No, my son has begged (now in middle school) and he'll never play tackle football.

Anonymous wrote:I would let my children play if he had an interest. One son tried flag but didn't want to play tackle in the fall. It was his choice.

I'm a teacher and have seen more of my students suffer from concussions and injuries requiring surgery in other sports. There are so many soccer injuries and I still let DS play because he loves it.

If your son doesn't want to play tackle because of the negative experience of flag football and could still have an interest in tackle I'd tell him to do it. Flag football for a younger kid who isn't the fastest or the quarterback is kind of boring and can give a false idea of how tackle is. It's completely different

I would let my children play if he had an interest. One son tried flag but didn't want to play tackle in the fall. It was his choice.

I'm a teacher and have seen more of my students suffer from concussions and injuries requiring surgery in other sports. There are so many soccer injuries and I still let DS play because he loves it.

One son has been solely soccer from age 4 to joe going to be a college player. He has had at least 2 concussions and been knocked unconscious for a quick 10 seconds.

Another son plays football in the fall (running back/slot receiver and safety), wrestles in the winter and does track and lacrosse (middie) in the spring as well as tumbling. Zero concussions

Another son does the football (running back and linebacker/corner), wrestling and lacrosse (middle) thing. Zero concussions.

My daughter has wrestled, soccer, softball and gymnastics and martial arts. Zero Concussions.

I had a few concussions as well as a knocked out episode as a child and so far so good for me.

I am aware of CTE and so are my children. I will allow them to do what they desire to do academically and athletically. It could be worse. They could be the age they are now and be out of shape and mush for brains due to constant electronics. I am ok with My decision and I will leave it up to my kids to walk away when they feel ready. If something were to happen to them from sports, it was from something they loved doing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney and represented a former NFL player against the NFL about twenty years ago. After having seen the evidence in that case, there is absolutely no way that my son (who will probably one day have the physique to play linebacker) will play football. At any level. The evidence is overwhelming and, despite the PR push, there is no way to make football safe without changing the fundamentals of the game. Plenty of other sports out there.

I can't tell you how many people with out kids say they would never X, Y and Z.

Come back in 12 years and let us know how that went.

Was it my specific reference to my son that made you decide that I don't have kids? Well, it's true. I only have the one kid and be is never, ever playing football.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I have told him since the time he could walk that he can play anything he wants except football. He's played basketball, baseball, swam, played tennis, and tried soccer and lacross. He's had a happy and fulfilling athletic career without football.

Athletic career

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure this has already been discussed before. Right down to the topic title.

FWIW our son is chomping at the bit for the next season to start.

Yes, we know the risks. So does he. So do the coaches and our family doctor.

Why? Because he loves it and it'seems done him so much good. Confidence. Awareness of how own health. Etc.

This is weirdly troublesome

Why?

Nope. I have told him since the time he could walk that he can play anything he wants except football. He's played basketball, baseball, swam, played tennis, and tried soccer and lacross. He's had a happy and fulfilling athletic career without football.

Never. My son has been begging for years. He's allowed to play in the yard with friends provided there's no tackling but I have not let him play on a team. He's off to HS next year and I'm not going to change my mind. It's far too dangerous. If NFL players don't want their kids to play, that says something.

He plays baseball, soccer and basketball and I've seen concussions in every sport so I know he can still get hurt. However, I do think other sports are lower risk than tackle football. In football, the brain is taking hits every single time the player is on the field. Those non-concussion hits to the head also cause brain damage. Helmets don't prevent it.

See this article on the topic.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/lifestyle/kidspost/should-kids-play-tackle-football-brain-injury-researcher-says-no/2016/08/31/37de96e4-6486-11e6-8b27-bb8ba39497a2_story.html

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney and represented a former NFL player against the NFL about twenty years ago. After having seen the evidence in that case, there is absolutely no way that my son (who will probably one day have the physique to play linebacker) will play football. At any level. The evidence is overwhelming and, despite the PR push, there is no way to make football safe without changing the fundamentals of the game. Plenty of other sports out there.

This was a good first hand account of the issue .

Anonymous wrote:I am an attorney and represented a former NFL player against the NFL about twenty years ago. After having seen the evidence in that case, there is absolutely no way that my son (who will probably one day have the physique to play linebacker) will play football. At any level. The evidence is overwhelming and, despite the PR push, there is no way to make football safe without changing the fundamentals of the game. Plenty of other sports out there.

I can't tell you how many people with out kids say they would never X, Y and Z.

Come back in 12 years and let us know how that went.

I am an attorney and represented a former NFL player against the NFL about twenty years ago. After having seen the evidence in that case, there is absolutely no way that my son (who will probably one day have the physique to play linebacker) will play football. At any level. The evidence is overwhelming and, despite the PR push, there is no way to make football safe without changing the fundamentals of the game. Plenty of other sports out there.

We did flag football and pee-wee.

I preferred that my son stop football and switch to soccer. So he did. He had 2 severe concussion missing 4-6 weeks of school with each. Head injuries at full speed with no helmet. He has broken each foot 2 times and had a knee injury. His friend broke his back.

I think there are risks with every sport.

I would let him play for a little bit so he understands the game, my son is part of a fantasy football league which a fun way to socialize on the weekends. Besides house parties and smoking pot at friends' houses while their parents are out, there is not a whole lot of socializing in HS, the Friday night football and the football league has been a fun safe way to interact with his peers.

Anonymous wrote:No although I only have one child, a daughter so easy for me to say.

Lacrosse seems like a good alternative and is becoming more popular.

Yeah were they beat each other with sticks..way less dangerous than football.

We have a nation of pansies I swear. I have no issue if they want to play. No issue if they decided to do martial arts. I'd prefer MMA to boxes as their is less head injuries but whatever. If my son really wanted to box, fine I'd support him.

I grew up playing four different codes of football. American football, soccer, rugby union and rugby league. All are violent and all are aggressive. Fine if you don't want to play it but it's really not any more dangerous than anything else really. Concussion rates for girls soccer is very high and an issue.

I hope my daughter gets into athletics. I'd suport her decisions to play rugby or do Olympic weightlifting. Both are sports I'm passionate about. Of course I'd supprt her if she was on the Math team as well.