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Concussions in sports essay
Sports concussion and devastating long term effects
The danger of american football
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In the article “Should Kids Play Football” from the Scholastic Scope on February 2015, writer Jennifer Shotz discusses both issues of the benefits and dangers of playing American football. For example, Jennifer Shots mentioned that tens of thousands of young football players get concussions every year. She states that most players return to the game after they are healed but some never return because their concussion was too severe to their health. On the other hand, the writer also discusses how football isn't the only sport that encounters concussions. The rules of football are always changing and each new rule provides a safer way to play the game. For example, the writer notes that Pop Warner has reduced the amount of practice time dedicated
to tackling. This action teaches students to play towards the safer side of it. In addition, the author also states that football gets young kids ready for the future by teaching them discipline, focus and teamwork skills. Not only does football get kids ready for the future but it also provides them with an opportunity to go to college for free on a football scholarship. Athletes face everyday choices of whether they should continue to play an organize sport. Some quit due to their concern for their health and some follow their dreams of one day playing in the NFL. In the article by Jennifer Shotz, I agree that football does give young athletes a chance to succeed in the future. Football provides kids the opportunity to learn more about how to work as a team. It teaches them how to manage time and prepare accordingly with school, work and practice. In addition, the game of football is continuing to become safer. As stated by Jennifer, all 50 states have signed a law that allows injured players to go back on the field as long as they have a medical professional sign off. This action will encourage and force athletes to visit their doctor regularly allowing for weekly health checkups. Not only have laws been passed to secure safety for football players, but safety equipment for football players have improved. Furthermore, Jennifer also brings up a good point that football is an American Tradition that needs to continue and grow. Football brings all families together. It’s the nation's sport the people recognize it by. It’s a culture that people live by and often a legacy that needs to be passed on to the next generation. Young kids watch their favorite football player on t.v wishing that they one day could be there. As noted by the author, anyone who participates in the game of football they are experiencing an American tradition.
Playing football comes with great costs, including physical and mental health deterioration, plus the amount of time spent prepping before game day. Which can pose several questions, “Why suffer for a game, is it worth the money? Is it worth the fame? How great is the cost?” I believe that football, should have stricter regulations for the treatment of injuries, along with informing players of just how devastating a concussion can be, along with the other major injuries that commonly occur while playing football.
Are young children putting their health and even their lives at risk if they partake in the sport of football? Some claim that the American sport is far too dangerous and the risk of concussions and injuries far outway the pros of the physical sport, while others insist that technological improvements and new regulations have made the sport safer. Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of history and education at New York University, argues in his paper, “We Must Stop Risking the Health of Young Football Players,” that football is a sport that is too dangerous for the youth. He states his belief that technological improvements in helmets and changes in the rules of the sport have had little effect on reducing injuries and that nothing has worked.
“Concussion rates for children under the age of 19 who play football have doubled in the last decade, even though the overall sports participation has declined” (Youth Football Concussion Statistics). Football is extremely popular in American culture. Children all across the world love watching and playing the sport. However, many studies have shown numerous possible long term effects of starting the beloved sport when young. Undeveloped brains have a harder time recovering from bumps and blows that occur during playing time. After examining the long term effects of children playing football, it is clear that the tradition of tackle football in youth should be held off until the brain is more fully developed,
This paper attempts to rationalize youth football as a sport by discussing the pros and cons in order to argue that youth should be allowed to play the game of football if they so choose. To do so, this paper will explore the ethical arguments and considerations of parents, young athletes, medical professionals and social media.
Concussions have become arguably the #1 most prevalent issue in football today. The number of concussions throughout football has been rising for the past 20-30 years and there seems no way of stopping them. However, the NFL and many private researchers are set on finding a way to conquer this issue. They want to stop these concussions from happening and prevent the diseases resulting from them that have ruined so many football families’ lives. In order to solve this problem, I think that these researchers need to combine all of their knowledge to solve an issue that so many want solved. As soon as we conquer this “illness” we can return to enjoying the game that we love.
