Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do some research- CTE is not just a problem with football. It’s pervasive in soccer, hockey, basketball, (lacrosse - TBD). Do you really not let your kids play any of those sports?

This. A lot of the anti-football sentiment is just classism (and honestly, a little raciscm).

People who have never attended a youth football practice talk about how dangerous it is, but sign their children up for hockey or lacross or softball, where head injuries can also occur.

They don't like football bc they associate with Red countries and bigotry.

But here's the truth: any sport that has athletes sharing space and running at top speed has risk for injury.

And the other truth they don't want to hear: football is the absolute BEST way to get your child exposed to other kids, cultures and races. My son's baseball team is 100% white. His basketball team had 3 AA boys.

His football team: too many different cultures and races to count: Latin, AA, Asian, White.

Half the people on this board think its either a poor person's sport or a racist redneck sport. It is neither. It is a wonderful way for boys to get exercise, build character, and grow friendships

Anonymous wrote:We asked our pediatrician, who is the senior member of one of the best practices in DC, expecting to get a firm no. Instead, we got “the research does not support the notion that football isn’t safe…CTE is not an issue for kids who play for a few years in high school…you should let him play…”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a elementary or junior high son who really wants to try tackle football, let him or her. Even, and especially, if they are small. Find a youth program that matches kids by size, not age. That way, they will play only against kids their own size. Tackling at that age isn't intense; the kids just aren't that fast or strong. If you wait until kids are "bigger" or in high school, they will have to play against kids of all sizes and the risk of injury increases immensely, if they ever see playing time.

If you don't let your kid play tackle football when they are young, they may never get a chance to play at all.

So this is the wrong advice. If you kid wants to play in high school I would let them. No pressure and they have to want it. But the hits before high school are just not needed. Anyone can learn football starting in high school. Heck there are people in the nfl that only played two years of college and no high school. Research is pretty strong not to start early.

Also, people seem to think youth football is dead. It's not. It's far from it.

If your kid things they'll walk onto the field and get a spot on the team having never put a helmet on before, that's probably not happening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a elementary or junior high son who really wants to try tackle football, let him or her. Even, and especially, if they are small. Find a youth program that matches kids by size, not age. That way, they will play only against kids their own size. Tackling at that age isn't intense; the kids just aren't that fast or strong. If you wait until kids are "bigger" or in high school, they will have to play against kids of all sizes and the risk of injury increases immensely, if they ever see playing time.

If you don't let your kid play tackle football when they are young, they may never get a chance to play at all.

So this is the wrong advice. If you kid wants to play in high school I would let them. No pressure and they have to want it. But the hits before high school are just not needed. Anyone can learn football starting in high school. Heck there are people in the nfl that only played two years of college and no high school. Research is pretty strong not to start early.

Also, people seem to think youth football is dead. It's not. It's far from it.

If your kid things they'll walk onto the field and get a spot on the team having never put a helmet on before, that's probably not happening.

BCC parent here who knows at least 2 new players on the BCC team who have never played a day of organized football in their lives. I'm afraid for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We asked our pediatrician, who is the senior member of one of the best practices in DC, expecting to get a firm no. Instead, we got “the research does not support the notion that football isn’t safe…CTE is not an issue for kids who play for a few years in high school…you should let him play…”

A -- that's doubtful

B-- it takes 20 years for new research to make its way into doctor's offices. Google is more up to date than most doctors.

Anonymous wrote:It's taken me a long time to get here, but I agree OP.
My son has wanted to play tackle football since he was 6. I always said no due to safety/concussion concerns and don't even get me going on my feminist tirade of the NFL.
We put him (and our daughter) into flag football. He grew his love of the sport and has continued to ask about playing tackle. Here we are, he's in 7th grade, just went to the pediatrician for his annual check up and he's in the 97th percentile size wise for his age. He asked again if he could do the school football team and I said yes. Part of it is to give him the chance to do it before the stakes are too high. He has his primary sport that he excels in, and is part of his long term goal (playing in college, etc). But the social and emotional impact of being on the football team with his friends I believe will pay dividends, and he's already having a blast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's taken me a long time to get here, but I agree OP.
My son has wanted to play tackle football since he was 6. I always said no due to safety/concussion concerns and don't even get me going on my feminist tirade of the NFL.
We put him (and our daughter) into flag football. He grew his love of the sport and has continued to ask about playing tackle. Here we are, he's in 7th grade, just went to the pediatrician for his annual check up and he's in the 97th percentile size wise for his age. He asked again if he could do the school football team and I said yes. Part of it is to give him the chance to do it before the stakes are too high. He has his primary sport that he excels in, and is part of his long term goal (playing in college, etc). But the social and emotional impact of being on the football team with his friends I believe will pay dividends, and he's already having a blast.

Above all sports, football and golf teach responsibility the best. Golf is obvious as it’s all on you. Football makes you realize how important it is to listen, understand and do your part bc, if you don’t, someone can get crushed. The first time a kid has to look a teammate in the eye who got smashed bc they messed up provides eye opening perspective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's taken me a long time to get here, but I agree OP.
My son has wanted to play tackle football since he was 6. I always said no due to safety/concussion concerns and don't even get me going on my feminist tirade of the NFL.
We put him (and our daughter) into flag football. He grew his love of the sport and has continued to ask about playing tackle. Here we are, he's in 7th grade, just went to the pediatrician for his annual check up and he's in the 97th percentile size wise for his age. He asked again if he could do the school football team and I said yes. Part of it is to give him the chance to do it before the stakes are too high. He has his primary sport that he excels in, and is part of his long term goal (playing in college, etc). But the social and emotional impact of being on the football team with his friends I believe will pay dividends, and he's already having a blast.

