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Parents rethink youth football as safety fears drive NFL linebacker to retire at 24

By on March 22, 2015

 

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/22/youth-football-49ers-chris-borland-retiresI believe as this debate goes on, there will be more and more people taking a very hard stance one way or another.  I think the anti-football crowd will continue to use the media to bash the sport every chance they can get (not letting the facts get in the way of their opinion), while the pro-crowd will continue to look at the facts and stats to make a decision on if they believe the sports is safe for their child.

Yet, as the summer begins to edge closer and the football season lurches into view, his 11-year-old son will ask the question: Dad, can I play? For someone who has grown up loving the college game, its drama, excitement and the type of shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie which melds communities together, the call is not an easy one to make. Continuing revelations from former players of the horrific physical and mental anguish sustained by having their bodies pounded into the dirt year after year have simply added to the increasingly disconcerting feeling around a sport which remains No 1 in North America.

Parents weigh love of the game against their childrens health as some coaches turn to safety training courses: Education changes behavior See more…

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