After a lawsuit occurred which lead to things being discovered about concussions in youth years. People are questioning if youth football should continue. This Lawsuit, Debra Pyka, claims that her son suffered from repeated head injuries in youth football causing CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). Her son eventually committed suicide at the age of 25. CTE has been in the news greatly after Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian, American Physician, Forensic Pathologist, and Neuropathologist discovered and published the findings of CTE. Concussions are dangerous alone they have many short and long term effects. These short term effects can happen immediately including vomiting, tinnitus, and vision changes. Long term can include memory disturbances, …show more content…
Youth football can be used for many other reasons too. Peter Schwartz shares three main reasons why kids should play football. These reasons are for the love of the game, physical activity, and teamwork and discipline. Each of these reasons are valid for kids. When it comes to the love of the game, children should never play a sport they don’t love or enjoy. Physical activity goes a long way, society nowadays are at an increasing rate where children are inactive. A study from 2012 Center for Disease Control and Prevention Report, 1 of 6 U.S children are obese. Playing youth football can help get physical activity in any kids. Lastly teamwork and Discipline may be the most important part of youth football for the future. Peter Schwartz states, “During my 26 years in sports media, I've had many football players tell me that the sport played a big role in their lives, not just on the field but off the field” (Schwartz). Playing youth football builds discipline in a child and a tool for learning teamwork. This sport is where you have to concentrate on your job while being able to trust your teammates on what they are …show more content…
Each and every year the sport is becoming more safe through rules, new equipment, and techniques that are being taught to the kids. There are some main reasons why kids should be playing the sport while they are young. They should do it for the love of the game, kids should not play a sport teu do not enjoy. Another reason they should be playing the sport is for the physical activity which helps the kids get out and play. Also helps with teamwork and discipline which goes a long way. Football also helps you with certain skills that are needed in life such as social, competitiveness, sportsmanship and leadership. All of these skills will help kids which problems in the future and help them have a more successful life. Football is a dangerous sport but in every sport there is a chance for the child to get a concussion. When it comes to concussions, it’s a dangerous injury in young years of development for the brain but precautions are being taken for the sport to make it safer. This should not be the only reason to cancel a sport many people kids grow up watching and want to have the chance to
Concussions, a minor traumatic brain injury that may occur when the head hits an object, are a huge problem in football in high schools and lower levels today. Concussions are very common in football, concussions have a huge negative effect on the brain, and parents and schools are worried about their kids safety. Concussion, in football, are a rising problem especially since the NFL is being sued for hundreds of millions because of concussions. High School football is very violent on children and thats why it is losing some participants.
During a regular season game on November 23rd, 2015, between the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens, a sold-out crowd of onlookers watched as the St. Louis Rams’ quarterback Case Keenum had his head slammed viciously against an unforgiving turf by a Ravens defender. The Rams, whose owner was at the time working to move the team to a $1.86 billion dollar abode in Los Angeles, left Keenum in the game even though Keenum grabbed his head in pain and struggle to walk following the hit. Though Keenum was diagnosed with a concussion after the game, the NFL did not penalize the coach or owner for the decision to leave Keenum, obviously in pain and unable to perform in the game. As Baltimore fans cheered on their defense in the win, this example serves
The number of concussions in professional and amateur football has been rising and has sparked much controversy in recent years. These concussions are most likely linked with disease and even the deaths of some pro and semi-pro football players. New research is attempting to solve the problem but the issue is still prevalent in football today.
Not many sports are as physically demanding on the human body as football. The physical toll that football players pay is almost impossible to comprehend unless one has actually played the sport for a significant amount of time. However, until recently any connection between the hits taken by football players and their health down the road was largely ignored. A common, yet difficult injury to detect in football is a concussion, the most common traumatic brain injury (Pearce). A concussion is defined as “a brain injury that is caused by a sudden blow to the head or the body. The blow shakes the brain inside the skull, which temporarily prevents the brain from working normally” (Heiner pa.5). Reports and studies have surfaced shedding light on just how much damage is inflicted upon the brain due to crippling hits. These studies suggest that NFL athletes who received concussions suffered lasting damage to the brain, which opens the gate to a multitude of other health issues such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and clinical depression (Pearce). This is an aspect of the game that not many are aware of and it is a serous issue that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. There have been too many heartbreaking stories such as that of Justin Strzelcyk who heard voices and died in a crash while fleeing police or that of Andre Waters who shot himself in the head after struggles with depression (Zarda pa.1). Many current and former players are suffering in silence; this shouldn’t be the case. The National Football League needs to extend a hand to former players debilitated by head injuries. The problem of concussions and other head injuries in the NFL is one that needs to be tackled head on.
Nonetheless, some parents are still very reluctant to put their kids in football or rugby. This, I believe, is why high contact sports could eventually perish. Fewer and fewer kids are playing sports each year where there is an elevated risk of a head injury or concussion. (Paine) Parents do not want to gamble with their children’s mental ability and thus deny their children the opportunity to participate in high contact sports. In some sports, they have changed all sorts of rules and almost completely changed the game to ensure player safety. For instance, Hockey Canada called for a rule change to delay body checking in minor hockey. Instead of having the kids learn how to hit in PeeWee (ages 11-12), they have pushed it back an age group to Bantam (Ages 13-15). (CBC Sports) Parents were becoming too nervous about placing their children into a sport where there was hitting or hard body interaction for absolutely no reason. Why spend thousands of dollars for your child to play a contact sport and risk having them injured when there is little chance of making it as a professional athlete. Essentially, contact sports are becoming less popular among younger children and
Many memories are made in football, but sadly some of the greatest players cannot recall them. The National Football League has been associated with concussions and brain traumas throughout the years, but lately it has been exposed by media and NFL veterans. The league recently “reached a $765 million preliminary settlement with thousands of former players who were suing the league over its treatment of concussions…” (Waldron). Many former players are experiencing the effects of taking hard hits over and over again; they were not properly treated, which makes the injury worse and long term. The concussion issue in the NFL is more prevalent today, because it affects not only the players, but the league as a whole.
