Poll: Would you let your kid play (American) football in school?

[Albino Boo]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed by a firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Sure, I mean why not? I'd rather have a kid with a few cuts and scrapes than a 40 inch waistline.

I guess you missed this then:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/04/college-football-fattens-players-up-and-then-abandons-them.html

"Schools are more than happy to help players bulk up but nothing is done to help them slim down after the cleats get hung up. The consequences are serious and potentially deadly."

Considering he said kid, I don't think that article exactly applies

This doesn't start in college.. My ex was captain of the football team, they have those kids drinking weight gainers in middle school, this isn't some new idea, they want to win every year.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the other numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period from playing football. All other numbers are irrelevant. Total number of kids that exist is irrelevant. The numbers you need are how likely you are to suffer a TBI playing football, not from simply existing.

 

[Albino Boo]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the toehr numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period. All other numbers are irrelevant.

Yes my figures are massive over estimate. I assumed that all TBI amongst children are male and are due to playing football, the real odd are even higher. So are you going to ban the 4th of July as more dangerous than playing football? Please answer the question

 

[Redryhno]

Sure, I mean why not? I'd rather have a kid with a few cuts and scrapes than a 40 inch waistline.

I guess you missed this then:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/04/college-football-fattens-players-up-and-then-abandons-them.html

"Schools are more than happy to help players bulk up but nothing is done to help them slim down after the cleats get hung up. The consequences are serious and potentially deadly."

Considering he said kid, I don't think that article exactly applies

This doesn't start in college.. My ex was captain of the football team, they have those kids drinking weight gainers in middle school, this isn't some new idea, they want to win every year.

Well then that's not on the sport really is it? That's on the coaches/schools shoving this on kids and parents not being informed/involved in their lives.

And for the record, I have no interest in football, I spent six years in band in the stands and I have literally no idea what's going on most of the time, but we got worse everyday colorguard injuries than the football players and I'm not going to get rid of something that has such a low chance of happening(especially since alot of the injuries in football happen in nearly every sport/physical activity out there anyways).

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the toehr numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period. All other numbers are irrelevant.

Yes my figures are massive over estimate. I assumed that y all TBI amongst children are male and are due to playing football, the real odd are even higher. So are you going to ban the 4th of July as more dangerous than playing football? Please answer the question

In order to find out the percentages of football player who have TBI from playing football you take the total number of kids playing football and divide it by the number of kids who had a TBI from playing football. Then you take those numbers and compare it to your number to find how much it increases your risk vs everything else. You do not just take part of the math. you need the How many total kids played football then you need the total number of kids playing football that suffered TBI from playing football to show the risks of TBI in football. That isn't what you are doing, you cannot compare kids who have nothing to do with football to football. LOL

ALL your numbers show is that TBI in the general population is low, which will probably make football look much worse when you crunch those numbers.

 

[Quazimofo]

I'd actively discourage it, but I wouldn't expressly forbid it. If he's careful and doesn't try to be a lineman against people half again as big as he is (I'm just going with son here as my only reference for this is my elder brother) injury isn't a guarantee, which is my only real concern with it (besides american football being boring to watch.)

Now if he wanted to try boxing competitively, no fucking way in hell. Football is one thing, but a sport which actively encourages punching people in the face as hard as you can is right out. Friendly sparring is fine though, since that training gets you in hella good shape. Still would rather he do a different combat sport like fencing or something.

 

[Albino Boo]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the toehr numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period. All other numbers are irrelevant.

Yes my figures are massive over estimate. I assumed that y all TBI amongst children are male and are due to playing football, the real odd are even higher. So are you going to ban the 4th of July as more dangerous than playing football? Please answer the question

In order to find out the percentages of football player who have TBI from playing football you take the total number of kids playing football and divide it by the number of kids who had a TBI from playing football. Then you take those numbers and compare it to your number to find how much it increases your risk vs everything else. You do not just take part of the math. you need the How many total kids played football then you need the total number of kids playing football that suffered TBI from playing football to show the risks of TBU in football. That isn't what you are doing, you cannot compare kids who have nothing to do with football to football. LOL

You did not read what I wrote. I am correct in saying that my figure is an overestimate of the odds because not all of the 325000 TBI are due to football, so the real odd are even higher. I have mathematically demonstrated the fallacy of argument and you do not like it. Well I'm sorry but the numbers do not lie and being angry will not change them. You inability to understand risk has left you trying to defend a foolish position. I will repeat the to make the number of football related injuries is not the same as the total number of sport related injuries., so the real odds are much higher due to the lower number actual football injuries. You have no evidence whatsoever of the total number of football injuries.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the toehr numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period. All other numbers are irrelevant.

