Is it a mistake to play football?

[judicial clerk]

My wife and I were discussing different activities that we want our 2 yo daughter to try as she gets older. We were discussing the pros and cons of different activities and we ended up debating organized football. now, I don't expect my daughter to play organized football, but this was one of my major activities in high school and college. My wife makes tow good arguments against football. First, football is not a sport that people grow old playing. People play tennis, golf, basketball, softball/baseball, play an instrument, knit, etc. well into old age. Playing football stops at high school or college. She discounts intramural flag football as being a different sport and i must agree).

Her second point is that playing a significant amount of football leads to a significant amount of surgery. I admit that almost all of my football playing friends have had at least on football-related surgery.

So the question is, should kids and young adults devote their time to an activity instead of football?

[MacroGuru]

I still play football....I turn 30 years old this year, and I plan on playing it well into my 40's too.

Yes, my body takes a beating, but one of the major benefits of this, is I am forced to get into shape, eat healthy and have my body built up enough to take the beating.

Football is a collision sport, and you know, I won't push my son to it, he is naturally attracted to baseball, and I am fine if he goes that way, my daughter, loves soccer.

I think it's all how serious you want to take it.

[McSweeny]

make her play baseball, not softball. and tie her right arm behind her back so she'll be lefthanded. then teach her to pitch

[Lorena]

I say, take note on what your daughter is interested in and help guide her in that direction. Often times the parents seem to make decisions for the child and don't take into account that the little one might not be interested in it.

Right now, my 3 year old girl is interested in computers, so we've bought her several games to keep her entertained. If she shows an interest in drawing, we'll buy her art supplies, etc.

If she shows an interest in football, then go for it. I've heard of several girls that made the football team in high school and you occasionally hear of girl kickers in college.

[Huckleberry]

I agree with the above. If the kid wants to play football, let them play it. If not, don't push them into it. I would recommend making sure they have some sort of extracurricular activity to focus on, but the specific activity should be up to the kid (within reason).

[Lorena]

I agree with the above. If the kid wants to play football, let them play it. If not, don't push them into it. I would recommend making sure they have some sort of extracurricular activity to focus on, but the specific activity should be up to the kid (within reason).

AMEN Huck, my sentiments exactly.

[Senator]

I played organized football from age 5 until 24. If I had it to do over, I would have taken up golf. Why?

1. I would not hurt so much now
2. I could still be playing
3. Once football is in your bones, you cannot ever get it out. It haunts you if you spent your entire life playing, and then it just goes away. Nobody deserves that kind of mind screw. And this coming from someone who has had a pretty good life, career wise and personal wise. I have no complaints, but football still hangs out there.

I go visit my parents and bump into an old classmate. The first thing he wants to do is talk about the year we beat Southlake. I feel like saying, "geeze man, done anything since?"

[judicial clerk]

I agree with everything you guys are saying and I am happy to have my daughter do anything she wants. I will follow my parents rules regarding activities which was that they encouraged me to try new things and they did not let me quit anything I started. For example, i was in cub scouts for one year and did not enjoy it. My parents told me that I did not have to sign up for cub scouts the next year, but i could not quit halfway through the cureent year's activities.

The question I was more trying to get at is should kids do other activities instead of fotball.

I still play football....I turn 30 years old this year, and I plan on playing it well into my 40's too.

Is this full contact? Do you play in a city leage or something? No matter what i think this is great.

make her play baseball, not softball. and tie her right arm behind her back so she'll be lefthanded. then teach her to pitch i am naturally left handed. Can you believe that my uncle and father made me shoot a basketball and throw a baseball right handed!?! What were they thinking!?

One argument that I made to my wife in favor of football is that I gave me a better sense of gratification and closeness to my teammates than the other sports i competed in (basketball, baseball, wrestling, and track). I don't know if this is becasue of the aggressive nature of the sport, because of the physical pain involved, because of the large number of teammates working together on each play, or just because it was my best sport.

[MacroGuru]

Is this full contact? Do you play in a city leage or something? No matter what i think this is great.


It is full contact, it's a Semi-Pro league, one of the better ones in the Western US.

The Rocky Mountain Football League, consists of 16 teams from Utah, Idaho, and Montana.

