Would You Let Your Kids Play Football?

[AK-Jax86]

Being a parent would you let your child play football?

 

Personally YES I would if that's what my child wants to do.

 

 

I saw this on ESPN players like Drew Brees, Jermichael Finley, and Arian Foster said that they will not let their children play football. (Brees and his wife said they can't play until they are teenagers)

 

Yes football is dangerous but so is driving in your car.  I could be wrong but I'd imagine that more kids die in car accidents than playing football at a young age.

 

 

I just wanted to see how other parents feel about this

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Nope. He plays soccer now. In three more years he gets to start playing rugby like I do. If that's what he still wants to do. When he gets to seventh grade he can play football if he wants to.

By God, if he's gonna learn how to tackle and hit he can learn the right way. Try leading with your head with no helmets on. That junk freaking hurts.

[deaknh03]

Being a parent would you let your child play football?

 

Personally YES I would if that's what my child wants to do.

 

 

I saw this on ESPN players like Drew Brees, Jermichael Finley, and Arian Foster said that they will not let their children play football. (Brees and his wife said they can't play until they are teenagers)

 

Yes football is dangerous but so is driving in your car.  I could be wrong but I'd imagine that more kids die in car accidents than playing football at a young age.

 

 

I just wanted to see how other parents feel about this

Your analogy is not the best, not many people die playing football, but how many people are brain damaged as a result of driving a car for years? I'm thinking Baseball is the way to go, less bodily damage and you see guys like David Wells and CC Sabathia, proves it doesn't take a heman to make it.

[AK-Jax86]

Nope. He plays soccer now. In three more years he gets to start playing rugby like I do. If that's what he still wants to do. When he gets to seventh grade he can play football if he wants to.

By God, if he's gonna learn how to tackle and hit he can learn the right way. Try leading with your head with no helmets on. That junk freaking hurts.

 

 

I read that saw Nope and rugby then I laughed lol.  But you are with me if your child wants to do it you will let them when they reach that age.

 

I know my son will be into football and basketball, he's only 16 months though lol, his two favorite things are his stuffed basketball and football he sleeps with them every night.  Whenever I am watching the game he is right next to my with his ball and sippy cup its cute. Hopefully he follows in my footsteps and plays at all levels BUT unlike me I hope he can take it to the professional level (like all parents do lol)

[AK-Jax86]

Your analogy is not the best, not many people die playing football, but how many people are brain damaged as a result of driving a car for years? I'm thinking Baseball is the way to go, less bodily damage and you see guys like David Wells and CC Sabathia, proves it doesn't take a heman to make it.

 

 

I was using it saying that you drive a car everyday and the potential for injury is there.  Think about how many people have played football and those at the college level and more so ex NFL are the ones who suffer from lingering injuries. Not everyone plays football at the college level or NFL. Everyone that was on my high school football team didn't go to college to play about 12 did none of which are in the NFL lol. 

 

A lot of people play football those who have lasting injuries are far less than those who don't, that's a fact.

[AK-Jax86]

I would even go as far to say that more people have lasting injuries from car accidents than those who play football AT A YOUNG AGE, can't factor in college or NFL like I said only a select few are blessed to go that route

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I read that saw Nope and rugby then I laughed lol.  But you are with me if your child wants to do it you will let them when they reach that age.

 

I know my son will be into football and basketball, he's only 16 months though lol, his two favorite things are his stuffed basketball and football he sleeps with them every night.  Whenever I am watching the game he is right next to my with his ball and sippy cup its cute. Hopefully he follows in my footsteps and plays at all levels BUT unlike me I hope he can take it to the professional level (like all parents do lol)

Most definitely. I have no issue with him playing when he's older. He loves watching the Raiders and Auburn play. He also likes watching soccer too though. Boy woke me up a few weeks ago to watch Chelsea play at 6AM. Apparently he was thumbing through channels and saw them. He ain't but five.

I would love for him to go through the different levels. I gave up on it after high school and turned down my scholarship. I still kinda regret it too.

[Ratherbfishing]

I played football with my buddies for years without any major (or minor) injuries.  However none of us weighed over 175 lbs (at the time) and we weren't out for blood.

 

Football (like all sports it seems) has gotten way out of control with no sense of proportion or limitations.  Heck, even marching band has gotten out of control.  I think my nieces spent just about every waking hour (when they weren't in class) on the stupid grass field.  No, it's probably good I don't have children as I'd hate to be forced into making these kinds of decisions-and probably being hated for some of them.

[AK-Jax86]

Most definitely. I have no issue with him playing when he's older. He loves watching the Raiders and Auburn play. He also likes watching soccer too though. Boy woke me up a few weeks ago to watch Chelsea play at 6AM. Apparently he was thumbing through channels and saw them. He ain't but five.

I would love for him to go through the different levels. I gave up on it after high school and turned down my scholarship. I still kinda regret it too.

 

 

Yea man I remember growing up soccer was my number one sport! I loved playing soccer, as I got older and bigger pop warner took over then high school football and college

[Darren.]

Only one of my sons (youngest) was interested in playing football. At age 7 we let him. He was hit hard in practice, and concussed.

