12 year old wants to play tackle football

[ElAzul]

What's the consensus of kids getting into tackle football with all the concussions, occasional back, neck, spine injury etc? I'm excited but seriously thinking of steering him another direction. He's plenty tough but shit happens.

Did/would you let your kids play tackle today?

 

[SBMech]

Played from 7th grade all the way through high school. Was a great way to feel really involved in the campus, at least it was back in the early 80's lol.

I have more long term injuries from skateboarding, snowboarding and motocross than I do from playing football in HS.

 

[28Eliminator]

I played, and I coached and ran the league for all 4 of my boys over 8 years. Nobody ever got hurt.

Teach them to keep their head up, eyes always forward, looking at your target. Head and neck injuries almost always come from putting your head down.

My thoughts, let them play!!

 

[4Waters]

My 7yo is playing, it's not the good-ole days where they tell them to put the helmet to the opponents chin, that will get you kicked out of the game. A concussion is not bad, it's the 2nd, 3rd and so on without full recovery from the original concussion. Most leagues require the players get baseline concussion testing before the season starts and they won't be allowed to play until they are cleared by the Dr. from the 1st concussion. Let him try it see if he likes it.

 

[KMH]

Yes let him play if its his idea. He can get hurt doing anything. My son played 10 years and never had any major problems and no he wasn't the water boy...

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Realistically, your child is more likely to be injured in the car on the way to football practice than they are actually playing football.

However, more and more research is showing that it isn't the big head injuries where you get knocked out that causes problems, its continuous small impacts that cause issues. I played football at a pretty high level for 11 years, have had my share of injuries and concussions.

What scares me the most is unknown surrounding long term deficits in relation to head injuries. I know that my knee will need to be redone within the next 10 years, same for my shoulder, same for my ankle. I can plan for that eventuality, but I cannot plan for the unknown surrounding my head injuries.

With all of that being said, I would rather live a shorter, and more fun life than live to 120 years old and be wrapped in bubble wrap the whole time, but that's just me.

 

[DWC]

Realistically, your child is more likely to be injured in the car on the way to football practice than they are actually playing football.

However, more and more research is showing that it isn't the big head injuries where you get knocked out that causes problems, its continuous small impacts that cause issues. I played football at a pretty high level for 11 years, have had my share of injuries and concussions.

What scares me the most is unknown surrounding long term deficits in relation to head injuries. I know that my knee will need to be redone within the next 10 years, same for my shoulder, same for my ankle. I can plan for that eventuality, but I cannot plan for the unknown surrounding my head injuries.

With all of that being said, I would rather live a shorter, and more fun life than live to 120 years old and be wrapped in bubble wrap the whole time, but that's just me.

Hope your head is ok it’s not like the family starts with a full deck anyway.

 

[KENDOG689]

Get him in to karting,way safer and not a team sport.

 

[ArizonaKevin]

Hope your head is ok it’s not like the family starts with a full deck anyway.

Yeah my brother got most of the deck to begin with too

 

[DWC]

I’d definitely let him try it out if he wants to. Every sport has its injuries. Every position has its dangers. No better way to learn teamwork, build friendships and learn how to compete.
My oldest came back to the sideline a couple times. Learned he wasn’t invincible and to respect himself and others.

 

[stevesdcb]

I played a lot, starting at 10 years old, back in the 70s. Things were different then, no water breaks, shitty helmets & equipment, questionable techniques. I have coached youth & high school.

My son started at 10 & is still playing at the Jr. college level.

A lot has changed over the years, better helmets, equipment & techniques.

I love the sport especially at the youth & high school level. College level stuff changes & the risk of injury increases.

It's not the easiest sport to play. A certain level of toughness & determination has to be there. The sport can be a great teacher of life for a lot of reasons. First year players are usually behind the curve & it can be an eye opener, second year they usually figure it out. Not a sport that you can half step, you gotta be all in or you will get exposed. I say let him play!

 

[chvynhra]

Nope, played for 6 years and remember being dizzy after tackling drills. My kids will not play tackle football. The long term damage isn't worth it.

 

[was thatguy]

Played from 7th grade all the way through high school. Was a great way to feel really involved in the campus, at least it was back in the early 80's lol.

I have more long term injuries from skateboarding, snowboarding and motocross than I do from playing football in HS.

Same here. Played football every year for 7 years. QB full time, filled in at WR, Free Safety and LB all in the 70’s. Hurt my knee once due to a faulty knee pad.
All my big injuries were from snow skiing, BMX, MX, etc.

 

[rmarion]

I've had three concussions..
1ST Watersking - lost my mind for 3 days on houseboat with all my family, honey, two young ones under 3 ..

2nd and 3rd - racing MX... (which occurred 20 years later)

shit, it can happen any time, anywhere, doing anything...

 

[Ouderkirk]

What's the consensus of kids getting into tackle football with all the concussions, occasional back, neck, spine injury etc? I'm excited but seriously thinking of steering him another direction. He's plenty tough but shit happens.

Did/would you let your kids play tackle today?

Concussions are the least of your concerns when it comes to football. It is the other injuries that can last a lifetime that are far more likely.

It would depend on how serious he is about it....and to be honest with you, 12 years is a little behind the curve for getting started in football these days.

Also, it's not just his time, but yours. Are YOU prepared for the time committment necessary for him to become even an average skill player? That's what I have noticed about youth sports these days. It's not like it used to be where your kid practices and plays at the designated times. Now you are expected to take him to skills clinics, and weight workouts, and on and on.

 

[RodnJen]

Hold off until high school. Let him develop then if he still wants it, have at it.

My wife is a PT ant treats lots of young athletes. She has fewer football players than most major sports.