[Buzzbee]

My wife and I were discussing different activities that we want our 2 yo daughter to try as she gets older. We were discussing the pros and cons of different activities and we ended up debating organized football. now, I don't expect my daughter to play organized football, but this was one of my major activities in high school and college. My wife makes tow good arguments against football. First, football is not a sport that people grow old playing. People play tennis, golf, basketball, softball/baseball, play an instrument, knit, etc. well into old age. Playing football stops at high school or college. She discounts intramural flag football as being a different sport and i must agree).

Her second point is that playing a significant amount of football leads to a significant amount of surgery. I admit that almost all of my football playing friends have had at least on football-related surgery.

So the question is, should kids and young adults devote their time to an activity instead of football?

My thoughts:

"First, football is not a sport that people grow old playing."

So what? If people get enjoyment out of playing football, who cares if it isn't something that people generally play past high school or college. Purposefully avoiding it because you can't play it later in your life seems silly. Yes, I read Senator's post about it being in your bones, but am not sure that feeling applies to most people.

"Her second point is that playing a significant amount of football leads to a significant amount of surgery."

No argument that playing football has a higher risk of injury than most other sports. However, I don't think that is as much a factor until you get into the upper levels (maybe 7th or 8th grade and higher). It simply a risk/reward thing. Does the risk of me getting hurt outweigh the enjoyment I get out of playing football.

[Lathum]

Football would only be dangerous for your daughter if she is going to be a kicker at Colorado.

[judicial clerk]

I go visit my parents and bump into an old classmate. The first thing he wants to do is talk about the year we beat Southlake.

So, was it a close game?

[Senator]

So, was it a close game?


We were the last team to beat them before they went on a 80 something game winning streak and multiple state titles.

Like you REALLY wanted to know.

[HornedFrog Purple]

I'm playing football until I am dead. I don't care about pain, how many surgeries I have or have had, or any of that. Mrs. HFP of course thinks I am insane.

Yes I still play on our firefighter team and we smoke Dallas FD every year. Die Dallas die!

[Huckleberry]

Soccer has a higher incident rate of head injuries than football, FWIW.

[HornedFrog Purple]

We were the last team to beat them before they went on a 80 something game winning streak and multiple state titles.

Like you REALLY wanted to know.

That's back when they ran the greatest offense ever invented.

[korme]

But being on a football team, especially in High School is one of the best experiences a guy can have.

[RendeR]

Soccer has a higher incident rate of head injuries than football, FWIW.


thats IT!, we must now legislate helmets for ALL soccer players at every age level across the nation. PERIOD.

[Buzzbee]

thats IT!, we must now legislate helmets for ALL soccer players at every age level across the nation. PERIOD.

Don't worry. It'll happen somewhere. Soon.

[Huckleberry]

The initial response, actually, has been "no heading" leagues across the nation for the younger kids. Which is perfectly reasonable to this non-soccer-loving sports fan. Seems that most kids 12 and under wouldn't be very useful with their head anyway.

edit - Kind of like the need for a "no breaking ball or split finger pitches" baseball league for kids 12 and under.

[cuervo72]

3. Once football is in your bones, you cannot ever get it out. It haunts you if you spent your entire life playing, and then it just goes away. Nobody deserves that kind of mind screw. And this coming from someone who has had a pretty good life, career wise and personal wise. I have no complaints, but football still hangs out there.

Every now and then, I will still have a dream in which I go back to my high school and suit up in one last attempt to make the team. And I haven't put on a helmet in almost 14 years.

[scooper]

But being on a football team, especially in High School is one of the best experiences a guy can have.
Amen.

[Travis]

Or she could play multiple sports for a few years and find out which she likes/performs best at (may not be the same of course) and narrow it down to one or two.

I personally played hockey and baseball in leagues for as long as I could growing up, but spent a lot of time playing football on the weekends, though in hindsight, wish I had played that in a league as well.

That said, only took me one year of soccer to realize that I wouldn't be signing up for it again the next year, just not my cup of tea.

[bamcgee]

I don't believe this is a decision that should be based upon "lifetime enjoyment." It's simpler - how much does the child want to play that particular sport?

