“Should I put my son in football?”
My son wants to do football but I'm just worried about the amount of injuries that he could have. I don't want him to get brain damage or a concussion or anything. Do you think I'm being overprotective and that I should just do what he wants?
7 Answers
A majority of the research that has been published is that football can lead to brain injuries (aka concussions, which are a fancy, new term to make the injury sound less then what it is). I would not recommend football play but also keep in mind other sports can be just as risky. Cheerleading and soccer tend to have higher rates of brain injuries than football. You have to weight the risks vs benefits of playing a particular sport, but there are many sports out there that provide a good source of development and exercise that don't have such high rates of brain injuries. Tennis, baseball, track and field come to mind...
Greetings! I completely understand your concern. Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game in contact sports such as football. With respect to concussions, approximately 5-10% of participants will sustain a concussion yearly. Certainly, there is the potential for permanent damage with concussions and particularly repeated concussions. I don’t have a son, but if I did, I would probably try to encourage him to play a different sport.
That’s your choice.
This is not a question I can answer for you. You and your son must weigh the risks and benefits and decide for yourselves.
This is a great question that many parents are asking. Football is a big part of American culture and is a great game. I think the answer lies in the comfort level of the parents and the desire of the kids. In my opinion if the athlete loves football and wants to play Dan I would allow them to play. What I would recommend is waiting until the athlete is older and more mature before starting football. Skills that are important in football can be obtained and developed in other non-contact sports such as swimming, soccer, basketball, etc. but the bottom line in my opinion is that the parents have to be comfortable allowing their children to play football which is a sport with the highest serious injury rated any sport.
First, I would ask how old he is. I rarely see a serious injury below ninth grade football. Concussions are a concern for sure, but the past few years, the rules are much more protective as are the coaching/tackling techniques. And the concussion protocols require a minimum of 8-10 days being observed and progressively brought back to full play. All that said, if your son is dead set on playing football, neither of you will be happy until he does. And concussions occur in soccer, wrestling, and less often in baseball, basketball, and volleyball.
Unfortunately, there is no consensus opinion regarding football injuries and concussions. Each parent and player must evaluate their situation on an individual basis. Injuries may occur in all sports and life in general.
Mark Burt, M.D.
Mark Burt, M.D.
