The death of Junior Seau is sparking another serious debate among families everywhere: should "your" son(s) play American football?

I know many of us played full-pad organized football on some level. But for parents or future parents, 2 sets of questions:

1. Would you let your son play American football? Why or why not? Could they play

2. Does your son currently play football? If your son is not, why are you not letting them play?

*Not a football-vs-soccer thread. That topic's been exhausted.

My grandson is 17 and he has played football since he was 6 years old. He wouldn't have it any other way.

Being from Texas, I can't imagine anyone here stopping their kid from playing football. But I saw an episode of Harry's Law the other day about all the head injuries that playing football causes and it made me thing about how damaging it can be.

I can't imagine a time when I won't be watching the Cowboys play on Thanksgiving!

Tough call. I have don't kids but if my sister's son wanted to get into it, I'd probably warn her of the risks. Now he is into soccer and basketball, so we are safe so far!

[Edited 5/7/12 2:38am]

I don't see football as being THAT much worse than any other rugged sport/activity.

In fact, I would have my sons play football ten times before RUGBY or boxing.

Hell, I would actually freak out if they told me they wanted to try mountain climbing.

...but alas, my sons aren't the jock types (like me) and even though my little one is naturally athletic, he hates to sweat.

But if they wanted to play football, I'd support it.

So because 2 people have died, (and not died on the field mind you, they KILLED themselves), after a hundred years of football playing, "supposedly" because of a football brain thing, we shouldnt allow our kids to play? TWO PEOPLE??

Im sure thats not what your saying Namepeace but I feel so sorry for kids today... Whats with all this OVER protection from everything!!!! I personally think the world is going to shit not because of a failing government, but because we are raising our children to be such candy ass momma's boys and girls...

But thats just my opionion... I was protective, but I did let my children experience life like I did!!!

And yes, my son did play football..

tinaz said:

So because 2 people have died, (and not died on the field mind you, they KILLED themselves), after a hundred years of football playing, "supposedly" because of a football brain thing, we shouldnt allow our kids to play? TWO PEOPLE??

Im sure thats not what your saying Namepeace but I feel so sorry for kids today... Whats with all this OVER protection from everything!!!! I personally think the world is going to shit not because of a failing government, but because we are raising our children to be such candy ass momma's boys and girls...

But thats just my opionion... I was protective, but I did let my children experience life like I did!!!

Kids nowadays can't deal with the realities of LIFE because GOD FORBID they fall and scratch a knee, their parents are blaming and suing everyone else.

Did you read that story recently that alleged that because we've turned playgrounds into "bump free zones" (where it's nearly impossible to get hurt) kids ARE NOT learning the basic skills needed to determine what is and what is not a dangerous thing to do???

My boys the other day where complaining that there was "nothing to do". It was a warm, sunny day (we were outside) and I told my little one to go climb a tree like normal kids.

He turned to me deadpan and said; "Dad, things are different today then back when YOU were a kid."

I went and pushed him up a tree.

If I had kids of course they would....

As a kicker or a punter.

football has its dangers n im sure those who play know that ..

jon1967 said:

football has its dangers n im sure those who play know that ..

...I was watching something on TV and they were talking about some guy who saved his buddy from a shark attack while they were surfing...

My mom turned to me and said; "I would die if any of you ever tried surfing."

PurpleJedi said:

jon1967 said:

football has its dangers n im sure those who play know that ..

...I was watching something on TV and they were talking about some guy who saved his buddy from a shark attack while they were surfing...

My mom turned to me and said; "I would die if any of you ever tried surfing."

lucky they both didnt end up seriously having a bad day ..

tinaz said:

So because 2 people have died, (and not died on the field mind you, they KILLED themselves), after a hundred years of football playing, "supposedly" because of a football brain thing, we shouldnt allow our kids to play? TWO PEOPLE??

Im sure thats not what your saying Namepeace but I feel so sorry for kids today... Whats with all this OVER protection from everything!!!! I personally think the world is going to shit not because of a failing government, but because we are raising our children to be such candy ass momma's boys and girls...

But thats just my opionion... I was protective, but I did let my children experience life like I did!!!

I think you understand me. And I agree with a lot of what you say.

I played from 9 till I graduated from high school. Most of that time was spent playing defensive tackle. So I played the game at a young age at "ground zero" against some pretty big kids. One example: the first game I started was at 15. The guy I lined up against went on to start for an SEC school. The game taught me a lot. My days on the field were some of the most important experiences of my life.

But the game has always been dangerous. Kids die on high school practice fields every year. Injuries linger the longer you play. And kids are getting bigger, faster and stronger at every level. Combine that with ATROCIOUS form tackling and the stakes are a little higher.

I stopped where most players stop -- in high school. At that level, most of the kids aren't talented enough to play big-time football. Neither was I. The chances of injuries are always lower than in BCS football or the pros, but the injury rates in high school -- concussions, etc. (again, much of it from terrible form tackling) -- are rising.