That being said, the concussion thing is real.

 

[Go-Fly]

I watch kids play football today and they try to hurt one and other. I played football as a kid. We all know how to turn someones shoulder into the ground, knock the wind out of a player, ring someones bell but, we didn't do it out of respect. The old do unto others kind of deal. I've seen high fives and celebrations when someone gets hurt at todays games. Not sure I'd let one of my kids play.

 

[Old Texan]

It's his decision. Let him play if he wants it and make sure he's coached by intelligent folks that teach proper technique.

I played HS and college. Coached 10-12 year olds. I had to have a come to Jesus talk with a couple dads about pushing their kid into something the kids didn't have their heart into. Had to explain, they could not live their life through their kid and the kid was not anything less if he didn't like the contact which is part of the game.

Football of all sports is one of commitment by the kid. It's very physical and if you don't like to get hit, you should not be on the field.

 

[Old Texan]

I watch kids play football today and they try to hurt one and other. I played football as a kid. We all know how to turn someones shoulder into the ground, knock the wind out of a player, ring someones bell but, we didn't do it out of respect. The old do unto others kind of deal. I've seen high fives and celebrations when someone gets hurt at todays games. Not sure I'd let one of my kids play.

I don't know about all that.....I grew up in the era when Butkus and Nitshke were our idols. No high fives, just as clean and hard of a hit one could apply. The other kid didn't get up, oh fucking well.

 

[Uncle Dave]

Played from 7th grade all the way through high school. Was a great way to feel really involved in the campus, at least it was back in the early 80's lol.

I have more long term injuries from skateboarding, snowboarding and motocross than I do from playing football in HS.

Pretty much the same here, although I played JFL in 7 & 8th grade summer couple things in high school baseball, wrestle, football.

all my motorized stuff and snow skiing did far more damage to me than playing ball as a kid ever did.

I say let the kid play.

UD

 

[CoreyD]

No football for my son. It only takes one yahoo kid, during one play, to go crazy and take someone out.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

The first thing I'd ask myself, am I committed to the sport? What ever he does, he's going to need family commitment.

Look at the big picture. How many injuries are you ready to treat, and for how long? You'll need good insurance, and a good sports doctor.

 

[Coleblooded]

Injuries are a big consideration, including concussions. As stated above, it is the cumulative damage from multiple "hits" that have long term effects not typically one collision. I have 2 boys that started football at the "late" age of 14 (we never wanted them to play because of the injury concern) and didn't agree until a year before high school. The problem with starting in high school is it typically takes 4 years to learn the game, so they would probably not be starting, unless they are outstanding athletically. I do believe the commitment and sacrifice (year round practice, 3-a-days, etc.) are huge character builders for young adults.

 

[Uncle Dave]

I don't know about all that.....I grew up in the era when Butkus and Nitshke were our idols. No high fives, just as clean and hard of a hit one could apply. The other kid didn't get up, oh fucking well.

Yeah dont know about trying to hurt people.

As the coach here mentions learning to play the right way avoids that to a great extent .

Pretty common idols - As far as Butkus goes if you go back and watch him hit there was very little if any head down nonsense - just a good old fashioned whallop that you knew the source of without even looking.

Never tried to consciously hurt anyone- but in all schools there are always power struggles and there are lots of matchups of strength and power that never occur in class because of timing of classes and on year differences.
scrimmaging against your own schoolmates in football was a chance to show that guy with a big mouth you've been on edge with 2 years that he wasnt as tough as he thought .

I hit the weights at the beginning of 6th grade after I got a beat down from 3 of the local heads just for being in their vicinity - after a full year + working out by 7nth grade I was benching far over my weight in the day instead of picking a fight to get back - the biggest of the three joined the team - and I threw him around like a rag doll not for a minute or two but for the length of a game. Guy spent more time on his back that hooker on dollar day. The coaches new exactly what was going on because my team mate mark told him the story and coach made sure we lined up against one another all afternoon.

Wouldn't you know it I never heard a peep from any of the 3 shitheads for the rest of my life.

I look back at is as confidence and skill building.
I would say that ball was a far better safer way to determine alpha status than classic 3 o'clock showdowns, that now occur with knives and guns and pipes.

UD

 

[ArizonaKevin]

There is actually an argument to be made that it is more dangerous to start a kid in high school. In my opinion, it is safer to start the kid early so they can learn better technique at a young age where the impacts much less violent. Throwing a kid at 14-15 without any experience, questionable technique, and not much muscle into a group of kids that have been playing for 5 years could cause more problems.

If your kid wants to play football, I would seriously recommend having them start conditioning themselves early. Push-ups, sit-ups, unweighted squats, lunges, and a lot of cardio will help them build a more solid foundation of muscle. In this sport, having muscle and being in good shape is what helps keep you safe. Furthermore, if you have limited football experience, please don't try to teach your kid what your perception of good technique is. As a coach, it is a lot harder for your kid to unlearn what you taught them and learn it the right way, rather than being taught with a clean slate.

 

[Justfishing]

I would let him but I would find out what the current protocols are for baseline concussion testing and in play protocols making sure they are the best available.

I would also looking into the equipment they use and what is being taught. Are the coaches on board to new standards or are they old school.

There is a much better understanding of concussion and the need for treatment and not being allowed back to early.

The thing is for the parent to have the courage to set limits. If you feel he has gotten a couple of concussions then it might be a good idea either consult a Dr or pull him out of football.

I am sure we have all had concussions and we're never treated for them. I know playing basketball I knocked heads pretty good and came off the court only to go back in later.

 

[oldschool]

Well, you certainly can't let him play water polo.