Everyone has heard about the so called “Concussion Epidemic” in the National Football League. The stories are everywhere from SportsCenter to local news stations. Concussions are when a person gets hit on the head or even somewhere else on the body and the brain slams into the skull due to the impact. If concussions are such a big deal in the pros, what does it mean for youth sports in America? Nearly 15 percent of all sports related injuries in high school athletes are concussions(American Headache Society). Concussions are a major health concern for youth sports and everyday more research is being shown about the long term effects of repeated blows to the head.
Football, just another method to throw life away. Football is an extremely unsafe sport, yet it is glorified by several in the United States. A plethora of football players are impacted negatively by injuries that may occur just by playing an "innocent" little game of tackle football. It is necessary to consider all the dreadful outcomes that may happen before taking the chance to play. Young individuals shouldn't play tackle football due to the trauma it can cause to the brain, the injuries or occurrences that can lead to a harder life or even death, and it leaves the players to be less sharp in their old age. It is often thought that football is a harmless game for kids to enjoy. Nevertheless, the amount of health issues and injuries that can be caused by football is unbelievable and not worth the risk.
In sports, the best athletes are the individuals that give each team a chance to win every game. The bad news for the best athletes is that sometimes their health gets put second to their abilities. Roughly 1.8 to 3.6 million sports related concussions happen each year (Concussion Statistics). Stronger and faster athletes as well as more impact of the hits or falls have doubled the number of concussions in a decade (Concussion Statistics). Concussions can happen to every athlete, but when it happens to the star athletes, it is different. Schools have to follow direct concussion safety laws, but professional sports have more leniencies (Get). Wins are more important in the professional leagues compared to the high school and amateur levels. Wins lead to the coveted playoffs. The playoffs can lead to an even more coveted championship. During the playoffs, the games are shown on national television, seen by millions of fans. In the games, players can shine in the national spotlight. If an athlete performs well that individual can be paid more money in the future. If the coaches win their respective divisions, conferences, make the playoffs, make the championship game, or win the championship, it all leads to a higher pay for the coach. It also leads to more money for the team and city as well. Winning means so much in the professional leagues. But is it really win at all costs? As much as I personally love sports with a passion, I would prefer each player get fully recovered and then come back, rather than rush back still not at one hundred percent. I want my favorite players to play for a long time not for short stints between each injury. The player’s health is way more important to me then the championship. Rushing players back in...
The Effects of Concussions on the NFL For many years the NFL has been considered one of the most painful and dangerous sport played in the United States. But is it too Dangerous? The uprising number of concussions is shocking. NFL analysts survives suggest a 14 percent increase of concussions for the year 2013. Player safety rules have also been implemented into the official rule book. The three main effects that concussions have on the NFL today are big hits, big plays, and the defensive game played today.
"Incidence of Concussion in High School Football Players of Ohio and Pennsylvania." Journal of Child Neurology. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. .
Even though football players are aware of the dangers the game can bring upon them, they take part despite it. The passion, the joy it creates; for professionals it’s also the devoted fans and compensation they receive is what keeps the players motivated. Today players are much bigger, faster, smarter, bigger, better. The game is more physical. The sport has never been so competitive. The popularity has reached new peaks, as much that the NFL has thoughts of moving a team to London, England. Additionally, Super Bowl XLVII (47) was one of the most watched television events of all time; an astonishing 108.4 million viewers (The Associated Press). Fans worship their teams and love to see big hits. Football is a contact sport; injuries are no doubtingly part of it. Concussions are one of the many detriments caused by the ruthlessness, but one of the few with perpetual effects: consequence of the brutality.
Lastly , in my opinion , I think kids should't play football because it's too dangerous and risky for them to hurt themselves. Now , football may provide good factors for kids to play the game such as the discipline it gives them to grow as a mature young man and the physical activity it provides them to stay in shape and move around , but it does not beat the fact that kids can develop life threatening injuries from playing football. Today's kids are our future and we need to be more worried for their
Another reason football should be played is to build leadership. Out of every football team will rise leaders. Those gifted with the ability to exhort, motivate and inspire often shine in the context of football. It is no surprise, then, that nine of the most recent American presidents either played or supported college football. Some want to win more; others will not abide laziness or bad attitudes. Whatever the motivation, leadership skills are developed in a football
In stadiums, parks and fields all across America, many youth participate in a journey through defeat, heartbreak, hard work, and success. Practicing for hours, rain or shine, to be able to snag that game winning touchdown in the back of the endzone. Although football comes with many risks and dangers, I strongly believe that kids and teens should be allowed to play football because it promotes leadership, teamwork, and requires significant amounts of exercise and cardiovascular activity, and other contact sports are just as dangerous.