Yes my figures are massive over estimate. I assumed that y all TBI amongst children are male and are due to playing football, the real odd are even higher. So are you going to ban the 4th of July as more dangerous than playing football? Please answer the question

In order to find out the percentages of football player who have TBI from playing football you take the total number of kids playing football and divide it by the number of kids who had a TBI from playing football. Then you take those numbers and compare it to your number to find how much it increases your risk vs everything else. You do not just take part of the math. you need the How many total kids played football then you need the total number of kids playing football that suffered TBI from playing football to show the risks of TBU in football. That isn't what you are doing, you cannot compare kids who have nothing to do with football to football. LOL

You did not read what I wrote. I am correct in saying that my figure is an overestimate of the odds because not all of the 325000 TBI are due to football, so the real odd are even higher. I have mathematically demonstrated the fallacy of argument and you do not like it. Well I'm sorry but the numbers do not lie and being angry will not change them. You inability to understand risk has left you trying to defend a foolish position. I will repeat the to make the number of football related injuries is not the same as the total number of sport related injuries., so the real odds are much higher due to the lower number actual football injuries. You have no evidence whatsoever of the total number of football injuries.

I will make this clear so there is no misunderstanding.
1) find the total number of children who played football.
2) find the total number of TBI due to football among those children.
3) do the math to determine how many children who played football had TBI. < this is what you do not have.

then:
1)find the total number of children in US.
2) find the total number of TBI in children general population.
3) do the math to determine risk of TBI in children in general population.


4) Compare the risks of TBI in the general population to those of ONLY football players. then you actually have numbers, until then, your numbers do not mean anything. You have not demonstrated anything without the proper numbers.

 

[Hoplon]

I have no issues with my son playing rugby, so not at all. In your version of the game you get to wear full body armour, in rugby, if a bit of your face/head falls off you tape it back on and get on with the game, unless you have blood on your top, and then you have to change it.

Thing is, the full body armor is the problem. Rugby removed even padded under shirts because it makes the sport more dangerous. people can hit each other harder, causing more damage. the brain injuries are because the head isn't stabilised, in something like rugby this isn't a problem, since a blow strong enough to cause issue would probably break the shoulder. with all the armor in the way they can hit that hard repeatedly.

 

[Signa]

I would need to go find a source that compiles the data for all children under 18 from multiple years, then compare that to the number of children playing the sport to have an accurate assessment.I am honestly too lazy to go look for it all and add it up myself and would hope that someone else already has done that neatly for me. Maybe later when I am not getting ready to go out to dinner I will muster up the energy to invest that amount of time and effort to do that for you.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand everyone loves football, my sweety screams at the TV every time his game is on and this has provided me with countless hours of entertainment. I understand that this is a great aggression outlet for growing boys, but I think maybe a punching bag might be as beneficial without the risks of TBI. If there were some way we could alter the game or the equipment to reduce the number of TBI's that would be great, and that should be the first option to consider. We need to get people talking about so that we can have solutions proposed to help resolve it, if we just keep it the way it is, this gets worse not better, as they have shown that the number of sports related TBIS have increased significantly between 2001 and 2009 and we need to find solutions to reduce that.

I have already broken down your own figures showing that risk of TBI's is 3 million to 1 in any given year and the chance of killed of by firework is 600000 to 1. Are you going to ban 4th of July because you are 5 times as likely to be killed by a firework in any given year than you are of suffering a TBI.

No those are not the correct numbers. You have to ONLY USE KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL and disregard all the toehr numbers. It would be total number of kids playing football during that time period / number of TBI during that time period. All other numbers are irrelevant.

Yes my figures are massive over estimate. I assumed that y all TBI amongst children are male and are due to playing football, the real odd are even higher. So are you going to ban the 4th of July as more dangerous than playing football? Please answer the question

In order to find out the percentages of football player who have TBI from playing football you take the total number of kids playing football and divide it by the number of kids who had a TBI from playing football. Then you take those numbers and compare it to your number to find how much it increases your risk vs everything else. You do not just take part of the math. you need the How many total kids played football then you need the total number of kids playing football that suffered TBI from playing football to show the risks of TBU in football. That isn't what you are doing, you cannot compare kids who have nothing to do with football to football. LOL

You did not read what I wrote. I am correct in saying that my figure is an overestimate of the odds because not all of the 325000 TBI are due to football, so the real odd are even higher. I have mathematically demonstrated the fallacy of argument and you do not like it. Well I'm sorry but the numbers do not lie and being angry will not change them. You inability to understand risk has left you trying to defend a foolish position. I will repeat the to make the number of football related injuries is not the same as the total number of sport related injuries., so the real odds are much higher due to the lower number actual football injuries. You have no evidence whatsoever of the total number of football injuries.

I will make this clear so there is no misunderstanding.
1) find the total number of children who played football.
2) find the total number of TBI due to football among those children.
3) do the math to determine how many children who played football had TBI. < this is what you do not have.

then:
1)find the total number of children in US.
2) find the total number of TBI in children general population.
3) do the math to determine risk of TBI in children in general population.


4) Compare the risks of TBI in the general population to those of ONLY football players. then you actually have numbers, until then, your numbers do not mean anything. You have not demonstrated anything without the proper numbers.

Yeah? Well, ARE YOU GOING TO BAN THE FOURTH OF JULY!? I must know! My imaginary kid's lives depend on it!

