Pre High School football: Child abuse?

[Bennyboy]

One of the members of an opposing trivia team has a 9 year old son. He plays football. They came to the trivia tonight and the kid just had his bell rung, and how, playing football that night. Kid was puking and generally out of it. The kids parents said he got hit and was a bit woozy.

With all we know about concussions and brain damage, it seems to me to be a pretty abusive thing to put your kids in a sport that WILL cause concussions. And the earlier you put them in, the more times it is going to happen. Now I see 6 year olds playing football.

Now, I am thinking that if this kids gets hit a few more times like that, he will be damaged for life. mentally damaged. the kid's step dad is a gung ho, "shake it off" kind of guy. he is a wannabe jock, who is pressuring the kid constantly. She is a teacher/administrator, but really doesn't see how much this is going to hurt the kid int he long run.

My parents did not let me play football until HS and I didn't let mine play either.

But the kids that did play pop warner when I was growing up are all damaged. Some mentally and most are in constant pain (not that I am not but). My Father walked around stooped over for 20 years due to injuries he suffered as an adult playing football.

Is it right to put kids through this? The chances of a kid making it pat high school are stronomical, and making the pros...well forget that totally. Unless you have a million bucks to train and take your kids touring to camps etc, you can forget that altogether..

[Brickbat]

1. I don't think it's abusive, but if a kid is puking after a head hit, it's neglectful to not take him

to a hospital.

Most kids don't play football to get into the pros; they do it for fun. There's a big push in hockey to be aware of concussions and improving helmets; I'd like to see that with football too.

My son is interested in playing football, but he doesn't have time to do so because he plays hockey.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. I'm a Youth Football Coach....

and we have pretty strict rules for both preventing injuries and how we're supposed to respond to them. Telling a kid to "shake it off" is not allowed and can get you tossed from the league. If there's a particularly brutal hit, we'll take the kid out even if there's no hint of a concussion, just to be sure.

That being said, you're right that the odds against a kid playing Division I college football are pretty long (our high schools averages maybe on kid per year) and the odds of playing the pro's are astronomical -- we've had two NFL players in the history of the program.

But the point is for the kids to have fun and play some football. I know we have some kids on the squad who are clearly being shoved out there by their parents (OK - by the Dads), and we try to do what we can for them. The fact is they probably won't be back next year, so we try to make sure that they play a little bit and have a good experience.

[Bennyboy]

3. But the hit has happened...

How can you prevent the kid from not getting a concussive injury? It is all good to take the kid out after the play, but then the damage is done.

These kids see what they see on TV< leading with the head, and you can't stop that.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. We don't lead with the head...

That's part of the "preventing injuries" aspect of coaching. A kid who leads with his head (on purpose) is going to grab some pine.

And of course we can't prevent every injury, but kids are going to get injuries from any sport.

[Bennyboy]

5. I must add something I left out..

They did take the kid to the doctor, they left the trivia game in the middle due to the kid being so bad. Apparently it all came on him while he was at the trivia game and not while on the football field.

[Beetwasher]

6. I Started When I Was 9, Loved Every Minute Of It With No Permanent Damage

And I was a center and noseguard. Never had a serious injury nor did I see many. Any sport will have a chance of serious injuries.

It has nothing to do with making the pros, it's about having fun and learning to be a part of a team and playing a sport that you love. I loved football and wanted to play. I'm glad my parents supported me in it.

[One_Life_To_Give]

8. Seconded

Likewise I started at 9. Played defensive line and full back. I loved it and once I had started you would of had a tough time keeping me away from it.

[Renew Deal]

7. Football doesn't cause concussions

Football is a safe, fun, sport.

[seabeyond]

9. i am having this dilemna myself. my oldest brother was huge in football, and now at 50 i am seeing

the results.

my oldest son did it a couple years without much play time in 7th and 8th grade athletics. went into cross country. was happy

my youngest is doing the athletic program and he is solid, and built and liking the sport. seeing my older brother, and hearing about concussions, and whole mentality of football... i am hoping i can direct youngest to wrestling or another sport he is interested in. i dont wanna footie footie football player

but

ultimately, has to be his decision. i can disallow either.

[Bennyboy]

11. 50 seems to be the time when it all starts to add up

that is when my football playing friends started having SERIOUS problems healthwise. Some could no longer work. Others are pill popping freaks. Not everyone mind you but a goodly number.

And no other sport is a high impact collision on every play sport like football is. Not even hockey do you hit and get hit, on every down on offense and defense.

Right now Congress is grappling with this very issue over concussions in HS football. Now HS football I got no truck with, but at ages younger than 14? I am not so sure about that...

[CBR]

10. If I have sons they will probably play. nt

[Redstone]

12. The concussions, not to meniont the knee damage. It IS abuse.

Redstone

[mzteris]

13. any sport can cause injuries -

gymnastics,
diving - causes head trauma
DANCE (yeah, dance - nearly every dancer gets injured at least once a year - serious dancers more!)
baseball
soccer
hockey
lacross
rugby
ice skating
basketball

While yes, I am concerned about injuries that occur in football, there seem to be no more nor no less than any other sport my kid's have been in.

Every sport can have use/over-use injuries, collisions, falls, accidents, concussions, twists, sprains, broken bones, torn ligaments, abrasions . . .

[cwydro]

20. I was a competitive swimmer and tennis player

from elementary school through college.

No injuries.

I think I might have gotten thwacked hard with a tennis ball a couple times, but nothing to write home about.