I agree with Senator in some sense - the game sticks with you. In particular, I still have dreams about returning kicks and punts. Few things are as exhilerating. Unlike him, I never got hurt, and I don't hurt today. 80% luck and 20% genes (gotta have good knees). As a parent, it's a very fair concern.

However, even though I don't play anymore, the memories will never leave. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but sometimes a simple whiff of freshly cut grass instantly transports me back to the practice field. I still use the same stretching and weightlifting routines as high school. The game was the first time that I ever really accomplished something that defined my character. It marked an indelible maturing in my life. This could be true with any sport that you love and work your ass off for, and if football is your child's interest, I encourage you to indulge it.

Admittedly, I have had to adjust to find "lifetime" activities as I've grown older. I'm encouraged to play basketball against guys in their fifties - I'm hoping I'll be one of them. But it's a problem that I'm glad to face because, at the end of the day, my football memories will be far more powerful than any from golf or tennis or whatever. But that's just me.

Who would you be today if your parents had not let you play football?

[Fritz]

couldnt you just teach her to smile pretty and bake?

[Senator]

Don't get me wrong. I love football. But way more than I feel I should. I feel like I should have grown out of it, but my hobbies, including this board seem to always be centered around football somehow. I deal with political and national issues daily, and that seems like the grown up me. But then my wife wakes me up because I am calling plays out loud in my sleep from 13 years ago, or when we are going somewhere on a Friday night, and in the distance, I see those bright lights blazing, I wonder, "who is playing over there" and it draws me there like the proverbial moth to a flame. When I mow my front yard, I am thinking about if it is better to throw or run on 3rd and 3.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Chapter 13, verse 11 Paul of Tarsus

Somehow I have always thought my love of football is linked with missing the happiest days of my life as a child. I still have not resolved it all inside me.

[Tom E]

If worrying about your kid getting hurt while participating in Athletics, is your worst problem. Then you need to write a book on parenting...

[cuervo72]

couldnt you just teach her to smile pretty and bake?

My son baked cookies in the easy bake today. They were good, too.

[vex]

When I mow my front yard, I am thinking about if it is better to throw or run on 3rd and 3.


Run.

[INDalltheway]

I think in high school athletics it is all about the type of program your school has, and the coaches. I am lucky enough to go to a school with a new football coach that concentrates on the "family" aspect of football. It is a very smart thing, because most of a kid's time will be spent with this team, and not their families.

I play basketball and baseball also. Basketball is a little bit different. This year we will have our 3rd coach in 3 years, so a program isn't really established. In baseball it is totally the opposite. Our coach has been at our school for 20+ years, and has over 400 career wins. He makes us feel like kings, and not matter who is on the team, you always become pretty good friends with them.

This brings me back to my main point that coaches are the biggest influence on how your childs high school athletics will go.

[Fritz]

My son baked cookies in the easy bake today. They were good, too.


your son is a fairie

[Pumpy Tudors]

But being on a football team, especially in High School is one of the best experiences a guy can have.

Listen to Shorty here. He knows this because his last three boyfriends were on his school's football team.

[cuervo72]

your son is a fairie

You're just jealous you didn't get a cookie.

[Bonegavel]

Playing football got me a free-ride to College and was a lot of fun, but my bones are paying for it now at 34. Who is to say that both shoulders and my left knee wouldn't hurt like they do even if i never stepped on the grid iron, but i think it is safe to say that it didn't help any.

[Fritz]

You're just jealous you didn't get a cookie.


oh, I get cookies

[cuervo72]

oh, I get cookies

For now. But one day, one hopefully soon, we will emancipate all of the shackled Elves everywhere!

