California lawmakers proposing pre-high school ban on tackle football.

[Rain Man]

Apparently it's not the first time it's been proposed, with previous attempts in New York and other current bills in Illinois and New York. I wasn't aware of that.

This could make peewee football unwatchable. There'll be huge drops in attendance.

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/article199531854.html

Youth tackle football targeted for ban in California as head trauma concerns grow
The Associated Press

February 10, 2018 04:46 PM

Updated February 11, 2018 10:30 AM

Two California lawmakers want to outlaw tackle football leagues until teenagers reach high school, saying delaying the start of high-contact elements of football would protect young people from long-term brain damage.

Children can learn the skills they need to succeed at the sport from non-contact flag football, Democratic Assembly members Kevin McCarty of Sacramento and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of San Diego said in announcing their legislation on Thursday.

Their bill follows similar legislation under consideration in Illinois and New York. Legislation has been introduced several times since 2013 in New York but has not gained traction.

In Illinois, the Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE is named for the Chicago Bears defensive back who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after he killed himself at 50.

Duerson shot himself in the chest so his brain could be studied for signs of the disease that has been linked to concussions or repeated head trauma.

“The science is clear: head injuries sustained at a young age can harm kids for the rest of their lives,” Gonzalez Fletcher said in a statement.

California has strengthened concussion protocols for youth sports but that’s not enough, the lawmakers said.

CTE is a degenerative disease known to cause memory loss, violent moods and other cognitive difficulties. It can only be diagnosed after death.

After years of denials, the NFL has acknowledged a link between head blows and brain disease and agreed in 2015 to a $1 billion settlement with former players.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I still dont understand why they outfit players with equipment they can use as weapons. Should just adopt rugby's model.

Because then, it’s rugby and not American football.

[Easy 6]

The more they try to pussify the game, the more it will stay the same

Just wish some of you could've watched my 'flag' football league games in the Army, you can only remove the instinct to crush someone so much... huge hits are gonna happen frequently no matter what

Its a game of aggression, we wanna make you hurt for daring to try and beat us... its a mindset thats built in to the sport, and thats what makes it so damn appealing

[splatbass]

I played tackle football in Junior High and I'm just fine.

Wait a minute......what were we talking about?

[kcxiv]

IM really not against this.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by splatbass

I played tackle football in Junior High and I'm just fine.

Wait a minute......what were we talking about?

If people are scared for juniors well being, put them in basketball or soccer

We dont care, football requires football players

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Its a game of aggression, we wanna make you hurt for daring to try and beat us... its a mindset thats built in to the sport, and thats what makes it so damn appealing

I have to disagree, for many, many reasons.

I started playing football in 5th grade, back in the 70’s, after watching every football on TV for 10 years.

I quickly realized, I knew nothing.

I didn’t know about gaps 1, 3, 5 or 7 nor 2, 4, 6 or 8.

I didn’t know about wind sprints or running laps or push ups or sit ups.

I watched it on TV, I wanted to play. What’s all this?

Bottom line: It provides structure for kids. Add to that, 95% of these NFL players have known each other since age 12 at the various “NFL, not NFL” camps they all attend.

These guys have been friends and peers for most of their lives.

They don’t want to kill their livelihood.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I have to disagree, for many, many reasons.

I started playing football in 5th grade, back in the 70’s, after watching ever football on TV for 10 years.

I quickly realized, I knew nothing.

I didn’t know about gaps 1, 3, 5 or 7 nor 2, 4, 6 or 8.

I didn’t know about wind sprints or running laps or push ups or sit ups.

I watched it on TV, I wanted to play. What’s all this?

Bottom line: It provides structure for kids. Add to that, 95% of these NFL players have known each other since age 12 at the various “NFL, not NFL” camps they all attend.

These guys have been friends and peers for most of their lives.

They don’t want to kill their livelihood.

Not quite sure where you're going here, or what you disagree with

You surely learned your a, b, c gaps, and the other basics as you went along, right?... my message was clear, if parents wanna hold their kids out of football, go for it I'm no one to judge a parents intuition

But there will always be those kids who seek out the challenge of football no matter what their parents try to do... and those are the kids we want

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Not quite sure where you're going here, or what you disagree with

You surely learned your a, b, c gaps, and the other basics as you went along, right?... my message was clear, if parents wanna hold their kids out of football, go for it I'm no one to judge a parents intuition

But there will always be those kids who seek out the challenge of football no matter what their parents try to do... and those are the kids we want

You specifically stated that football is a “game of aggression”.

I was trying to point out, obviously unsuccessfully, that it’s a cerebral game more so than based in anger and aggression.

[A8bil]

DaneMcloud...totally agree. Few sports require such clarity of thinking in the moment, and few highlight the lack of clear thinking than football.

Having run a pop warner program for 5 years, been a Pop Warner regional board member in one of the most successful regions in the country and having had two kids go through pop warner until high school, I don't see the benefit of this rule. You really don't see high velocity impacts until about the midget level (just pre-high school). Below that there is rarely a high velocity hit, and instead you see a lot of players just learning how to play the game and bumping into each other. The greater danger by far is the high school freshman who never played football going up against some fast, technically skilled player. Until they learn how to use their pads they are really vulnerable. Bunch of legislators who have no experience in the game time to regulate it...bad combo.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You specifically stated that football is a “game of aggression”.

I was trying to point out, obviously unsuccessfully, that it’s a cerebral game more so than based in anger and aggression.

So your sides point is true, but my side isnt?

Football is not a game based on aggression?

[Willie Lanier]

Pre high school?

That seems like a stretch...

Pre junior high, absolutely, kids shouldn't be in full armor until they're at least hitting puberty

I'm all for it, kids aren't developed adequately enough to handle full contact prior to junior high

[Randallflagg]

I see both sides of this argument. I began playing (as a kid) in Pop Warner. We started out in pads and were hitting from then on. Played on the Varsity team in High School as a Freshman. Got a full ride scholarship to University of Louisville and blew my knee out in my first year. Never played again.
-
Now, I watch my Grandson playing pop warner and, while I don't see a LOT of hard hits, kids do get hurt from time to time. Always scares the living shit out of me...
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The flip side? Kids LEARN how to hit in pop warner. And, it takes some "conditioning" to learn that technique and to get it right. My fear, is that if we don't allow tackling until High School, we will most likely see more injuries - simply due to not learning until later in life.
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Football - to anyone who has ever played it - is a violent game and often, it stays with you throughout your life. My knee STILL hurts all these years later - 3 operations and two knee replacements later. Is it "worth it"? Sometimes I wonder.....

[lcarus]

As long as players know the risks going into it, I don't see what the problem is with a sometimes violent sport.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

So your sides point is true, but my side isnt?

Football is not a game based on aggression?

I do not believe that being a good football player requires anger.

Play calling can be aggressive, such as blitzing on 1st down or going for it on 4th down in your own territory, etc.

But anger? I don't think that anger is part of the equation and most NFL coaches and players that I've met and have known throughout life were generally super mellow and easy going people off the field.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I do not believe that being a good football player requires anger.

Play calling can be aggressive, such as blitzing on 1st down or going for it on 4th down in your own territory, etc.

But anger? I don't think that anger is part of the equation and most NFL coaches and players that I've met and have known throughout life were generally super mellow and easy going people off the field.

At no point in this thread, have I mentioned the word 'anger'

But anyone who doesnt play the game aggressively, is probably going to get hurt