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Ed Cunningham of ESPN quits- says football is too dangerous

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I only know of a couple kids that play football. Soccer, basketball, lacrosse and baseball are much more popular in our area. I think most of the parents have chosen to not let their kids play.
 
At the higher levels of the sport this might be the case but according to a local orthopedic center the number 1 and 2 sports that cause serious injuries are flag football and soccer.

I'm hoping to see more coaches teach better ways to tackle. It's being done at the youth level in at least some areas now where the coaches and even the kids get on any kid that uses their helmet.
 
LT4PLY said:
At the higher levels of the sport this might be the case but according to a local orthopedic center the number 1 and 2 sports that cause serious injuries are flag football and soccer.
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I have no doubt that is true. Anecdotally I remember seeing a 'scoreboard' whiteboard (I think it was TOC), and while football and soccer were 1-2, the gap between 1 and 2 was still greater than the sum of all injuries except #1.
 
LT4PLY said:
At the higher levels of the sport this might be the case but according to a local orthopedic center the number 1 and 2 sports that cause serious injuries are flag football and soccer.

I'm hoping to see more coaches teach better ways to tackle. It's being done at the youth level in at least some areas now where the coaches and even the kids get on any kid that uses their helmet.
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I think you need to define "serious" injuries.

To me, a "serious" injury in soccer is a blown ACL or a broken ankle. Obviously, that's genuinely serious...but your future post-sporting life won't be impacted by such injuries (very much).

A head injury...which isn't going to occur (very often) in flag football and soccer has serious, life-long, in many cases, life-shortening implications though.
 
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In general, I agree with Les that soccer/flag football aren't likely to result in a life-altering injury. However, my gut feeling is that football for most won't either. The typical peewee and high school contact isn't the problem. It come from repeated contact over years, and from the violent collisions that occur with more frequency when you move to college and pro ball.
 
I think there has been some overreaction to this, which is typical of the reactionary world we live in. It's not like every former college or even NFL player is a demented cripple by age 45. The vast majority of them have only minor health issues. The problem is clearly that so many of them didn't understand the long term risks of playing, but now that's not the case. These guys know the risks they're taking and the benefit (college scholarship, NFL money, chance to get out of often negative home situations) still outweighs the cost. I feel 0 guilt watching a football game, but do admittedly cringe much more on the huge hits across the middle.
 
Florida high school referees have a made a change this year to head to head contact and crack back blocks. Those are now personal fouls and 15 yards penalties. Watched a game last Friday night where it was called at least 6 times. Disrupted the flow of game and to be honest I did not notice the severity of what was called.
 
don't laugh but cheerleading is supposedly bad for injuries, too.
 
The wussification of America continues...

The risks are known, it is your choice to take them or not.
Ski helmet?
Bike helmet?
Motorcycle helmet?
Seat belt?
Bungee jump?
SCUBA dive?
Cheerleading?
Trampoline?

The list goes on and on. It is dangerous to walk down the street these days too.
 
QuaZ2002 said:
I think there has been some overreaction to this, which is typical of the reactionary world we live in. It's not like every former college or even NFL player is a demented cripple by age 45. The vast majority of them have only minor health issues. The problem is clearly that so many of them didn't understand the long term risks of playing, but now that's not the case. These guys know the risks they're taking and the benefit (college scholarship, NFL money, chance to get out of often negative home situations) still outweighs the cost. I feel 0 guilt watching a football game, but do admittedly cringe much more on the huge hits across the middle.
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Not sure about that. I believe we've just scratched the surface on understanding this issue and in 20 years competitive football will look very different, if it exists at all.
 
GoNolesTX said:
I kind of picture the "football" from Starship Troopers at some point.
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Good guess, but they're already playing what football will evolve into in India. It's called kabbadi or something similar but I call it handholding tag.



And yes this is really a sport the second largest country in the world both loves and has pro leagues for.
 
Broken bones and torn ligaments are different than long term side effects from knocking heads...it's apple and oranges imo.

It would be like compairing a hangover from drinking the next day, to lung cancer after 20 years of smoking.

Or something like that at least.
 
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FSUTribe76 said:
Good guess, but they're already playing what football will evolve into in India. It's called kabbadi or something similar but I call it handholding tag.

View embedded media


And yes this is really a sport the second largest country in the world both loves and has pro leagues for.
Click to expand...

tenor.gif
 
LesClaypool said:
I think you need to define "serious" injuries.

To me, a "serious" injury in soccer is a blown ACL or a broken ankle. Obviously, that's genuinely serious...but your future post-sporting life won't be impacted by such injuries (very much).

