A CDC study published in Sports Health reports youth tackle football athletes ages 6 to 14 sustained 15 times more head impacts than flag football athletes during a practice or game and sustained 23 times more high-magnitude head impact (hard head impact).
At what age is tackle football safe?
The Concussion Legacy Foundation states that it “strongly recommends you delay enrolling your child in tackle football until the age of 14 .”
Should I let my kid play tackle football?
At any level. Mark Hyman, who co-authored Concussions and our Kids along with neurosurgeon and athletic brain trauma expert Mark Cantu, makes the strong case that parents should say no to tackle football for kids until at least age 14 . That’s because young brains have a harder time recovering from the hits.
Why is youth football bad?
In the last two years, some researchers have shown that head hits in youth sports increase the risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy , or CTE, an untreatable degenerative brain disease with symptoms ranging from memory loss to progressive dementia.
Is youth tackle football safe?
Youth tackle won’t increase the odds of going pro, but it will expose athletes to years of repetitive impacts , increasing risks of brain damage.
Is football getting safer?
High school football is under attack. According to The National Federation of State High School Associations, participation in high school football has decreased by three percent last year, and ten percent since its peak in 2008.
Should I let my 10 year old play tackle football?
Legendary former quarterback Brett Favre is warning parents not to let their children play tackle football before the age of 14, lest they greatly increase their kids’ risk of eventually developing the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Is football safe for 13 year olds?
If Your Child Wants to Play Football
Ideally, kids should stick with flag (or non-contact) football until they are at least 13 years old . One small study of retired NFL players have shown an association between cognitive impairment and playing tackle football prior to age 12.
What is the best age to play football?
Children can begin playing tackle football as early as 5 years old .
Why you shouldn’t let your kid play football?
SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Tackle football is dangerous for children. Children who play tackle football absorb repeated hits to the head . As adults, they’re at higher risk of suffering cognitive deficits as well as behavioral and mood problems.
Should I let my 7 year old play football?
Signing children up for flag football through at least seventh grade can reduce exposure while still letting them play . “They’re still advancing the ball 10 yards...and getting physical activity, which kids should have, but somebody is not hitting your head with every play,” says Stamm.
How many brain traumas do you need to have to get CTE?
Is it going to give me CTE? One concussion in the absence of other brain trauma has never been seen to cause CTE. The best evidence available today suggests that while in theory CTE could begin after one brain injury , if it does, it is rare.
What are the benefits of youth football?
Youth football is made up of selfless volunteers who give of themselves to be a teacher, mentor and role model to instill confidence, self-discipline and teamwork to shape our youth. Youth football increases self-esteem and lowers the levels of depression by allowing children to have an outlet from daily rigors .
Is football bad for your brain?
Now, a new study shows playing just one season of college football can harm a player’s brain , even if they don’t receive a concussion. ... Injuries that fall short of concussions are often overlooked, but if they happen frequently, they could be just as damaging to the brain.
What is the safest position in football?
Safety (S) – There are two S positions: The Strong Safety (SS) and the Free Safety (FS) . The strong safety is usually, well, strong, and fast. They are usually responsible for covering TEs, RBs, and WRs and playing down the field but are often expected to come up in run support.
Who gets hit the most in football?
Which positions get hit the hardest? A study from Brown University found that in the NFL, running backs are hit the hardest. This makes sense — after all, running backs are running full steam ahead at defensive linemen and linebackers nearly directly in front of them.
