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Redfairen

(1,276 posts)
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 06:16 PM Nov 2013

Youth football participation drops

Source: ESPN

The nation's largest youth football program, Pop Warner, saw participation drop 9.5 percent between 2010-12, a sign that the concussion crisis that began in the NFL is having a dramatic impact at the lowest rungs of the sport.

According to data provided to "Outside the Lines," Pop Warner lost 23,612 players, thought to be the largest two-year decline since the organization began keeping statistics decades ago. Consistent annual growth led to a record 248,899 players participating in Pop Warner in 2010; that figure fell to 225,287 by the 2012 season.

Pop Warner officials said they believe several factors played a role in the decline, including the trend of youngsters focusing on one sport. But the organization's chief medical officer, Dr. Julian Bailes, cited concerns about head injuries as "the No. 1 cause."

.......

The statistics, which have not been previously disclosed, are consistent with declining participation rates reported in youth football across the country. USA Football, a national governing body partially funded by the NFL, said participation among players ages 6 to 14 fell from 3 million to 2.8 million in 2011, a 6.7 percent decline.



Read more: http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=9970532&src=desktop

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Youth football participation drops (Original Post) Redfairen Nov 2013 OP
My son was not a large guy, but wanted to play football angstlessk Nov 2013 #1
Our nation might have hope, OneCrazyDiamond Nov 2013 #2
music was the answer for my son. olddad56 Nov 2013 #3
My son plays the violin, and is in the math club. He's also a soccer fanatic. HuckleB Nov 2013 #6
Good. Aristus Nov 2013 #4
I posted something similar downthread before I saw yours, but ... Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #10
I didn't know that. Aristus Nov 2013 #11
Or attempting to do so. Head on head. HuckleB Nov 2013 #12
Maybe because they have breasts. DetlefK Nov 2013 #17
Well, that's an interesting supposition. HuckleB Nov 2013 #18
My parents would not let me play organized football until High School. HuckleB Nov 2013 #5
My parents wouldn't let me play even in high school. Mr.Bill Nov 2013 #20
Yeah, it is a silly sport. HuckleB Nov 2013 #21
I went to a large high school. Mr.Bill Nov 2013 #22
They don't allow kids to throw curveballs until much later in life. geek tragedy Nov 2013 #7
I never participated in any school "team" sports, WHEN CRABS ROAR Nov 2013 #8
Good. Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #9
Let them look to their archery, their swimming and their fencing and Wolf Frankula Nov 2013 #13
better link that auto redirects on mobile alp227 Nov 2013 #14
I think that a sport that mimics medieval warfare, may be a tad too brutal even in its modern form. libdem4life Nov 2013 #15
the rehab center used to have pictures of high school kids who were injured playing football madrchsod Nov 2013 #16
Former NFL standout Brett Favre would not allow his son to play football HuckleB Nov 2013 #19

angstlessk

(11,862 posts)
1. My son was not a large guy, but wanted to play football
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 06:37 PM
Nov 2013

I told him if you really want to play then build up your neck muscles by weight lifting...then I will sign up for you to join...he was VERY angry with me..but I stuck to my demands...he eventually gave up any hope, cause he was not willing to do the work.

I am now glad he didn't cause a neck muscle will not defend you from a head injury...I just worried he could break his neck...back then.

OneCrazyDiamond

(2,029 posts)
2. Our nation might have hope,
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 06:40 PM
Nov 2013

If they are signing up for Tech Clubs, and Chess Clubs. I don't know, musical instruments.

olddad56

(5,732 posts)
3. music was the answer for my son.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 06:51 PM
Nov 2013

My son was diagnosed with the inattentive type of ADD at age 8. He is also a gifted kid. Playing music has done as much for him (or more) than medication has.

He was a pitcher in LL. He had some talent and did very well. He gave it up when he started playing the trumpet. I was sort of broken hearted because he had a lot of potential as a pitcher.

His success as a high school jazz trumpet player has exceeded my wildest expectations. His grades started improving almost as son as he picked up the trumpet at age 10. His trumpet has taken him places that I never could have dreamed of.

I love to watch football and baseball, but jazz was the answer for him.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
6. My son plays the violin, and is in the math club. He's also a soccer fanatic.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:04 PM
Nov 2013

He plays baseball, as well. Further, he hikes and backpacks with us all summer long.

Yes, we need to treat our brains right, but part of that is physical exercise, too.