[NoMyths]

Here's my take: I played football at a high-school small enough to keep the ironman tradition alive. Wide receiver and cornerback. Then one year had a guy* run me over after coach blew a whistle during practice and retired due to a fractured tailbone. Glad I played, though it's just tossing a ball around these days. Glory--however small it may be--doesn't really fade all that much. Besides, we've got to seize what little bit we can while we're alive--as someone said, it's a warrior's best and only bulwark. :)


*Said guy went on to be recruited as Hawaii's #1 RB back in the day, but knocked up his high-school virgin girlfriend with twins the night of a particularly stirring victory, the proclamation of which I can remember with utmost clarity even now. No college. Guy's back in town working some crap job providing for his kids. One of the most impressive runners I've ever seen...impressive enough that I'm not bitter he ended my football career, limited though it was. :)

[cuervo72]

Bah. WR and CB never even have to touch anybody ;)

But WR/CB or not, being a two-way player is something of a badge of honor. I went to a bit of a larger high school, but still managed to start at OG and DT (and these were the days when I was actually still under 2 bills). I think there was only one game where I didn't make it all the way through on both sides, and that was an afternoon game in 90 degree heat against a bunch of hosses (Abington had some *big* boys). Played mainly defense in that one. But being good enough to be a starter for both was a source of pride - for both myself and my father.

Actually, playing both sides of the ball was great my junior year too. I started for most of the season on the o-line (necessitated first by an injury), but still played in the JV games to get work in on defense. So I basically played double the games that year :)

[Rich1033]

The main question you should be asking yourself is, "What activity could my little girl turn into the most money?". You are providing for her right now, she owes it to you to devote herself to whatever can make the family the most money. You seem to prefer sports, so lets take a look at your options.

- Basketball - Not a bad choice, but will the WNBA really be around when she is older? I doubt it.

- Baseball/Softball - I will just group these together. Neither looks to have a very good future professionally. Your resourses will be better spent elsewhere.

- Hockey - Just like baseball, not much future for your little cashcow. Even is she is great I wouldnt count on the NHL being there for you. Pass.

- Golf - Now we are talking. While I was on vacation in Florida I was playing putt-putt. I talked to this MILF and she told me how they had a putting green and other golf related thingies in their back yard just for her kids. This is how you need to think. Keep golf in the back of your mind.

- Soccer - Come on, this is soccer we are talking about. Soccer. Dont do it. Besides, we already found out about all the head injuries your girl will get. Bad choice.

- Tennis - This has potential. Maybe start out with a little ping pong and move up from there. Lots of potential money too. The only problem is you need a tennis court. How big is your backyard?

- Professional Wrestling- I dont know. Potential for money, but you may need to start putting away money for the breast implants right away. Probably not the direction you want to go.

- Curling - Are you Canadian? Those folks seems to get a kick out of it. If not, nevermind.

This is simple. In the end it really comes down to tennis and golf. Consider the genetics when picking between these two. Do either of you have any skills? If you want my opinion, Id say your little princess should take up golf. Lots of growth potential and not that much expense on your part. Now go get started on that putting green in your backyard!

[NoMyths]

Bah. WR and CB never even have to touch anybody ;)

But WR/CB or not, being a two-way player is something of a badge of honor. I went to a bit of a larger high school, but still managed to start at OG and DT (and these were the days when I was actually still under 2 bills). I think there was only one game where I didn't make it all the way through on both sides, and that was an afternoon game in 90 degree heat against a bunch of hosses (Abington had some *big* boys). Played mainly defense in that one. But being good enough to be a starter for both was a source of pride - for both myself and my father.

Actually, playing both sides of the ball was great my junior year too. I started for most of the season on the o-line (necessitated first by an injury), but still played in the JV games to get work in on defense. So I basically played double the games that year :)The true badge of honor for the d-backs was getting as much opposing paint on our helmets as possible. So we definitely did what we could to touch folks. In particular, as a WR, I did what I could to shake up the DBs within the 5 allowable yds. :)

[terpkristin]

My wife and I were discussing different activities that we want our 2 yo daughter to try as she gets older. We were discussing the pros and cons of different activities and we ended up debating organized football. now, I don't expect my daughter to play organized football, but this was one of my major activities in high school and college. My wife makes tow good arguments against football. First, football is not a sport that people grow old playing. People play tennis, golf, basketball, softball/baseball, play an instrument, knit, etc. well into old age. Playing football stops at high school or college. She discounts intramural flag football as being a different sport and i must agree).

Her second point is that playing a significant amount of football leads to a significant amount of surgery. I admit that almost all of my football playing friends have had at least on football-related surgery.