A head injury...which isn't going to occur (very often) in flag football and soccer has serious, life-long, in many cases, life-shortening implications though.
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You might want to check the most recent data. Repeated hits to the head are likely to cause CTE. Soccer isn't off the hook:

https://www.wired.com/story/brain-trauma-scientists-turn-their-attention-to-soccer/
 
You can sit in a bubble your entire life...........you're all still dying, mofo's....having lived your life or not............
 
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LesClaypool said:
I'll take my chances until ex-pro soccer players start blowing their brains out over early dementia.
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"Case studies have shown that retired professional English and Brazilian soccer players with a history of concussions can later show signs of dementia; autopsies revealed CTE-riddled brains. In April, BU researchers reported on the case of a former American high school soccer player who had 19 soccer-related concussions, a history of depression and mental health problems who died aged 24 of a drug overdose. An autopsy revealed that he also had CTE, according to a report in the journal Neurology."
 
You're right. 1 kid gets 19 "soccer-related" concussions and Soccer is definitely as dangerous as Football.

I'll grant you it MIGHT be more dangerous than previously thought...but it's a micro-scale level.
 
I'd imagine the risks in soccer would be more position-specific and largely focused on center backs.

I agree 100% with limiting heading at younger ages. I've always told my son not to head the long, high kicks from the keeper, whatever his coach says.
 
NoleFan2U said:
The wussification of America continues...

The risks are known, it is your choice to take them or not.
Ski helmet?
Bike helmet?
Motorcycle helmet?
Seat belt?
Bungee jump?
SCUBA dive?
Cheerleading?
Trampoline?

The list goes on and on. It is dangerous to walk down the street these days too.
Click to expand...

Surgical gloves?
Breathing masks?
Soap?

Medicine is entirely pansies these days.
 
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Funk#49 said:
You can sit in a bubble your entire life...........you're all still dying, mofo's....having lived your life or not............
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As long as I still have a mind I can do many of the things I greatly enjoy. Watching a few grandparents kick it after years of dementia makes me hope my body doesn't outlive mind. To that end, I'm gonna be nice to the puddin'. It's really not designed at all for what some activities do to it.
When you read of high schoolers showing cognitive loss after baseline testing before and after summer practice (that's right, I'm talkin' 'bout practice!), it gives me pause concerning my own.
 
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Heading the ball in soccer???

Is there not a head gear that soccer players could wear that would protect the ole noggin from long term head trauma?
 
FSUTribe76 said:
Good guess, but they're already playing what football will evolve into in India. It's called kabbadi or something similar but I call it handholding tag.

View embedded media


And yes this is really a sport the second largest country in the world both loves and has pro leagues for.
Click to expand...

I thought I was about to watch a grown up version of Red Rover-Red Rover.

But it wasn't even that. :-/
 
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LesClaypool said:
You're right. 1 kid gets 19 "soccer-related" concussions and Soccer is definitely as dangerous as Football.

I'll grant you it MIGHT be more dangerous than previously thought...but it's a micro-scale level.
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Les-
Like you I'm a huge soccer fan. One thing that I constantly wonder is why do soccer players need to head the ball outside the 18? For example I watch the keeper kick the ball on goal kicks and the midfielder heads it 15 ft away, almost half of the time the ball is headed to a player on the other team. The other team gains possession.

If the player that received the GK had let the ball bounce off his chest he probably would have maintained possession. Outside of headers on corners I don't see the point of heading the ball in "FOOT ball".

I was watching FSU women two weeks ago and noticed very little heading in the midfield in that scenario in the midfield. Nice to see...
 
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DanC78 said:
Heading the ball in soccer???

Is there not a head gear that soccer players could wear that would protect the ole noggin from long term head trauma?
Click to expand...

See my post above, outside of corner kicks I really think they could eliminate heading the ball (unless it's an attempt for a goal).
 
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DanC78 said:
Heading the ball in soccer???

Is there not a head gear that soccer players could wear that would protect the ole noggin from long term head trauma?
Click to expand...

I have never seen a concision due to heading the ball. I suppose if you have trouble with getting concussed it could happen but imagine it to be rare. The ones I have seen at high school and younger are mainly from a kids head hitting the pitch. From my understanding there was supposed to be rules against heading the ball for kids under U12/13. But I have never seen it called in a tournament. There are concussion bands for soccer. We have a girl that wears one on the high school team and one of the teams around Knoxville has all their players wear them.
full-90-premier-protective-soccer-headguard-70c.jpg
 
Formerly Rockymtnole said:
I've never understood the wussification argument.