[seabeyond]

21. i was a competitive swimmer too

in calif.

my stroke was breatstroke. i swear cause of the kick (extending the legs out) it gave me bursitis in the hips, lol.

[cwydro]

23. Lol,

hey it can happen...

[mzteris]

27. not all fb players get injured, either.

in re: (potential injuries)

swimming: overuse injuries: shoulders, hips, slip and fall, diving - head/neck

tennis: overuse- arm - shoulder, wrist, elbow, hips, knees, ankles. Sprains, tears, abrasions, etc.


edit typo

[seabeyond]

29. and hitting heal on wall in a flip turn or butting head on wall cause didnt see or

whacking hand on anothers had in passing, or running into someone. toe cramps

now that i am thinking about it, lots of owies.

[applegrove]

14. It is always a big to do in Canada when a family has their kids playing hockey.

It is no contact hockey until the kid is about 13, 14. At that point the family and the kid have to decide if the child is going to be playing competative hockey or recreational. But never at 9 years old. Yes for something as dangerous as football that does sound abusive.

[stray cat]

15. Letting a kid drive is child abuse - accidents happen to kids so anyone under 18 shouldn't drive

[PeaceNikki]

16. Aww jeez. Really?

Ridiculous.

[Chan790]

17. Um, no.

Injuries are going to happen in any sport, all that can be done is attempt to minimize the occurrence and severity of those injuries. For all that, football does a better job preventing those sorts of injuries than most youth sports and is vastly better at it than it was even 10 years ago, let alone twenty. Vastly more money is spent yearly by equipment manufacturers on testing and improving the safety of football equipment and especially head-and-neck protection than is spent on safety research in any other youth sport.

Coincidentally, the US youth sport with both the highest rate of serious injury (concussions, broken bones, permanent tissue damage(tears, sprains, etc.)) and death per participant is soccer. Both cheerleading and track (including cross-country) also have comparably high per-participant rates of death (serious falls in cheer, heart-attacks from heart defect or severe dehydration in track.) That's not to say there is not vast room for improvement in the safety of football, but the singling-out it faces is unwarranted in consideration of the lack-of-safety of most all youth sports.

[PeaceNikki]

18. And calling it "child abuse" is offensive hyperbolic BULLSHIT

[JonLP24]

19. I wouldn't call it child abuse

I share your concerns about the injury aspect of it, especially head injuries. Still I wouldn't discourage parents from allowing their children to play the sport and starting early playing organized football does go a long way in improving the chances of "making it". I wish I played Pop Warner when I was kid but I didn't and never knew where to sign up. However I was ignorant as a kid & teenager (and so many are) that I played tackle football all the time without pads. I can't count how many times my head smacked into the ground. Really wish I knew better.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Our son (13) has been big and athletic most of his life and started getting recruited

for football when he was about 8. We always said "Hell No." He won't play football, period. I've heard too many stories about head injuries, knee injuries, concussions, etc. etc.

It's a stupid game anyway, but that's just my opinion.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. y = 1/x

[Kali]

25. KIDS get injured

at least healthy ones that are allowed to run around outdoors (does anybody do that anymore?)

I think what was bad in the situation you saw was not getting the kid checked out right away. I'm not a fan of all the over-organized "play" we inflict on kids these days anyway, but saw with my own, if you think they might want to play in high school they almost HAVE to start in freaking pre-school! stupid

[Old Troop]

26. With all the injuries folks mentioned upthread, maybe kids shouldn't

play any sports. Maybe they should be kept home and given video games instead. Oh, wait. That's already happening with loads of kids.

[revolution breeze]

28. Unfortunately you are going to have kooks everywhere.

Sister-in-law was so excited when she found out her 5 year old son could play Pop Warner not because he was old enough but because he was BIG enough (he is in the 95th percentile in height and weight). He is playing against some children who are seven and even eight years old. The difference in the coordination is marked. Imagine her disappointment when he came home without a full set of pads. Apparently at this age, they play flag football with no contact. Little Mr. Rex is destined to play tackle for the Dallas Cowboys, need to start his training early!

That being said, my daughter pulled her ACL dancing ballet, which she started at age 3. All 3 of my daughter stated dancing at 3, one decided it was not for her and took up karate. If your child is going to do anything, make sure they are learning to do it right and are properly supervised and equipped (btw, daughter was fine and avoided surgery and after rehab is back in her pointe shoes).

[Posteritatis]

30. As the Hindenberg reporter almost said, "Oh the hyperbole!" (nt)

[704wipes]

31. Well, the pee-wee Rugby League is definitely child abuse

not sure about football....

[Capn Sunshine]

32. Never really thought of it as "abuse"

Kids play football all the time, organized or no. I played on my first organized team @ age 7 (2nd grade). It felt like the same football we played in vacant lots except we had uniforms and helmets.
I played on my last team at age 35. Couldn't pass the insurance physical any longer.

[El Jefe]

33. Come On...

I have yet to see an injury in youth football (I've coached 1st grade to 6th grade for several years) that wasn't a bump, bruise, or strain. Not to say they don't happen, but the rate at which serious injuries happen in this age range is very low. Calling football at this age 'child abuse' is pure lunacy. This is the best time to learn how to play the game correctly to avoid injury later on, and also a good time to learn if football is/isn't your game.

3 of my 4 sons play or have played youth football (oldest son is in high school), and all have enjoyed it and been injury free.

[bigwillq]

34. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi: