Can football withstand the test of time in a society filled with worries for the future of America’s youth? I believe that with the recent research, parents and athletes are becoming more aware of the risks that are involved with the sport, and thus skeptic about becoming involved. While there have been changes made at all levels to try and protect athletes from the potential risk of a brain injury, concussions are inevitable in football. One change that I believe will be beneficial to the youth population is eliminating tackle football from children under the age of 14. In other words, tackle football begins once the individual has entered high school. Will this change eliminate the risk of concussion related deaths in athletes? No. However, I agree with Dr. Robert Cantu when he says that, “younger brains are more susceptible to injury and that a reduction in head contact before adolescence would reduce the chance of long-term brain damage.”
Another important piece of information that the story touches upon, is the lack of medical assistance at the high school level. The state of Missouri (where the story is set), as well as other states, do not require an athletic trainer or an ambulance at regular-season high school football games. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) gave a couple astonishing statistics in the story stating that, “only 39% of public high schools have access to a full-time certified athletic trainer, and 30% of schools have no training services at all.” These statistics need to drastically change if we have any hope at all of saving our youth from traumatic brain injuries. While schools may believe that having only an EMT present at games is beneficial, it is the athletic trainer that high schools really need. Athletic trainers are specialized in concussion evaluations and spinal injury assessments, while EMTs are not. I understand that budgets make it hard for all schools to have an athletic training services provided, but I believe that in the future, school systems should begin to plan to set aside a budget to provide an athletic trainer and each and every school across the country. This needs to happen if sports like football continue to exist.
In small towns, like Tipton, MO, as well as larger cities, high school football is a glorified sport. The iconic “Friday Night Lights” excitement and feeling is one that everyone has experienced at one time or another. It is sad that such a beloved sport can cause such traumatic injuries. However, changes need to be made in order to preserve this sport for the future. This story is definitely worth the read and I hope it will spark a discussion with my followers.
Allison - such a sad story. Being a parent, I cannot imagine having the event of a happy time in watching my child play in athletics, turn suddenly, into a tragic situation. While the authors state that having an athletic trainer on site may not have prevented Chad's death, I can agree to some extent, but will also disagree. If an AT were available, they may have never let him return to play as they would have been able to complete sideline assessment and perhaps would have been able to identify cognitive issues. This will continue to be a discussion, and I am very tired of hearing a school can't afford an AT - if you can't afford to keep the children safe, then perhaps you shouldn't offer athletics to begin with! You don't have a band without instruments or a band leader.
ReplyDeleteAllison - I absolutely agree that every school should have an AT, especially when you are hearing about these tragic stories. I also agree with the idea that tackle football should not begin until high school. There is too much risk to young children's brains with tackle football, especially because they are not fully developed. With all of the research being done on athlete's brains who have suffered many concussions, they should make a push to prevent traumatic brain injuries in youth contact sports. I believe that hockey and lacrosse would also benefit from stricter rules regarding hitting, so as to prevent earlier exposure to concussions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dr. Suanne as well that even though the article says that having an athletic trainer on site may not have prevented the situation from happening, I disagree. After Chad's first hit the athletic trainer may have been able to evaluate him and decide that it would be better for him to sit out of the game. It should start to be enforced to have an athletic trainer present at high schools, so as to prevent further injury and harm to the students.