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Super Bowl XLVI – Game Changers
February 3rd, 2012 | 
Author: It’s on like Donkey Kong!
Game time has arrived and everyone is gearing up! Who are you rooting for in this year’s bowl?
I personally am not much of a football fan, but I do love those commercials! Did you hear about the newest commercial for the NFL? They are spending their valuable, high exposure ad space slot to impress upon the fans their increased focus on player safety.
I say “GO TEAM!”
Even though I am not much of a fan, I am all for team sports and their importance to our society. But, it is about time that someone steps up to the plate to say “It is all right if you have to sit out part of the game for an injury.” Messages in sports and many other aspects of life have been “Be tough!” “Brush it off!” “Cowboy Up!” “Show no weakness, be strong!” These messages have their place, but when we push our athletes too hard they can lead to some very dire results. No game is worth someone’s life!
Did anyone see the “Head Games” episode of Harry’s Law that aired right after Thanksgiving? Harry is asked by the grieving parents of a young high school football player, who lost his life due to repetitive hits to his head, to sue the high school for misconduct. They want to see the game of football banned from high school sports.
Tough case, huh?! Caught my attention!
Harry took the case, even though she was an avid football fan and saw it as a time honored American tradition. They don’t call it American football for nothing. It was interesting to watch the case unfold and the many questions it brought out about the game and just sports for that matter. Doctors were brought in to explain the damaging affects of repetitive blows to the head, which I have later learned were not made up by the writers.
According the CDC, each year an average of 173,285 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, are treated. Among them are children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years. (MMWR October 2011)
each year an average of 173,285 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries,
including concussions, are treated.
No one is pointing fingers at football or even specifically sports, but there is some focus on the impact of football on young athletes. One of the common injuries found in autopsies of older football players is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, it doesn’t necessarily happen to everyone and it isn’t life threatening. It does, however cause forms of dementia and in some cases Parkinson’s disease, like Muhammad Ali.
non professional football player sustains almost 650 hits to the head in one season
Did you know that on average a non professional football player sustains almost 650 hits to the head in one season? We are talking about blows to the head from young athletes weighing over 200lbs. The impact is similar to a car crash, but it can come in the form of multiple players and multiple times.
Statistics show that one average player weighing about 200 lbs. can create an impact of approx 1600lbs on a player.
CNN aired a special report from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon, called “Big Hits, Broken Dreams“. It focuses on football and it affects (even deaths) on young athletes. The quote that hit home for me was when a football coach is asked “My child really wants to play football. Can you guarantee me that he will be safe?” His deadpan, serious answer was “I can’t guarantee that.”
As you watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, take note of the changes they have made to keep their players safer. For more information, see their site NFL Heath and Safety.
If you are a mom to a young football player or even an athlete, check out the “Heads Up” program set up by the CDC. They provide training and prevention steps you can take to protect your child.
I am not saying that football needs to be banned, I can’t imagine a world without football. I think Judge Ray Gillot, a character in Harry’s Law, summed it up best in this quote
”
“Sometimes even the most cherished traditions need to be re-examined. Especially when they are killing our kids.”
This post was written for an entry into the “Safety First” giveaway in honor of Super Bowl XLVI. Educating parents, coaches and children on the signs and symptoms of concussions.
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