Should You Let Your Kids Play Football?

Should You Let Your Kids Play Football?

Superbowl Sunday is right around the corner—and you bet that Daron and I will be watching (and probably screaming our fool heads off!). For so many families and whole communities, football isn’t just a sport—it’s a passion, and a way of life. From a tag football game on the front lawn to watching the game play out in major movies and TV shows—anybody else here love Tim Riggins?—it seems like we can’t get enough. Sadly, though, with some recent tragedies and studies about brain injuries, many families are considering replacing touchdowns with something a little less rough and tumble.

The truth is that football is a tough sport—one that puts kids at risk for injury, and data on brain injuries among young football athletes has a lot of people worried. In 2013, 17 high school kids died from football-related causes. Granted, there were 1.6 million kids playing that year, so the percentage is low, but if you were the parent of one of those 17 kids, I don’t think that would matter to you.

Still, is this a reason to tell little Joey that he can’t try out for the team? I’m not so sure and I can’t make that decision for you. Here’s the thing. Football has its risks. Some of them are very serious. But it also has some pretty amazing benefits. Kids who play football learn about being part of a team. They learn about hard work, loyalty, and good sportsmanship. They learn to go for their goals, but hopefully also to be gracious when the score doesn’t rest in their favor. The friendships made on a football field can last a lifetime, and let’s face it, kids these days really could use more time playing outside away from their screens.

I think when it comes to letting your little one going out for the team, you should consider the risks, look at the facts, and discuss them all honestly with your family before making a decision. But you should also do that with any other endeavor your kids want to try. Think there are only risks involved in football? Think again. Your little one wants to go into gymnastics or ballet? Let’s get talking about eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Lacrosse? You might be surprised to note that a 2013 study found that Lacrosse players reported the highest use of cocaine among college athletes.

My point isn’t to keep your child locked away in a bubble—that in itself would be damaging!—but I do think that before you write off any activity your child shows interest in, do your homework and look at both the possible dangers and the potential benefits. Sure, you can listen to what you hear on the TV news or what your friends are saying on social media—or you can do your own research and make a confident decision based on your own values and your child’s needs.