Bert has a message...

i support the message, but I got concussions playing flag football. a knee to the head when diving for a flag,  or just getting tripped up and having the back of your head hit the hard ground.. pretty much the same results as being padded up and playing the full contact version of the game.  now if they made kids wear helmets when they played flag football they might have something.

for most young kids, having the gear actually slows things down.  They are carrying too much gear to do any damage.  But the issue is when a man-child plays and is obviously so physically advanced.

@"greediron" said: for most young kids, having the gear actually slows things down.  They are carrying too much gear to do any damage.  But the issue is when a man-child plays and is obviously so physically advanced.

This. When you have a 10 year old that weighs 140 lbs. playing RB and a kid weighing 85 lbs trying to tackle him full speed bad things can happen. 

I wonder if the "welfare" King Favre returned the money that he received from the State of Mississippi.  I also wonder if he was fined on top of what he owed or if there are any court proceedings in the works.

Probably none of the above it was swept under the rug rather quickly....nothing to see here :)

@"minny65" said: I wonder if the "welfare" King Favre returned the money that he received from the State of Mississippi.  I also wonder if he was fined on top of what he owed or if there are any court proceedings in the works.

Probably none of the above it was swept under the rug rather quickly....nothing to see here :)

lol, seeing the favre4flag tells me one thing, he is getting paid.

I agree with Bert. I started playing at 11 but I'm not letting my son play. He's 14. I keep telling him football is not one of those sports (like baseball) where if you don't learn the fundamentals at a young age you'll never catch up. It's just about size and speed. And the difference in sizes between 14 year olds is nuts. 
 

the flip side, watching my boys play football is one of my greatest enjoyments.  16 year old will be starting varsity this fall.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"greediron" said: for most young kids, having the gear actually slows things down.  They are carrying too much gear to do any damage.  But the issue is when a man-child plays and is obviously so physically advanced.

This. When you have a 10 year old that weighs 140 lbs. playing RB and a kid weighing 85 lbs trying to tackle him full speed bad things can happen. 

@"greediron" said: the flip side, watching my boys play football is one of my greatest enjoyments.  16 year old will be starting varsity this fall.

15? 16? Sure, by then you're well past puberty and settled in to your size. 14? No. The size variation is too great. 

I went to the largest high school in the state. When I was a sophomore we traveled to small towns to play their varsity teams. We got destroyed. Every time. I don't care how big your high school is, there is a HUGE difference between 15 year old kids and 17 year old kids. 

@"JimmyinSD" said: i support the message, but I got concussions playing flag football. a knee to the head when diving for a flag,  or just getting tripped up and having the back of your head hit the hard ground.. pretty much the same results as being padded up and playing the full contact version of the game.  now if they made kids wear helmets when they played flag football they might have something.

my son has played since he was five.  flag, under armour, NFL play 60, community, regionals..on and on.   our experience is There was greater risk of injury playing flag than tackle.  Once he started to strap it up, he has have a few contusions / bruises, but NOTHING on the level of when he played flag.

BTW.... The ONLY helmet I allow him to wear is a Xenith.

the inner “shock bonnet” patented design (that Riddell tried to buy) moves independent of the shell.  linear and rotational forces are minimized by the superior design.  He has dished out some MAJOR hits, and he pops right up, while the other kid is crab-walking sideways to the sideline.  

Xenith frankly is the best designed helmet money can buy IMO

@"greediron" said: the flip side, watching my boys play football is one of my greatest enjoyments.  16 year old will be starting varsity this fall.

Absolutely !

Thats awesome Greed, Dont miss a single snap !

One thing a dad needs to consider....What does his SON want to do.

I begged my folks to let me play (both my older brothers did - one injured, another all-league) but they wouldnt let me.  They stuck a trumpet in my hand instead.

My son (like others) LIVES / LOVES football.  Its the ONLY reason he stays motivated in school, is for the few hours a day he “gets to play football”.  Managed to keep him lifting and training during COVID.   

If your son wants to play, let him

My youngest son was steamrolled by a teammate in practice in the 8th grade and got a concussion. The teammate was about 60 lbs heavier than my son.
He was out for about 6 weeks, and only played in 4 games that year.
His Freshman year he was hit on the side of the knee  during a game by his own teammate and tore his meniscus, ACL, and PCL. Initially the doctor said he’d probably never play sports again. He did end up playing baseball. 
He was an A/B student until the concussion, when he dropped to a low B student, then after the knee his grades dropped even more. Some of that due to missing school, some due to depression.

If I could go back in time, I’d encourage him not to play.

My oldest played all the way through college. He's already said he doesn't want his kids to play football. Honestly, before the start of every season I was a complete nervous wreck until that first hit. Never told him because I didn't want to influence his decision. 

When we played flag in mid 1970s we had Riddell helmets and full shoulder pads but wore jeans 3rd and 4th grade.   Then in 5th grade played tackle but they split us up into lightweights and heavyweights.   Did that until school ball started in 8th grade we again split up into LW and HW teams.   By 9th grade in 1982 they would cut the kids that were not big or fast enough.  Not only a performance but also a safety issue.   I guess they don't do that anymore?

@"BarrNone55" said: My oldest played all the way through college. He's already said he doesn't want his kids to play football. Honestly, before the start of every season I was a complete nervous wreck until that first hit. Never told him because I didn't want to influence his decision. 

Good friend of mine played RB in college at the FCS level, 54 years old and has replaced both hips already.   Says he cannot fathom a guy like Adrian Peterson who played for a program like Oklahoma and then how many years in the NFL.   Guess I consider myself lucky I have a daughter but on that point concussions I think are kind of a mute point in all fairness in terms of football, soccer is REALLY bad for concussions as is field hockey/lacrosse which is actually really starting to take off where I live.  I think the disintegration of the body over time is more on point.

@"Chuckf" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: My oldest played all the way through college. He's already said he doesn't want his kids to play football. Honestly, before the start of every season I was a complete nervous wreck until that first hit. Never told him because I didn't want to influence his decision. 

Good friend of mine played RB in college at the FCS level, 54 years old and has replaced both hips already.   Says he cannot fathom a guy like Adrian Peterson who played for a program like Oklahoma and then how many years in the NFL.   Guess I consider myself lucky I have a daughter but on that point concussions I think are kind of a mute point in all fairness in terms of football, soccer is REALLY bad for concussions as is field hockey/lacrosse which is actually really starting to take off where I live.  I think the disintegration of the body over time is more on point.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"Chuckf" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: My oldest played all the way through college. He's already said he doesn't want his kids to play football. Honestly, before the start of every season I was a complete nervous wreck until that first hit. Never told him because I didn't want to influence his decision. 

Good friend of mine played RB in college at the FCS level, 54 years old and has replaced both hips already.   Says he cannot fathom a guy like Adrian Peterson who played for a program like Oklahoma and then how many years in the NFL.   Guess I consider myself lucky I have a daughter but on that point concussions I think are kind of a mute point in all fairness in terms of football, soccer is REALLY bad for concussions as is field hockey/lacrosse which is actually really starting to take off where I live.  I think the disintegration of the body over time is more on point.

like I posted last week in another thread,   my epitaph should read "I wish I had discovered golf at an earlier age"  or "oops,  that didnt go as planned"

We have girls.  They do cross country.  The worst that is going to happen is a twisted ankle or an asthma attack.