Are you saying people shouldn't wear motorcycle or ski helmets, or seat belts?
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I am saying it should be a choice. I chose to wear a ski helmet, although I didn't until I was 40. I choose to wear a motorcycle helmet even though I know in case of a crash its only purpose is to have an open casket. I choose to ride a motorcycle, even though i know my risk of dying is huge while on it. I choose to wear a seat belt as I know it could save my life.

Recently anything that could cause harm to someone is automatically changed. Not giving any one a choice if they want to proceed or not. Lets just change it. Anyone with kids playing football knows (or should know by now) that repeated hits to the head can cause life long injuries. Let ME choose if I want to proceed or not. Let ME choose if I want my child to play. Don't change the game so drastically that it isn't the same anymore.

Why is MMA, UFC and boxing still allowed? How long until they are going to be required to wear helmets?
 
SoddyNole said:
I have never seen a concision due to heading the ball. I suppose if you have trouble with getting concussed it could happen but imagine it to be rare. The ones I have seen at high school and younger are mainly from a kids head hitting the pitch. From my understanding there was supposed to be rules against heading the ball for kids under U12/13. But I have never seen it called in a tournament. There are concussion bands for soccer. We have a girl that wears one on the high school team and one of the teams around Knoxville has all their players wear them.
Click to expand...

The studies are showing that its not just concussions that are the problem. CTE is likely caused by repeated lessor trauma to the head.
 
QuaZ2002 said:
I think there has been some overreaction to this, which is typical of the reactionary world we live in. It's not like every former college or even NFL player is a demented cripple by age 45. The vast majority of them have only minor health issues. The problem is clearly that so many of them didn't understand the long term risks of playing, but now that's not the case. These guys know the risks they're taking and the benefit (college scholarship, NFL money, chance to get out of often negative home situations) still outweighs the cost. I feel 0 guilt watching a football game, but do admittedly cringe much more on the huge hits across the middle.
Click to expand...

Brain injuries can be much more subtle than obvious impairments like dementia. Brain injuries can result in all sorts of issues that would not be considered ailments. Things like decreased job performance, extra marital affairs, increased use of profanity, decreased fear, increased sexual drive can all result from injury to the brain. Few would consider these medical issues but they have a strong effect on a person's life and well-being. The media will continue to show the extreme cases of football related injuries but the more universal damage from football brain injury may be in behavioral changes.
 
GwinnettNole said:
Les-
Like you I'm a huge soccer fan. One thing that I constantly wonder is why do soccer players need to head the ball outside the 18? For example I watch the keeper kick the ball on goal kicks and the midfielder heads it 15 ft away, almost half of the time the ball is headed to a player on the other team. The other team gains possession.

If the player that received the GK had let the ball bounce off his chest he probably would have maintained possession. Outside of headers on corners I don't see the point of heading the ball in "FOOT ball".

I was watching FSU women two weeks ago and noticed very little heading in the midfield in that scenario in the midfield. Nice to see...
Click to expand...

I think some of the new, stringent no heading rules are somewhat over the top and misguided. It is entirely forbidden until they reach U14, but at the younger ages you typically don't have anyone who can kick the ball more than about 15 or 20 yards. The ball is almost never moving fast enough to cause anything more than nominal impact. Then right at the age when you are getting keepers that can punt it high and long, they suddenly allow heading. I like, and agree with, your thought on not heading outside the 18, with one exception. A ball that has bounced, you should always be allowed to play with your head. A ball moving that slowly isn't going to hurt anyone, and it is frequently the only way to play a bouncing ball
 
BloodyNoseJose said:
Brain injuries can be much more subtle than obvious impairments like dementia. Brain injuries can result in all sorts of issues that would not be considered ailments. Things like decreased job performance, extra marital affairs, increased use of profanity, decreased fear, increased sexual drive can all result from injury to the brain. Few would consider these medical issues but they have a strong effect on a person's life and well-being. The media will continue to show the extreme cases of football related injuries but the more universal damage from football brain injury may be in behavioral changes.
Click to expand...
Well, you could always apply a little electroshock and prescribe some graham crackers Dr. Kellogg.
 
I think as long as there is progress being made to keep the game as safe as possible football will stick around.

What does make me sick are little league coaches that encourage kids to hit full speed from 20 yards away, all practice 4-5!days a week. At the high school level associations are making attempts to limit contact during the week.

Will there still be problems? Of course. But the game is a lot different than 15-20 years ago when kids were gettting their brains beat in 4 days a week.
 
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