Aristus

(66,093 posts)
4. Good.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 06:57 PM
Nov 2013

I managed to survive a season of school football in Texas without any injuries. But the craze for bigger, better brain-bashing is costing a lot of people a lot of cognitive function. If American-style football dies out and is replaced with soccer, or another, more faster-moving, lower contact sport, I'm fine with that.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
10. I posted something similar downthread before I saw yours, but ...
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:33 PM
Nov 2013

I have to say, I'm amazed at how many concussions result from soccer at our high school. Often serious ones, too. Maybe helmets for soccer is the next thing?

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
12. Or attempting to do so. Head on head.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 09:03 PM
Nov 2013

Interestingly, girls get more concussions than boys, at this age.

http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Girls-getting-more-concussions-than-before-4879926.php

It's why we've told our son, we won't let any coach focus on heading the ball. He's short, anyway, and his strengths are at his feet, but still...

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
17. Maybe because they have breasts.
Fri Nov 15, 2013, 08:28 AM
Nov 2013

At least for male soccer-players it's a standard-move to stop an incoming pass at chest-height by letting it bounce of their chest and let it drop a few feet ahead of them. (Though this move is rarely combined with a vertical jump, because that would be too tricky.)
Maybe girls prefer to intercept passes at chest-height with their heads, because they are afraid to be hit full-frontal in the chest.

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
20. My parents wouldn't let me play even in high school.
Sun Nov 17, 2013, 11:37 PM
Nov 2013

And I still thank them. Almost everyone I know who played still hurts somewhere.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
21. Yeah, it is a silly sport.
Mon Nov 18, 2013, 12:04 AM
Nov 2013

I quickly learned to prefer playing defense, and, luckily I was quick and perfect as a defensive back. I was also much more talented at baseball, and was recruited to play outside back on the newly christened soccer team. I was more inclined to be social with the guys on the soccer team, so I left football after my junior year.

'Twas also my first experience with Americans bashing soccer. I grew up with The Wide World of Sports, where every sport around the world was shown for the wonders that they offered. Ugh.

Oh, well. Soccer will win, in the end.

Mr.Bill

(24,103 posts)
22. I went to a large high school.
Mon Nov 18, 2013, 12:12 AM
Nov 2013

Our team almost looked like a college team. The coach saw me fooling around in PE class one day kicking 40 yard field goals from a tee. He wanted me to play. I weighed about 115 lbs. He was a sick bastard to want to let me set foot on that field, I don't care if I could kick 80 yard field goals. Fortunately my parents were wise enough to see that.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
7. They don't allow kids to throw curveballs until much later in life.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:10 PM
Nov 2013

So, kinda makes sense to prohibit activities that lead to concussions and later life brain damage.

WHEN CRABS ROAR

(3,813 posts)
8. I never participated in any school "team" sports,
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:20 PM
Nov 2013

it took too much time away from fishing, skin diving, surfing, hiking and just enjoying growing up with my friends.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
9. Good.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:32 PM
Nov 2013

We wouldn't let our son play.

I'll admit, I despise the entire culture of football and if U.S. football eventually fades away, well, I won't shed a tear ... not that anyone cares of course.

Wolf Frankula

(3,595 posts)
13. Let them look to their archery, their swimming and their fencing and
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 09:41 PM
Nov 2013

let the futeball and the gowff be utterly cryit down and nocht usit.

Let our youth cease fighting over a pig. Why not cut pig in half and then both teams eat?

Football is a silly sport, two gangs fighting over a dead pig. But what is worse, is coaches thinking they're fighting a war, that they are General fucking Patton and those kids are soldiers.

Wolf

 

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)
15. I think that a sport that mimics medieval warfare, may be a tad too brutal even in its modern form.
Thu Nov 14, 2013, 10:02 PM
Nov 2013

Especially one that holds out outrageous salaries of millions of dollars...while the sideline folk who merely tend to their wounds, earn pennies on the dollar. Team names also yearn for earlier millennial fame of gory glory. Stadiums are not named "The Coliseum" for nothing. (even with better helmets)

Ban professional sports...entirely. High school and college sports can be exceptional positive training for life, but so can academics and volunteer work and neighborhood helpers. But not for earning a lifetime living...or often a dying.

Disclaimer: I'm an athlete and a mom. Tough call, to coin a phrase.

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)
16. the rehab center used to have pictures of high school kids who were injured playing football
Fri Nov 15, 2013, 12:54 AM
Nov 2013

for some reason they thought this was a good thing because they "fixed" their injuries. today they no longer post pictures.

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