This Thanksgiving, Think Of The Future Of Youth Football

Much has been said on our blog and otherwise about the concussion epidemic in sports and its impact on youth sports – most notably football. Given all the recent news of long term brain injuries amongst former NFL players, football is often times singled out as the most dangerous sports.

At the youth level, kids get concussions from many sports – football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, etc., but football is singled out – fairly or unfairly.

A recent column in the Newark Star-Ledger presents a number of discussion points on the issue:

• 9.5% decline in Pop Warner Football registrants over past 2 years.
• Increased emphasis on proper concussion awareness/training.
• Increased emphasis on proper tackling to minimize head contact.
• Knowledge on concussions in its infancy.
• Risk of participation in unsanctioned leagues with less emphasis on safety.
• Flag football not appealing for everyone.

Overall, the piece is very thought-provoking, not just for youth football but youth sports in general.

Does the recent emphasis on concussions in the news impact what sport(s) your child plays? Let us know in the comments below.