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The dangers of (professional) American Football have been a hot topic in recent years. Studies have shown high rates of concussion, traumatic brain injury and a serious brain condition – chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – in former players.
American football can indeed be dangerous if you don't take the proper precautions. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent injuries such as concussions as much as possible, such as wearing high-quality protection, learning the correct tackle techniques and promoting fair play.
If you - just like me! – loves football very much, I don't want to scare you with this article! I will therefore also give you some useful safety tips so that you can continue to play this fantastic sport without putting yourself in danger.
Brain injuries can have terribly debilitating consequences. What exactly is a concussion - how can you prevent it - and what is CTE?
What rules has the NFL changed to make the game safer, and what are the pros and cons of football?
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 Physical Injury and Health Risks in American Football
- 2 How can I prevent a concussion in American football?
- 3 What is CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)?
- 4 The New NFL Safety Regulations
- 5 The benefits of playing American football
- 6 The Disadvantages of American Football
- 7 To let your child play football or not?
Physical Injury and Health Risks in American Football
Is American football dangerous? We all know that football is a hard and physical sport.
Despite this, it is very popular, especially in America. But the sport is also being played more and more outside the United States.
Not only are there many athletes who like to practice this sport, many people also like to watch it.
Unfortunately, in addition to the physical injuries players can sustain, there are also more serious health risks associated with the game.
Think of head injuries and concussions, which can lead to permanent concussions and in tragic cases even death.
And when players sustain repeated head injuries, CTE can develop; chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
This can cause dementia and memory loss later in life, as well as depression and mood swings, which can lead to suicide if left untreated.
What is a Concussion/Concussion?
A concussion occurs when the brain hits the inside of the skull as a result of a collision.
The greater the force of the impact, the more severe the concussion.
Symptoms of a concussion may include disorientation, memory problems, headache, blurriness, and loss of consciousness.
A second concussion is often accompanied by symptoms that last longer than the first.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that experiencing more than one concussion can cause depression, anxiety, aggression, personality changes, and an increased risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, CTE, and other brain disorders.
How can I prevent a concussion in American football?
Playing sports always carries risks, but there are several ways to prevent serious concussions in football.
Wearing the right protection
Helmets and mouthguards are widely used and can help. Make sure you always wear a helmet that fits well and is in good condition.
View our articles with the best helmets, shoulder pads en mouthguards for American football to protect yourself as best you can.
Learning the right techniques
In addition, it is important that athletes learn the correct techniques and ways to avoid blows to the head.
Limiting the amount of physical contact
Even better, of course, is reducing or eliminating body checks or tackles.
Therefore, limit the amount of physical contact during training and ensure that expert athletic trainers are present at competitions and training sessions.
Hire expert trainers
Coaches and athletes must continue to uphold the sport's rules of fair play, safety and sportsmanship.
Keep a close eye on athletes during running plays
Also, athletes should be closely monitored during running plays, especially athletes on the running back position.
Enforcing the rules and avoiding unsafe actions
Care should also be taken to ensure that athletes avoid unsafe actions such as: hitting another athlete in the head (helmet), using their helmet to hit another athlete (helmet-to-helmet or helmet-to-body contact), or deliberately trying to hurt another athlete.
What is CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)?
The dangers of football include head injuries and concussions that can lead to permanent brain damage or, in extreme cases, death.
Players who sustain repeated head injuries may develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries.
Common symptoms include memory loss, mood swings, impaired judgement, aggression and depression, and dementia later in life.
These brain changes worsen over time, sometimes not being noticed until months, years, or even decades (decades) after the last brain injury.
Some former athletes with CTE have committed suicide or murder.
CTE is most often found in athletes who have suffered repeated head injuries, such as former boxers, hockey players, and football players.
The New NFL Safety Regulations
To make American football safer for NFL players, the National Football League has changed its regulations.
Kickoffs and touchbacks are taken from further afield, referees (referees) are stricter in judging unsportsmanlike and dangerous behaviour, and thanks to the CHR helmet-to-helmet contact is punished.
For example, kickoffs are now taken from the 35 yard line instead of the 30 yard line, and touchbacks instead of the 20 yard line are now taken from the 25 yard line.
The shorter distances ensure that, when players run towards each other at speed, the impact is less great.
