CTE, and Why I'm Glad I Discouraged Football.

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the Fet

climber

Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La

Feb 5, 2016 - 02:35pm PT

I think things are getting better. BITD as#@&%e couches and headhunting HS players were the norm. Now they are the exception.

I totally agree that you play much more carefully and respectfully without pads. I remember once in college our biggest friend once wrapped me up in a bear hug and slammed me to the ground where I couldn't protect myself. I was pissed. And my teammates could see it. On the next play someone said give the ball to Steve, he's pissed. So we did and I stiff armed the same big guy right off his feet.

I never played team sports at school except for gym class. I was too individualistic I guess to put the time in after school and do what I was told. I would have been on the ski team if my town had one.

But after coaching my sons soccer team I realized I missed out. Of course it all depends on the coaches. But I have seen so many kids just excel, break out of their shells, develop sports and life skills, and teamwork. I get through to my own son in that situation better than when we talk one on one. Now both my boys are asking to play football because they just like it best. We will do flag football for a few years and see how that goes. And as mentioned I'd be okay with them playing certain positions in tackle football as long as they have a coach with the same coaching philosophy as me. But we'll have to see if mom is ok with it too.

ecflau

Gym climber

Feb 5, 2016 - 03:54pm PT

Yeah, I agree with you there. You can certainly have a life long climbing career and end up no worse for the wear, but that's probably not possible with football. I would certainly think twice about letting my (non-existant) kid play whereas I'd take them climbing the first chance I got.

This concussion/CTE thing is getting pretty big. Besides the NFL, there is a huge 105 man prosecution in the NHL with many former players suing. They have NHL "concussion spotters" in every arena now. Last week in the NHL, a veteran defenseman of 800 games with no history gets a bit woozy, on in the way to the bench (accidentally) decks a linesman for no apparent reason. It made Good Morning America. On the eve of the Superbowl, you have to wonder where sports will be in 20 years? Guess which sport has the most number of concussions? Its soccer. Worlds biggest game. The findings for head trauma are scary. Would I want to enroll my kid into hockey or soccer? I'm not even sure. I'd probably just tell them to go bouldering.

CTE/concussions is big in the news, because it may be the biggest nightmare sports has faced. I think that new Concussions movie said it best, they took sports biggest boogieman and gave it a name.

PAUL SOUZA

Trad climber

Central Valley, CA

Feb 5, 2016 - 04:03pm PT

I say, take the helmets off and play! People will then think twice about how they tackle and use their heads. Helmets are only an illusion of safety...just like having a rope when going for the Nose speed record.