I hate it when people say parents should put their kids in basketball or baseball instead of football because of CTE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the research around CTE is people confusing how the relative risk translates to baseline risk. It reminds me of when women were told to stop taking hormones during menopause bc a study had said it increased their relative risk by 30%, but people’s baseline risk was only 5% of getting breast cancer in their lifetime and so their chance of getting breast cancer with taking hormones increased to 6.5% (the 5% goes 30% higher), not 30% chance of getting breast cancer for everyone.

For a child who starts football around age 12 and plays a skill position (WR, DB, QB, etc.), the risk of developing CTE is likely higher than for a soccer player, but much lower than for linemen or long-term football players. Researchers cannot give an exact percentage, but the best current evidence suggests the risk may be a few times higher than soccer, largely because football involves more repetitive head impacts. Starting later, playing a skill position, limiting contact in practice, and properly managing any concussions all help reduce risk.

People don't realize the danger in soccer though. CTE is actually quite a problem in soccer for several reasons. It's the only sport that actively encourages hitting things with your head. It features high speed contact without pads or helmets. The soccer ball travels much faster than the football with riccochets. Goalies are often diving around people kicking. They start headers at a very young age. The goal posts are unpadded.

Basketball has the highest injury rate, but it tends to be minor knee, ankle, hand injury.

No headers an any US league until U12 and many quit by then or shortly after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the research around CTE is people confusing how the relative risk translates to baseline risk. It reminds me of when women were told to stop taking hormones during menopause bc a study had said it increased their relative risk by 30%, but people’s baseline risk was only 5% of getting breast cancer in their lifetime and so their chance of getting breast cancer with taking hormones increased to 6.5% (the 5% goes 30% higher), not 30% chance of getting breast cancer for everyone.

For a child who starts football around age 12 and plays a skill position (WR, DB, QB, etc.), the risk of developing CTE is likely higher than for a soccer player, but much lower than for linemen or long-term football players. Researchers cannot give an exact percentage, but the best current evidence suggests the risk may be a few times higher than soccer, largely because football involves more repetitive head impacts. Starting later, playing a skill position, limiting contact in practice, and properly managing any concussions all help reduce risk.

People don't realize the danger in soccer though. CTE is actually quite a problem in soccer for several reasons. It's the only sport that actively encourages hitting things with your head. It features high speed contact without pads or helmets. The soccer ball travels much faster than the football with riccochets. Goalies are often diving around people kicking. They start headers at a very young age. The goal posts are unpadded.

Basketball has the highest injury rate, but it tends to be minor knee, ankle, hand injury.

You can’t bubble wrap your kids before you se d them out into the world. Gheesh.

Do your kids wear bike helmets and seatbelts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of the research around CTE is people confusing how the relative risk translates to baseline risk. It reminds me of when women were told to stop taking hormones during menopause bc a study had said it increased their relative risk by 30%, but people’s baseline risk was only 5% of getting breast cancer in their lifetime and so their chance of getting breast cancer with taking hormones increased to 6.5% (the 5% goes 30% higher), not 30% chance of getting breast cancer for everyone.

For a child who starts football around age 12 and plays a skill position (WR, DB, QB, etc.), the risk of developing CTE is likely higher than for a soccer player, but much lower than for linemen or long-term football players. Researchers cannot give an exact percentage, but the best current evidence suggests the risk may be a few times higher than soccer, largely because football involves more repetitive head impacts. Starting later, playing a skill position, limiting contact in practice, and properly managing any concussions all help reduce risk.

People don't realize the danger in soccer though. CTE is actually quite a problem in soccer for several reasons. It's the only sport that actively encourages hitting things with your head. It features high speed contact without pads or helmets. The soccer ball travels much faster than the football with riccochets. Goalies are often diving around people kicking. They start headers at a very young age. The goal posts are unpadded.

Basketball has the highest injury rate, but it tends to be minor knee, ankle, hand injury.

You can’t bubble wrap your kids before you se d them out into the world. Gheesh.

Do your kids wear bike helmets and seatbelts?

Yep, and they still play football (with pads and helmets) and basketball. Allowing the kids to take risks with the proper precautions, but not overdoing it by worrying about headers in soccer and “minor knee, ankle, hand injuries” in basketball. I actually do worry about CTE in football, but also think people overstate the risk compared to other activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree football is dangerous, but baseball and basketball aren’t replacements for football. Unless your kid is at least 6’3”, they aren’t going to be competitive for high school basketball. Baseball also has a massive barrier to entry with the skill needed. Basketball and baseball at the youth and high school level are full, so no, they can’t fully replace football

Parents should put their kids in basketball or baseball instead of football because of CTE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only people they’ve tested for CTE had CTE, and everyone knew it already. Don’t get me wrong, football is dangerous and CTE is a real risk, but not everyone who plays football gets it. A kid who plays high school football and doesn’t go on to play college and pro is not likely to develop CTE.

My dad was this kid. His back and knees and other joints are massively screwed up, 60 years since he hung up his football pads. He pins it on his few short years as a defensive lineman.