By Jessica Carter
In 2019, the last year with substantial data on youth sports, 8% of parents with children aged 5-18 reported that their kids favored tackle football. Given that tackle football is predominantly a male sport, that translates to a significant number of boys engaging in full-contact football. Although high school participation has been steadily declining since 2008, the drop in 2019 was relatively minor, with only 2,489 fewer players. Overall, the Aspen Institute estimates that around 1.5 million children aged 13-17 played tackle football in 2019.
That’s a lot of kids and a lot of collisions.
The National Federation of State High School Associations claims that the slight decrease in players is due to parents’ growing confidence. They assert that they have implemented regulations across all states to reduce contact during both preseason and regular practice, along with concussion protocols and laws. Parents, they contend, are appreciative of these risk mitigation measures.
Pop Warner Football, which had over 225,000 players aged 5-14 in 2019, has established strict guidelines to reduce injuries. They assert that adherence to their rules and “Heads-Up Football Training” leads to an 87% reduction in injuries. They were pioneers in limiting contact during practices to a maximum of 25%, eliminated kickoffs for the youngest players, and mandated that a doctor’s clearance is necessary for children who suffer a “suspected head injury” before returning to play. While Pop Warner does offer flag football teams, tackle football begins as early as age five.
The Impact on Young Brains
Scientific research is deeply invested in understanding high-impact exposure, concussions, and their effects on children’s brains. Numerous studies have involved attaching sensors to children’s helmets to measure impact levels, forces, and hit frequency. One study from 2019, involving 29 boys aged 9-12 over three seasons, found no correlation between “repetitive subconcussive head impacts” and “neurobehavioral functioning.” However, another 2020 study, which tracked 200 participants aged 9-13 wearing sensors during practices and games, revealed that head impact exposure negatively affected cognitive function in 9-10 year-olds. Essentially, the more hits these younger children sustained, the more their cognitive abilities declined.
Another study published by PLOS Public Health in 2020 noted that, in the absence of concussion, children’s vision, hearing, and balance remained stable over two seasons of tackle football. But that’s only “in the absence of concussion.”
Research from The Journal of Pediatrics in 2019 indicated a 5% concussion rate among tackle football players aged 4-15. While half returned to school within three days and the same proportion resumed play in 13 days, only 50% had returned to a baseline of symptoms after three weeks. This means that, three weeks post-concussion, many children continued to exhibit symptoms.
Are Kids Really All Right?
Not necessarily. There’s a concept known as “head impact burden,” which refers to the frequency and intensity of hits a child takes, summed up for cumulative impact. Most studies presume that children can accurately report how often and how severely they’ve been hit, which is often not the case. A study in 2020 found that middle schoolers had a higher head impact burden than high schoolers, and this burden varied significantly from one season to the next. Children often struggle to accurately recall the number and severity of impacts they’ve faced, and parents cannot reliably predict this either.
Additionally, research from 2019 demonstrated that children in tackle football frequently used their heads to make contact with other players. A staggering 80% of “high-magnitude head impacts” were intentional. This indicates that these impacts are not mere accidents but are ingrained in the sport itself. If 80% of these impacts are deliberate, it highlights an inherent risk associated with tackle football.
For instance, a study found that children aged 7-8 received an average of 104 hits per season, while high school players faced around 565 hits per season. Regardless of perspective, that’s a significant number of impacts.
The Long-Term Effects
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain condition resulting from repeated traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and subconcussive impacts. While it’s not exclusive to athletes, those who participate in contact sports are at a greater risk. Research from Boston University revealed that beginning tackle football before age 12 could lead to CTE symptoms appearing as much as 13 years earlier.
Although organizations like Pop Warner Football have enacted safety measures to limit contact, the risks associated with subconcussive impacts persist, and children continue to engage in intentional hits.
The Aspen Institute reports that 63% of parents favor setting a legal age limit for tackle football. Nevertheless, NCAA officials are hesitant to comment on what such a law would entail or what age it would target. U.S. Soccer, for instance, has banned heading for players under 10 and restricts it to practice only for those aged 11-13. Why is it acceptable for football players to endure high-impact hits, while soccer players are protected from similar risks?
Parents must weigh the benefits and risks of tackle football. The 5% concussion rate remains high for any sport and doesn’t account for other potential injuries. Though contact during practices is capped at 25%, young players still average over 100 hits per season. Studies have shown cognitive effects in children aged 9-10 over the course of a single season.
Tackle football can be enjoyable and may appear safer than in previous years; however, it still carries significant inherent risks.
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Summary
Tackle football poses significant risks to young players, including concussions and long-term brain health issues. Despite safety measures, children still experience numerous hits during games and practices, raising concerns about the cumulative effects of these impacts. Parents must carefully consider these risks when deciding if their child should participate in tackle football.