I say this just to show that this was a partnership. It was not something I necessarily wanted him to do but it wasn't something I didn't want him to do, either.

One last issue what a lot of parents don't fully comprehend is that football is a violent sport but it needs to be, to a degree. I think "M" will agree with me when I say that a young player (it happens mostly with the younger ones) who is playing "half-speed" because he doesn't want to get hurt or because he doesn't want to hurt someone else is in grave danger of getting hurt, anyway.

There's no place on the field for equivocation. If your child doesn't seem like they really want to be there, have a talk with them and if they're holding back for any reason, you may need to pull him off the field, also.

I caution that you make sure that's the case before you do it but, I am promising you that hesitation can be just as bad as someone on the other team "gunning for him".



Peace and comfort,



Michael



SacredDepravity -> RE: Football, Hard Hits, and Kiddie Leagues (8/12/2012 3:34:41 PM)

Thank you, Michael. And I totally agree. I know they will want to do things in life that make me uneasy and the best thing for me to do is help them do it the best and as safely as possible. Further, we have a lot of football player folks in the family and you are very right. There can be no doubt out on that field. Fear will get you hurt fear of hurting someone or getting hurt.

SD



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