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Ranger Rick: Will brain injuries eventually ruin football?

The NFL insignia means “National Football League” to many. To some, it means “Not For Long.”

With more focus on the health of former and current players regarding their brain health in a collision sport, it seems only reasonable to think the NFL no longer means what it did before. The discovery of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) in 99% of the former NFL player donated brains checked were positive diagnosis – this poses a challenge for any level of football.

This is evidenced by the declining participation of lower levels of organized football, commonly referred to in this area as Rocket (8-9; 10-11; & 12-13 year olds respectively) and 78’er (Jr. High) football. The big high school programs that used to have 40 to 60 kids standing on a sideline are now having a hard time fielding enough for two complete teams and some extras in case of injury. Some high school teams have resorted to 8-player football instead of 11-player. Lately, some professional players play the sport for only a few years before they retire, citing health concerns.

The rules of football have changed to respond to these head trauma injuries by changing rules for targeting the head and neck area, and as an unprotected player from collision. This will certainly help in the reduction of unnecessary head trauma. But will it be enough to save the sport from self-destruction? I hope it does if only to afford young people the value of teamwork for a common goal, with grit and determination to be the best you can be, and keeping physically fit to play the game that for years have given players many positive benefits.

I played football for four years in high school and couldn’t get enough of it. I loved the contact — blocking and tackling, driving ball carriers to the ground. We had a good team, not a great one, but I certainly loved the game. Do I worry about it affecting me in later years? If I did, it would limit what I do every day. Life is a gamble, and if you don’t live it, what good is it? I feel it when I get up in the morning, but is that from abusing my body earlier in life or just getting older? Probably a combination of both. If I had to live it over, I’d do the same thing.

What is the future of football; from pee-wee leagues, high school, college and pro levels? I hope it never gets to the point it dies from sports. But I am not convinced it will survive. Some say it is modern day gladiators played on a field 120 yards long by 53 1/3 yards wide. I just say it is the greatest game ever invented. I never wanted to be a basketball or baseball player like many of my friends, it was just football all the time. It is life played on a field, winners and losers, and at the end of the game it shows us the world in which we live. We play the game and learn so much from the pursuit of excellence on the field. Just like life.

The downfall of football? … the rotting of America from within continues…

 

 

 

2 Comments

  • I like you love the game. It has become a blood and guts sport played through intimidation and viciousness not ability and talent. It’s all about cash. Blame the fans and the officials who condone it. BTW, the rotting of the WORLD continues, not just the USA. So sad for football. Where is Teddy Roosevelt when you need him? Maybe President Trump can step in and save it!

  • There is no doubt at the college and pro level it is about the money. However, as you probably know, President Teddy Roosevelt was appalled by the deaths and injuries in football in prep and college and demanded a change in the rules to alleviate the violence. The officials on the field enforce those rules and they change with the game. The National Federation of High School Associations makes the rules for high school sports and the MHSAA (MI High School Athletic Assn.) enforces them and helps train officials in all high school sports. At the pro level is where the focus is on, but it is affecting college and high schools by limiting participation from fear, and families that feel that way discourage their young from playing football.
    Once one gets to the college level, the body mass and velocity increase exponentially, and with pros (the best of the best) everything is at “light speed” and the bodies are huge. What that much mass and velocity, something has to give.

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