Above all sports, football and golf teach responsibility the best. Golf is obvious as it’s all on you. Football makes you realize how important it is to listen, understand and do your part bc, if you don’t, someone can get crushed. The first time a kid has to look a teammate in the eye who got smashed bc they messed up provides eye opening perspective.

Exactly. I've said the same thing for years. Different sports teach different lessons.

For example, I encourage kids to play solo sports (like, golf as you mentioned), but I always use wrestling as the best example. It's just you. You are either going to whooped, or you're going to whoop someone else. It's entirely on you (that is a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point)

Football is the opposite. It takes 11 people all doing their job together. And you owe it to the 10 other players to do your job, and they owe it to you. There's something special about it that's hard to find in other sports.

It becomes extra special because only people that really played understand. Sure, the RB gets the credit for the touchdown. But people that play see the line making the hole, the center with the clean snap, the WR with the downfield block.

RB may get into the end zone untouched; the rest of the team made that possible for them. It's really cool when you see it start to click for the kids

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's taken me a long time to get here, but I agree OP.
My son has wanted to play tackle football since he was 6. I always said no due to safety/concussion concerns and don't even get me going on my feminist tirade of the NFL.
We put him (and our daughter) into flag football. He grew his love of the sport and has continued to ask about playing tackle. Here we are, he's in 7th grade, just went to the pediatrician for his annual check up and he's in the 97th percentile size wise for his age. He asked again if he could do the school football team and I said yes. Part of it is to give him the chance to do it before the stakes are too high. He has his primary sport that he excels in, and is part of his long term goal (playing in college, etc). But the social and emotional impact of being on the football team with his friends I believe will pay dividends, and he's already having a blast.

Above all sports, football and golf teach responsibility the best. Golf is obvious as it’s all on you. Football makes you realize how important it is to listen, understand and do your part bc, if you don’t, someone can get crushed. The first time a kid has to look a teammate in the eye who got smashed bc they messed up provides eye opening perspective.

Exactly. I've said the same thing for years. Different sports teach different lessons.

For example, I encourage kids to play solo sports (like, golf as you mentioned), but I always use wrestling as the best example. It's just you. You are either going to whooped, or you're going to whoop someone else. It's entirely on you (that is a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point)

Football is the opposite. It takes 11 people all doing their job together. And you owe it to the 10 other players to do your job, and they owe it to you. There's something special about it that's hard to find in other sports.

It becomes extra special because only people that really played understand. Sure, the RB gets the credit for the touchdown. But people that play see the line making the hole, the center with the clean snap, the WR with the downfield block.

RB may get into the end zone untouched; the rest of the team made that possible for them. It's really cool when you see it start to click for the kids

Same could be said for soccer....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's taken me a long time to get here, but I agree OP.
My son has wanted to play tackle football since he was 6. I always said no due to safety/concussion concerns and don't even get me going on my feminist tirade of the NFL.
We put him (and our daughter) into flag football. He grew his love of the sport and has continued to ask about playing tackle. Here we are, he's in 7th grade, just went to the pediatrician for his annual check up and he's in the 97th percentile size wise for his age. He asked again if he could do the school football team and I said yes. Part of it is to give him the chance to do it before the stakes are too high. He has his primary sport that he excels in, and is part of his long term goal (playing in college, etc). But the social and emotional impact of being on the football team with his friends I believe will pay dividends, and he's already having a blast.

Above all sports, football and golf teach responsibility the best. Golf is obvious as it’s all on you. Football makes you realize how important it is to listen, understand and do your part bc, if you don’t, someone can get crushed. The first time a kid has to look a teammate in the eye who got smashed bc they messed up provides eye opening perspective.

Exactly. I've said the same thing for years. Different sports teach different lessons.

For example, I encourage kids to play solo sports (like, golf as you mentioned), but I always use wrestling as the best example. It's just you. You are either going to whooped, or you're going to whoop someone else. It's entirely on you (that is a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point)

Football is the opposite. It takes 11 people all doing their job together. And you owe it to the 10 other players to do your job, and they owe it to you. There's something special about it that's hard to find in other sports.

It becomes extra special because only people that really played understand. Sure, the RB gets the credit for the touchdown. But people that play see the line making the hole, the center with the clean snap, the WR with the downfield block.

RB may get into the end zone untouched; the rest of the team made that possible for them. It's really cool when you see it start to click for the kids

Same could be said for soccer....

Not really, and I think you just kind of proved me point (that you only get if you've ever been a part of it).

First, nobody is going to get pancaked in soccer bc a teammate missed an assignment.

Second, there are lots of time when soccer players aren't really engaged in the action, which is fine, its the nature of the sport. And its their job. So a defenders job may be to creep up the field, but do they really have a "critical" assignment when the ball is on the opponents zone? Not really.