“Maybe I´m stupid or whatever, but to me if I got a concussion, if I could see straight and carry a football, then I´m not telling anybody”, Ricky Williams, NFL Football player. The argument about whether kids should play football or not is an important topic to argue. People need to understand that the concussions and other injuries are more serious with young kids. The problem is that many people think that it could be stopped by not allowing kids to play at all. Although parents can reduce risk of injury by not allowing their kids to play football, parents should let their children play football because it lets kids follow their dreams, it helps kids become more mature and independant, and if kids use proper technique they can reduce injuries.
In contrast to the positives, high school athletics can be seen in a negative light. “Concussions [from athletics] cause structural brain damage” (Solotaroff 7). Even though nobody is said to get a concussion in Friday Night Lights, they are very frequent in football and in other sports today. They occur all the time in football especially. In addition to that piece of nega...
Even though the devastation of concussions is just rising to the surface, they have always been around. In 1994, the NFL started a committee called the MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury). Dr. Elliot Pellman was appointed as chair, and he was quoted saying, “We think the issue of knees, of drugs and steroids and drinking is a far greater problem, according to the number of incidents” (Ezell). This quote shows how concussions did not hold much importance, even though it should have been the committee's main focus. This is ironic, because in today’s sport world concussions are a highly talked about topic. They hold such significance that some rules are even being changed to lower the risk for players.
One of the biggest controversial topics going on today is should children still be aloud to play football, knowing what we know about serious injuries? The article that I chose ( “Don’t Let Kids play football”) is about the consequences that could occur playing such a contact sport. The debate is that some people believe that football teaches important life lessons and others believe that it can cause serious life changing injuries.
Football is America’s favorite sport. It is a fast-paced, hard-hitting game. Every week thousands of men and boys all across the country take part in football and every week these men and boys receive violent hits during the game. Frequently, as a result of these violent hits, the player receives a concussion. However, the long-term effects of concussions on players are not fully understood. New research shows that even a slight concussion in a football game can have lasting effects on a player. As a result of this research, children under the age of fourteen should not play tackle football.
From long practice hours, hot summer workouts, and many Friday nights, my personal observation of this dangerous sport is exceptionally prevalent. My initial experience of the damage that football brings came my eighth grade year when I witnessed a senior football player on my team try and eat a phone on the ride home after receiving a concussion in the third quarter of the game. Which is a prime example to defend the fact that football related injuries to the head result in people not “being all there.” Not only have I seen someone try and eat a phone, but I have also witnessed head injuries resulting in my own friend randomly yelling at me after a game for no reason, and also a friend trying to jump down a full flight of stairs thinking he was starring in a movie. The fast paced, high intensity contact that comes with playing football is nothing to think flippantly of when it plays a role on brain trauma, and the results of brain trauma.
Do you worry about players in football? Are the violent sports in america too much for our youth? You would think twice on letting your son play football once you know the true consequences. Football is a high contact sport with a high risk injury rate. I wouldn't like my son to play football due to the consequences like brain damage, body injuries, and cause of death.
I feel as if parents should give their child the opportunity to choose whether or not they would have the desire to play football. As for me I would definitely let my daughter or son have the chance to play football. In Scott Fujita’s article “Would I Let My Son Play Football?”, he states “He’s right. It’s not for everyone. But it was definitely for me. And it is definitely for many more people, too.” (Fujita 5). He is explaining how it can be a good thing for other people and that they might start to love it if given a try at it. Fujita does not feel it is his responsibility to make other parents’ decisions for them. Instead he feels obligated to inform about this certain topic. Another example from a quote in the article is when he
Recently, attention has been brought to American football players on the risks of football due to countless concussions and lifelong health problems caused by blows to the head and improper equipment, therefore, the requirements for the equipment should be updated. Not only has the National Football League been found guilty of not realizing it, but the doctors and sports trainers have also. Head trauma early in life can greatly affect you later down the road. Head trauma is nine times out of ten, not curable. Therefore, it is greatly life threatening. Although football is a great pastime sport, it comes with many risks and health issues.
Football is the game of the people; it has surpassed baseball to become “America’s pastime”. Anyone who has a family member or friend is the sport should be proud to say they know someone who plays football, and even though pride is what fuels the love of the game, many people are not aware of the consequences that come with playing football. Therefore, if I had a child, and I was asked, “would you let your child play football?”, I would answer I would not let my child play football.