Concussions-The attack on Youth Football and how the NFL can help

con·cus·sion

kənˈkəSHən/

noun

1. 1.

   temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head. The term is also used loosely of the aftereffects such as confusion or temporary incapacity.

   
   

 Please keep in mind as I discuss this topic that I am not only looking at it from a parents point of view. But also as someone who loves the game of football. I have played, coached, and loved this game for many, many years. I don't believe that because of this "new" attack on the sport that parents are being given all the information that is truly needed to make an educated decision on allowing their children to play the game that has molded so many peoples lives. 

 Player participation in youth football is drastically dropping with parents talking their sons into playing sports such as soccer and baseball. What doesn't come out is the fact that soccer is actually the leading sport for youth concussions in the United States. Is this attributed to the fact that the rise in participation in the sport has risen exponentially in the last 10 years? Or is it the fact that these children still aren't being taught the proper methods to play the game safely at their age levels? Most youth sports programs are paid for, governed, and taught at a small local level. Most of the coaches for these sports are parents that may or may not have even played the sports that they are coaching. Much less have any sort of training on teaching the kids at their respected age levels the proper and safe methods of playing the game. I think this is where a big problem is in youth sports. I'm not questioning the intentions of these coaches, hell I was one of them myself. What I do question is what can be done to make sure that these kids are being taught the sport safely, and as age appropriate as possible.

  Per the Pop Warner league website, the average youth football player will have 240 head collisions in a season. This isn't saying full on head to head hard collisions. This is saying that 240 times they will hit their head. At a youth level the brain isn't fully developed and that means it's very susceptible to injury. Hell even for an adult, if you hit your head even lightly 240 times in a short period of time you will feel some sort of effect. I believe that concussions and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a very big problem. But I also believe that we can still do more to make the game safer. In the upcoming 2016 season the NFL is bringing in new, safer helmets. And yes, this is a start. But what about the younger programs? The programs that don't have access to even 1% of the NFL's stockpile of cash? This is where we need to concentrate our energy and mental prowess on. Most youth programs in the United States are locally ran, they don't fall under the Pop Warner governing body. They are local, small towns where a group of parents run the show. And it's highly appreciated and endearing to have these parents step up and want to help these youth gain the experience and love of the game that so many of us have. Still this is where we need to make the changes, to start good habits and safer game play.

  Flag football is gaining popularity throughout the nation, but is still not being offered enough for the younger kids programs. Most small towns in our area have youth football for kids starting in 3rd grade, which is awesome. However, a lot of these programs start these kids playing tackle football immediately. This is an issue, this can be and should be changed. There is absolutely no reason to have children this small playing tackle football. So let's change it. Let's use the first 2 years of these children's football experience to teach them the basics. I'm talking blocking, route running, pursuit routes etc. Let them develop the basic knowledge of the game before moving into the more physical aspect. I know a lot of you are saying "Ok, well how does this make the game safer?". By them having a more basic understanding of the basics you can work more solidly on the safer and more proper way of tackling when they reach the next level.

  But this is where the importance of "coach education" comes in. As I said previously, most of these coaches are fathers who may have played ball 15-20 years ago in high school. They are volunteers who don't get paid, they do it hoping to maybe make a difference in some young mans life. But this is also where we are slipping, I still see these coaches running "bull in the ring" and other "old school" drills with these kids. These drills aren't even ran at the professional level anymore because of the knowledge that people are easily injured in these drills. We need to change our style, and thinking of the sport and how these kids are taught. These kids today are bigger, faster and stronger than kids were when we played. And of course this increases the chances of injuries. We need education as coaches. And this is where the NFL could and should start helping. They are so worried about the future of the sport, then start where it begins. Youth Football.

  The NFL has a great program known as the "Heads Up" program. This program is intended to teach coaches and players proper tackling techniques to help eliminate the dangerous head to head collisions and spearing tackles that we have seen hurt so many players over the years. If the NFL wants to help save this sport that brings in billions of dollars a year to the league and owners, then they need to help educate the youth coaches. This could and should be done. If the NFL would team up with the local universities throughout the United States and hold clinics for these coaches to attend at little or no cost to them (keep in mind, most are volunteers). Not only would they be teaching the college players coming through the ranks, but also teaching the coaches of our young children the proper way that they should be handling our kids. Everything to educate the youth coaches and players can be done reasonably easily by the NFL. These kids are the future of the sport and the proper education and techniques should be available to them; just as they are available to the 2% that get to play the game professionally.

  This is my opinion, view and reasonable idea on how to help save the game that so many love. I hope that parents realize that when properly taught, these children can enjoy the sport as much as so many millions have for many years. Injuries will happen, but we can change the severity of some of them with proper techniques.