Read too much articles and now I feel worried about football and soccer. Don’t want them to suffer severe brain injury taking away the joy of playing team sports is hard.
He also likes to run, so maybe switch it towards XC/track?

All sports would have some kind of risk…Anything could happen with basketball, lax, hockey, baseball… or tripping while walking.

Mine switched to tackle in 6th grade and continued to play 2 other sports. Our high school is competitive enough that we rarely see kids playing in skill positions on the high school team who don't have some youth tackle experience. It happens, but they are outliers.

Never

Now. Or next year, I guess, at age 12.

Even if he's in an offensive skill position, he needs to learn how to trust his pads when taking a hit.

Or, if has plans to be in a skill position, he might not make the starting 11, but be given an opportunity to be on the defense. Which means he needs to learn how tackle

This is OP. All opinions are welcomed, thanks! We are aware of injury aspects… soccer does have many scary moments as well. Not aiming for a lineman so I guess he could develop with what he’s doing now, and see how it goes at HS.

Anonymous wrote:Ew who lets their kid play football? We rock climb and downhill ski so I get that some risks are worth it but not football.

He needs his brain.

Why bother to respond to something you have no knowledge of? Just to be keep practicing being a b1tch? Don't think you need more practice.

Anonymous wrote:Ew who lets their kid play football? We rock climb and downhill ski so I get that some risks are worth it but not football.

He needs his brain.

ew? You sound very mature and well spoken. Are you certain that you have a brain worth protecting?

Anonymous wrote:My 11 yr old DS has been playing soccer and flag football. He seems to be enjoying flag football more.

To switch completely to football, where do I start? In Montgomery County, MD. He’s fairly good with both. I was never an athlete so have no idea…thanks!

No sooner than high school. My DH played D1 football and didn't even start football until college, where he switched from the basketball team to the football team. My DS is now playing in college, and started football as a high school junior who played multiple sports.

If he plays a skill position, stick with flag until high school. If he's going to be a lineman or linebacker, he needs to play tackle before high school

Ew who lets their kid play football? We rock climb and downhill ski so I get that some risks are worth it but not football.

He needs his brain.

Anonymous wrote:Never. Unless your kid is amazing or you are super poor and have no options, why even risk the brain injuries?

Oh, eff off. Soccer has tons of head injuries too. You can actually play football with today's equipment and rules and never have a concussion. not every position hits every play.

Never

Never. Unless your kid is amazing or you are super poor and have no options, why even risk the brain injuries?

Anonymous wrote:My 11 yr old DS has been playing soccer and flag football. He seems to be enjoying flag football more.

To switch completely to football, where do I start? In Montgomery County, MD. He’s fairly good with both. I was never an athlete so have no idea…thanks!

Maybe post to the general sports forum?

But try a flagstar football. They have elite/travel football.

My 11 yr old DS has been playing soccer and flag football. He seems to be enjoying flag football more.

To switch completely to football, where do I start? In Montgomery County, MD. He’s fairly good with both. I was never an athlete so have no idea…thanks!