Football

This boy is our neighbor. I remember when this happened, how I felt for his parents while they were waiting for him to wake up. I remember watching him taking walks down the street after the surgery. Slowly, with a cap covering his shaved head and huge scar with stitches. If he were my son, would I want him to play football again after this? Nope. But I probably wouldn't have encouraged him to play football in the first place. I'm not too keen on contact sports. (The town is very excited, the football team is playing for the state championship in it's division tomorrow night.)

Jodi

You think it's the parents encouraging him to play, or is it Josh doing the pushing?

Nope, I'm sure the son wants to play. I would feel sick to my stomach before every game if I were his mom.

Jodi

Maybe he loves football the same way we love piano.

I'd support him.

Are they insane?!!?

I would absolutely be the meanest mom in the world and demand he give that sport up. He's what? 17? 18? It's not like he won't have anything else to love in his life.

Man, I was sick just reading the article...

I hate American football. It's so violent. I don't agree at all with sports where you actually have to wear protective gear because you *expect* to be kicked in the head. It's just stupid.
No, jodi, I wouldn't let him. I'd be a mean mum!
PS - get back to the studio!

Nope, I would definitely say no. So far I'm pleased that my son is only interested in baseball... black eyes, missing teeth, bruises but the comas are few and far between.

When my son, Tim (now 22) was in 7th grade, in an attempt to "fit in", decided to go out for football in spite of his "bookworm" nature and coke bottle thick glasses. Bonnie and I gritted our teeth and let him, hoping for the best. Suprising everyone, including himself, he turned out to be pretty good as a defensive back. He played about half a season until breaking his arm in practice one day. We were relieved. The injury wasn't serious, he was out for the season and we were pretty sure that (rightfully, as it turned out) he wouldn't want to return after that.

We were inclined to not let him play in the first place because of the risk of serious injury and the negative aspects of the social climate in the sport, but it was important to him to find a way to prove himself. 7th grade is really tough on smart, bookish kids. The other kids can be really cruel. In this case, it worked out pretty well in the long run. At the cost of a broken arm his self confidence took a big boost.

Not long after that, a fencing club opened up in our area and the whole family ended up getting involved. This is a much better sport for kids, in my (admittedly biased) opinion.

Fencing club. The silly mother in me has visions of my kid coming home with both eyes poked out...

Jodi

No, no, no! That only happens when you run with sticks, not epee's!

My sister is having this same nausea..her middle son broke his wrist seriously in a hockey game the day after Thanksgiving, as my parents watched....in a playoff game... 150 miles from home...this is his third injury of the sort... her younger daughter is just now over her broken ankle from soccer....AHHHH!!! is what I would be saying!!

I know I would not let my son play again...Teens think of the here and now, not of what all these injuries will become as they are older...

I don't have a problem with contact sports per se, but the emphasis on winning instead of sportsmanship gives me pause. There are injuries in all sports, but I suspect that football s the worst for head and spinal injuries. Unfortunately the players just don't kow heir vulnerabilities at that age. I would have a hard time (as a parent) watching my son go back out on the field.