Eight US schoolchildren died in the past month while participating in football, including three deaths from suspected brain injuries. Recent research suggests repeated blows to the head, even those that don’t cause concussions, can lead to the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A Truveta analysis of 25,000 hospital visits for football-related injuries showed that high school boys suffered the highest rate of traumatic brain injuries among age groups.
For most players, there is no way to avoid suffering repeated blows to the head while playing tackle football. Some experts recommend that parents prohibit children from playing tackle football before they are 14-years old.
Considering the risks, should parents consider not allowing their children to play tackle football at all?
“That’s a tough question,” said Dr. Thor D. Stein, a neuropathologist at the Boston University CTE Center. “I think it’s something every parent needs to think about. I’ve got two boys. I grew up in the Midwest. I played football. My dad played football. There is a lot of growth and benefits with the sport.
“But I will say that my position has evolved over the years. We know more and more about the risks. I’ve become more cautious and more circumspect about whether football is the best choice for a sport. If you do play, make sure you take head injuries seriously. Do everything you can to minimize the risk of concussions and non-concussive blows.”ExploreCritics call tackle for children ‘child abuse’
The recent deaths of eight schoolchildren have rekindled questions about the safety of tackle football.
According to data collected by the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, 11 young football players have died since July 1. The deaths include two college-aged players, eight high school students and one middle school student. The suspected causes of death include heat stroke (four cases), brain injury (three), sudden cardiac arrest (three) and sickle-cell rhabdomyolysis (one).
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Cohen Craddock, 13, was the youngest of the recent victims. His father, Ryan Craddock, said Cohen collided with another boy during practice and hit his head as he fell to the ground. The injury caused Cohen’s brain to swell, Ryan Craddock said. Cohen died from his injuries the next day.
In the aftermath of his son’s death, Craddock has pushed for legislation to make Guardian caps mandatory for high school football players in West Virginia. The cap affixes to the top of helmets and is designed to soften blows to the head.
“I’m not trying to change the game,” Craddock said. “I just want to make it safer for these kids.”
A 2020 study of youth football players published in the CNS Neurosurgery Journal showed that the combination of Guardian caps and safe tackling techniques could contribute to fewer head impacts and injuries.The NFL reported a reduction in concussions among players who wore Guardian caps during practices.