So the question is, should kids and young adults devote their time to an activity instead of football?
First. Nobody should ever play football. It is a stupid sport.

Second. As a female who played soccer (the REAL football) from when I was 5 until I was 21. My teammates and I are now amongst some of the most "well-rounded" people I know. Playing soccer taught team work, leadership, focus, social skills, etc etc. I think that playing team sports helped me develop as a person, particularlywhen it comes to self-esteem, confidence in new situations, and leadership. I also played basketball, lacrosse, and tennis and swim team. It kept me in shape, healthy, and quite happy, even though I had a lot of family issues going on at home.

Third. There is no way to know before hand whether a person who plays a given sport will get hurt and if that injury will require surgery. Why live a life in fear of getting injured? I will say this, girls in general have a higher likeliehood of getting certain injuries playing sports, particularly sports like basketball, soccer, football...women's hips make them more likely to tear an ACL and in general have knee tracking problems. Personally, in high school I partially tore my ACL but it wasn't bad enough to go through surgery, and I was able to play collegiate soccer for 2 years. I have knee tracking problems, but I am somehow also "blessed" with hyperextensive knees, making it almost impossible for me to fully tear my ACL. And all people who play basketball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and more or less any sport with cutting and running run the risk of injuries like ankle sprains.

Fourth. As any of the people in the HT forum will attest, I've had a lot of surgeries lately. I have another problem that a lot of females have, generally lose joints. My first 2 surgeries were for repeated dislocations of my shoulders. I had a typical swimmer's problem of imbalanced muscles causing my shoulders to pull out more easily than they should. My shoulder problems were exacerbated by rock climbing and martial arts. My 3rd surgery was of little consequence, I needed to get my tonsils out. Surgery number 4 was a result of a really bad ankle sprain (from playing soccer, when I sprained it I managed to tear all the lateral ligaments in my ankle). Surgery 5 was from hitting a wall, and then surgeries 6-8 were revisions on the ankle.

What am I trying to say in this insane bit of rambling (I'm on percocet, so I'm not being as concise as I can be)? Team sports for females are a great idea. I think it honestly helped me develop and grow into a stronger woman, physically AND mentally. And, though I've had numerous surgeries (all after I turned 21), I have absolutely no regrets about any of my involvement in sports. You really can't live in fear of what might possibly happen. Let your daughter try a variety of sports, and see if she falls in love with any of them. Likely, she'll find one that she really enjoys and wants to spend more time playing. Even if it is (::shudder::) football.

~tk

[Fritz]

For now. But one day, one hopefully soon, we will emancipate all of the shackled Elves everywhere!

[in a chipmunk voice]
We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day
[/in a chipmunk voice]

[SFL Cat]

I played football and loved it. I tried my hand at other sports -- basketball and baseball -- but football rmains my first love. I can't really explain why it is...but it is. My mom said when I was five or six, I used to stage whole football games in my back-yard, providing play-by-play commentary as I threw the ball up into the air and ran under it to make the winning TD catch. My playing days are long over, but I still play touch or flag football whenever I get the chance, and still love it as much as when I was a kid.

College and pro football are the only sports I follow with any sustained interest, having lost interest in baseball and basketball (except for college hoops) along the way. The only football related problem I seem to have is bad ankles (I sprained them a lot playing football and I have to heavily wrap them if I do anything athletically challenging these days). But I still love the game...I guess I always will. My one unfulfilled wish, to play pro ball.

[korme]

Don't get me wrong. I love football. But way more than I feel I should. I feel like I should have grown out of it, but my hobbies, including this board seem to always be centered around football somehow. I deal with political and national issues daily, and that seems like the grown up me. But then my wife wakes me up because I am calling plays out loud in my sleep from 13 years ago, or when we are going somewhere on a Friday night, and in the distance, I see those bright lights blazing, I wonder, "who is playing over there" and it draws me there like the proverbial moth to a flame. When I mow my front yard, I am thinking about if it is better to throw or run on 3rd and 3.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Chapter 13, verse 11 Paul of Tarsus

Somehow I have always thought my love of football is linked with missing the happiest days of my life as a child. I still have not resolved it all inside me.
That's deep Sen.

[Senator]

And not in a good way either.