The greater the distance, the more speed can be gained.
In addition, the NFL plans to continue to disqualify players who engage in unsportsmanlike and dangerous behavior. This should reduce the number of injuries.
There is also the 'crown-of-the-helmet rule' (CHR), which penalizes players who make contact with another player with the top of their helmet.
Helmet to helmet contact is very dangerous for both players. There is now a 15-yard penalty for this violation.
Thanks to CHR, concussions and other head and neck injuries will decrease.
However, this new rule also has a downside: players will now be more likely to tackle the lower body, which may increase the risk of lower body injuries.
I personally believe that if your team's coaching staff makes safety their number one priority, they will do everything they can to teach their players the correct tackle technique in order to minimize the number of injuries and injuries and improve the sport. especially fun to keep.
Improving concussion protocol
As of late 2017, the NFL has also made several changes to its concussion protocol.
Before these changes were introduced, a player who left the field with a possible concussion had to stay out of the game while being evaluated.
Should the doctor diagnose him with a concussion, the player would have to sit on the bench for the rest of the game until the doctor gave him permission to play again.
This process is no longer an issue.
To better protect players, an (independent) neurotrauma counselor (UNC) is appointed before every match.
Any player who shows a lack of motor stability or balance will be evaluated as a result.
Also, those players who have been assessed for concussion during the match will be re-evaluated within 24 hours of the initial assessment.
Since the expert is independent and does not work for the teams, it is the best way to ensure the safety of the players as much as possible.
Need more research on the dangers?
It is a fact that football players run a high risk of brain damage. And that is of course not great news.
However, a lot of literature has been published in the Journal of Athletic Training stating that there is still a lot that is unknown about the risks of concussions.
There are many studies on the subject, but it is too early to draw any radical conclusions.
So this means that there isn't enough convincing information to say that the risk is too great, or that playing football is more dangerous than other things we enjoy doing or doing every day – like driving.
The benefits of playing American football
Football is a sport that can bring more good or positive than many people probably realize.
The fitness and strength you build with it promote your cardiovascular health.
Football can also improve your concentration and you learn how valuable teamwork can be.
You will learn about leadership, discipline, dealing with disappointments and also how to improve your work ethic.
Football requires different types of training such as sprinting, long distance running, interval training and strength training (weight lifting).
Football is also a sport that requires all your attention and focus to be successful.
By slogging through or tackling someone, you can improve your ability to concentrate, which of course also comes in handy at work or during your studies.
The sport forces you to focus on your task. If you don't, you could become a 'victim'.
In fact, you can't afford not to be constantly on your guard.
You learn to deal with your time, with loss and disappointments and you learn to be disciplined.
These are all very important things, especially for young people who still have a lot to learn and experience in life, and thus have to start applying these things to real life situations.
The Disadvantages of American Football
In the United States, more than 2014 high school football injuries occurred between the 2015-500.000 school year, according to the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study.
This is a major issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible by schools and coaches for the safety of the players.
In 2017, thousands of professional football players agreed to a settlement with the National Football League over serious health conditions related to concussions.
This is an issue they have been fighting for years and it is finally paying off. However safe we make the sport, it is and remains a dangerous sport.
It is often challenging for teams to get through a season without people getting injured.
The disadvantages of football are the injuries it can cause.
Some common injuries include sprained ankles, a torn hamstring, ACL or meniscus, and concussions.
There have even been cases where children have suffered head injuries from a tackle, leading to death.
That is of course tragic and should never happen.
To let your child play football or not?
As a parent, it is important to know the risks of football.
Football is simply not for everyone and if your child has been diagnosed with brain damage, you should discuss with the doctor whether it is wise to let your child continue to play football.
If your son or daughter likes to play football, make sure you follow the tips in this article to minimize health risks.
If your child is still young, flag football is probably a better alternative.
Flag football is a non-contact version of American football and is an excellent way to introduce children (as well as adults) to football in the safest possible way.
There are risks involved in playing tackle football, but I think that's what makes this sport so exciting.
If you were to take all the risks out, you would in fact take away much of the reason why it is so attractive to so many people, as crazy as it may sound.
I also recommend that you take a look at my articles about the best American football gear to let your child enjoy the sport that is so dear to him/her as safely as possible!