I'd much rather a kid play high school football than other things he could be doing. But it's an important question because the fewer kids out there playing football in middle school and high school, the fewer who play on Saturdays and Sundays down the road. And a lot of parents are having second doubts.

As for me, I don't have kids, but I'd have to know the kid really wanted it. It's not a game to be taken lightly at a certain point.

When it comes to the Rugby vs Football debate, I think rugby players may be at an advantage to NOT be wearing pads & helmet

I think helmets & pads make football players hit harder and feel indestructable. If they had no pads, they might hit and tackle in a way that was not so damaging to the body.

But I think millions of kids play football and are not any worse off for it. If they take it to college, to pro, then they are taking bigger risks, getting hit more times and by bigger men. But then, it's risk vs reward.

I wouldn't discourage a kid from playing High School football if they wanted to.

NDRU said:

I think helmets & pads make football players hit harder and feel indestructable. If they had no pads, they might hit and tackle in a way that was not so damaging to the body.

You have a point. It encourages using the helmet as a weapon, which almost never ends well, either short term or long term. Tackling technique is terrible these days.

If I have a child and they wanted to play football, I wouldn't tell them "don't do it". Yeah I'll tell them be careful. Football is not immune to injuries. Just because two people who happened to be involved in it died doesn't mean that it's becoming something of an epidemic so I don't know what you're getting at. Maybe I'm reading your post wrong.

make em sign a paper at all ages saying i know the risks and noones liable should my brain or body end up trashed or i end up dead from 2 a days

PurpleJedi said:

tinaz said:

So because 2 people have died, (and not died on the field mind you, they KILLED themselves), after a hundred years of football playing, "supposedly" because of a football brain thing, we shouldnt allow our kids to play? TWO PEOPLE??

Im sure thats not what your saying Namepeace but I feel so sorry for kids today... Whats with all this OVER protection from everything!!!! I personally think the world is going to shit not because of a failing government, but because we are raising our children to be such candy ass momma's boys and girls...

But thats just my opionion... I was protective, but I did let my children experience life like I did!!!

Kids nowadays can't deal with the realities of LIFE because GOD FORBID they fall and scratch a knee, their parents are blaming and suing everyone else.

Did you read that story recently that alleged that because we've turned playgrounds into "bump free zones" (where it's nearly impossible to get hurt) kids ARE NOT learning the basic skills needed to determine what is and what is not a dangerous thing to do???

My boys the other day where complaining that there was "nothing to do". It was a warm, sunny day (we were outside) and I told my little one to go climb a tree like normal kids.

He turned to me deadpan and said; "Dad, things are different today then back when YOU were a kid."

I went and pushed him up a tree.

I keep saying in the back of my mind that too many parents who call themselves "parents" nowadays are too lenient on their children.

@ what you did after he told you that.

Timmy84 said:

If I have a child and they wanted to play football, I wouldn't tell them "don't do it". Yeah I'll tell them be careful. Football is not immune to injuries. Just because two people who happened to be involved in it died doesn't mean that it's becoming something of an epidemic so I don't know what you're getting at. Maybe I'm reading your post wrong.

My original post was simply a series of questions.

This is not about two people. As with many trends, it takes a famous person dying from it for it to hit home. The REPORTED rate of concussions and lingering problems from football-related injuries is growing. These were not isolated incidents.

My second post was just saying that I know from personal experience football is a great game to play and learn from. But numerous factors have taken root that raise the risk levels for boys higher than maybe they were when I last played a meaningful snap . . . during the Reagan Administration.

jon1967 said:

make em sign a paper at all ages saying i know the risks and noones liable should my brain or body end up trashed or i end up dead from 2 a days

Minors can't sign binding contracts of that kind. Only parents can do that for them.

[Edited 5/7/12 10:23am]

Timmy84 said:

PurpleJedi said:

Kids nowadays can't deal with the realities of LIFE because GOD FORBID they fall and scratch a knee, their parents are blaming and suing everyone else.

Did you read that story recently that alleged that because we've turned playgrounds into "bump free zones" (where it's nearly impossible to get hurt) kids ARE NOT learning the basic skills needed to determine what is and what is not a dangerous thing to do???

My boys the other day where complaining that there was "nothing to do". It was a warm, sunny day (we were outside) and I told my little one to go climb a tree like normal kids.

He turned to me deadpan and said; "Dad, things are different today then back when YOU were a kid."

I went and pushed him up a tree.

I keep saying in the back of my mind that too many parents who call themselves "parents" nowadays are too lenient on their children.

@ what you did after he told you that.

He's actually a good climber...but he was bitching and whining that the tree was too high, so I lifted him into the lower limbs and he took it from there.

Tree-climbing should be a pre-requisite for all children.

...but getting back to the OP's topic...

My point was that EVERY sport/hobby/activity carries a certain amount of risk.

I wouldn't prevent a child from playing football because of the fear of a concussion, or climbing trees for fear of falling & a broken limb, or surfing for fear of a shark attack.