 

Following that, my wife and I decided no more football. We do soccer, anyway, 3 of the boys are on travel teams.

 

Cousin of mine is a high school football coach in TX. When he heard of the concussion, he called me right away to encourage me to keep him from playing. Explained how TX handles kids who get concussed and all that. He didn't let his boys start playing until age 14...

[MCS]

No, I know other 6 yr olds playing it, they are hard core probably been concused already, the parents and league over do it a bit imo practices and condition like the are pro. If it was some kids running around playing sand lot football then maybe, they are teaching them to hit a WR over the middle like Ronnie Lot.....but that aint saying much because I do endorse letting him get choked out 3 times a week. LOL

[slonezp]

In our local news today http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-lane-tech-player-20131010,0,1579837.story

 

My son played with the park district in grade school thru 8th grade and played 2 years in high school. He suffered a concussion once during practice. Didn't stop him. He stopped playing ball because he wanted a car and had to get a job. Thru all those years of watching games, I saw a few kids get hurt. It happens. I believe the benefits outweigh the risk.

[Root beer]

Played baseball my whole life. 3 broken legs and two surgeries. Pick your poison.

[tomustang]

If No you better buy bubble wrap stock!

[retiredbosn]

I find it amusing that parents who discourage football let their kids play soccer. FWIW soccer is statistically at least as dangerous as football some studies suggest that its more dangerous. Some records show more orthopedic injuries, blown ACL's, broken bones from soccer and now concussions. It was on fox news this morning, some soccer organization is debating making helmets mandatory for players. The helmet thing was for high school and below.

[tyrius.]

Nope.  No football.  Everyone gets to weight the risks/rewards for each activity and football doesn't even come close to making the grade.

[flyfisher]

My son can play whatever he wants at whatever age he wants.  I will also agree that soccer has more propensity for injuries.  

[NorcalBassin]

If you're worried about a knee or ankle injury, then your kids should probably avoid soccer. If you're worried about your kid's brain, then they should NOT play full contact football (flag would be great). Studies are just coming out that show how sensitive a developing brain is from mini-concussions. They've also done IMPACT testing on high school football players that show their brain starts out at a certain level during their freshmen year, functions at a lower level by the end of football season, mostly recovers by the end of the year, and then that cycle continues all 4 years. This results in a slower functioning brain at graduation than what they had beginning of freshmen year. That's a huge problem.

 

I lucked out on this one by having daughters, but if I had a son it would definitely be a no go for full contact football at least until his freshmen year (with me crossing my fingers he loved baseball and basketball). Kids' brains just aren't made for that type of repetitive mini-trauma. Not worth it.

[aquaholic]

If i ever have a kid, yes for sure. What ever happened to walking off the pain? We didnt have half of the concussions we do now back when we had less protection. Yes football is dangerous but so is walking out the front door. I would love to see a list of all the nfl players suing the nfl right now. I bet most of them are broke, and looking for a handout. They knew the risks when they signed up. 

[Grizzn N Bassin]

If i have a son ..Baseball for sure.... I never played football on a team but pick up games yea. I wasn't allowed to.. I'd much rather teach my.son how to have a command on a 95 mph fastball and follow in my footsteps as a baseball player.. of.course all sports have there injures which most of the time.. but if he really wants to play football In high school I think I'd let him... but I'm a long way From.having kids.. cool to think about tho

[SirSnookalot]

Being a grandfather it isn't my choice.  I have a 14 yo gr son a natural athlete, plays BB, football (running back) and track.  Has been hurt, yes, have others been hurt, yes to that as well.  He likes football the best.

[Teal]

I would let my son play football. What he would gain from playing and particpatong far outgains the risk. I a. Actually more scared now wwith him playing soccer.

[tyrius.]

If i ever have a kid, yes for sure. What ever happened to walking off the pain? We didnt have half of the concussions we do now back when we had less protection.  

The difference is that we didn't "diagnose" half of the concussions we do now back....  The concussions happened, people were just told to "walk it off".

[Fishing Rhino]

My first response would be yes.  But as I ponder it, that would be changed to a maybe.

 

Sports are not what they used to be.  Our high school has no football team.  Soccer, basketball and baseball for the guys.  Field hockey, basketball, volleyball and softball for the gals.

 

Basketball was strictly a finesse sport.  Any contact, if seen by a ref, drew a foul call.  You established position and that was it.  No one could push you out of the way.  Even incidental contact got called.  A scramble for the ball did not incur a foul call, nor did incidental contact when going for a rebound.

 

Today, in the key, basketball does not appear to be much different from football when it comes to contact.  Anything goes short of tackling someone. 

[flyfisher]

Basketball is definitely a lot rougher than people think.  I played all through high school and college and saw many injuries ranging from your normal ankle breaks and sprains to ACL injuries to concussions to my own injury of injuring my back to the point it sitll bothers me today and i don't really play anymore.

 

The positive aspects of the game far outweigh the negatives in my mind and that goes for any sport.  I would rather have a few bumps and bruises than become a vegetable or an "active" gamer.

 

In football they are teaching a lot more of how to tackle correctly with your head up with various drills and the like.  The changing of how people hit isn't going to change overnight.