I hate football and what it does to kids is irrelevant to me and my imaginary kids. My imaginary kids aren't going to play it because I'm going to make them play Mario instead and make them read this thread for reasons why they can't go outside, and then feed them Doritos and Mountain Dew for dinner.

 

[Ishal]

Seeing as how my best friend played football from middle school to a single year in college, and seeing how quickly it's wrecked his body? And how much he says it wrecked his body? I'd be very reluctant to let my child play football.

I'd probably encourage something like basketball instead if my child really wanted to play a sport.

Pretty much this.

I have several friends who did the exact same, and they're in shambles. That's only hyperbolic in regards to two of them. One has knees so bad from playing on the line his whole life he can barely walk without being in pain, or looking like he's about to keel over.

I remember these athletes. These superstars at the time, and that's pretty genuine to be honest. Even looking back today I can't not admire their physical prowess and athletic ability at the time. But now? The tables have turned. I'm the one who is in better shape, and able to walk without any pain, and have no back trouble.

They're wrecks, and I don't think I'd like my kid playing that if I had one. Doesn't help that I think the sport itself is somewhat silly. I remember my friend telling me this poetic story about going to practice early in the morning and taking his place on the line. The mist, the dew on the grass, and the feeling of hitting someone. It was all about hitting someone. I just, why? If you want to hit someone why play football? Why not box? Or train in mixed martial arts? That's what I did, but I never had a penchant for hitting people.

If I had kids and they wanted to, and I couldn't talk them out of it. Then yeah, I'd let them play. But I'd be clear about the consequences they might suffer.

 

[bdeamon]

I wouldn't want my kid to, but I also would not stop it if it wants to play.

 

[Redryhno]

I'm reminded of something a few months ago with a King of the Hill thread and how people started saying Hank was apparently a horrible parent because he didn't completely support Bobby's ambitions and interests(I don't know, I never watched enough of it to remember most of the character's names, much less what was going on), funny how I'm see some familiar names(or avatars, I could be completely wrong here) in here now saying they would keep their kids out of something they wanted to be a part of despite the negative things that would come with doing them...

Personally, I wouldn't keep them away from it, but they'll also have to know that I'm not going to have any clue what's going on or even interest in it beyond them being there.(slim as the chance may be, my on/off girlfriend and I both have one thing we'll agree on no matter what, and that's that we don't want kids.)

 

[Strazdas]

We dont have american egghand here but if imagining we did - only if he really want to. I would not forbid him from playing, but i would try to discourage him. if he was really determined to do so the i would allow him.

 

[Carzinex]

Kids will always find ways of hurting themselves, i would prefer mine to have the supervision of adults when they did it.

Me and my friends at school once invented a game we called "stick". Everyone stood in a circle with a stick in the middle. The aim of the game was to get and keep the stick and you could beat the shit out of the person holding the stick till you got it. Then of course you would get beaten up your group of friends until one of them got the stick and on and on it went until the game eventually ended with a broken nose or a fracture.

We loved that game

 

[NeutralStasis]

If my daughter wanted to play football, I would support her. I played in High School and a little Semi-Pro and know the dangers of playing the game. However, the idea that you are practically guaranteed to receive brain damage is a little asinine. If that is going to be the case, its time to get rid of MMA, Boxing, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey, Horseback events, Gymnastics, and damn near any other sport for fear that someone could possibly get hurt. While we are at it, lets get rid of driving, walking, dancing, and even talking, because we never know what might cause an injury.

 

[maninahat]

I'm conflicted on this because I enjoyed rugby myself, but first hand I saw how likely one is to suffer a severe injury during the game, and that's without even taking into consideration the gradual incremental damage caused over years of playing the sport regularly. Thankfully, kids tackle with much less force than a grown adult, so I don't know how much brain damage a kid really will accrue during a few school years.

So in response to the question...Mehughugh? I don't want to discourage kids from sports, especially the rough and tumble stuff, but at the same time I can't deny the health risks.

 

[R.K. Meades]

I'm conflicted on this because I enjoyed rugby myself, but first hand I saw how likely one is to suffer a severe injury during the game, and that's without even taking into consideration the gradual incremental damage caused over years of playing the sport regularly. Thankfully, kids tackle with much less force than a grown adult, so I don't know how much brain damage a kid really will accrue during a few school years.

Their skulls are not equipped to withstand the kind of punishment that a fully-developed adult could take, so even a reasonably tame shot can ring a young player's bell. I have seen kids get concussed by simply trying to head a cross in during junior football games. (not the American code)

If I were coaching kids in one of their junior leagues, the first thing they would learn is how to tackle properly-- good footwork to position yourself, work the hips, and wrap the opponent up with both arms. When you watch American football, players often try to get their pad level lower than the opponent's, enabling them to 'lower the beam' and blast their way through. That generates more power, but at a great cost. Young pups need to learn that using your body as a missile is tempting fate. Best-case scenario: you get gassed out. Worst-case scenario: you get knocked out.