Bad Parenting

Today I saw you at the park. You were proudly watching your son's football practice.

One thing I've learned to do since my daughter was born was to not judge other parents. That deranged father with a death-grip on his daughter's arm while she screams and claws at him? I don't judge him...he's probably me.

But all that aside, I have to judge you. Because you were clearly putting your son's in harm's way. A seven year-old should not be playing tackle football. Certainly, signing your son up for sports is a great way to keep him healthy. And a complicated team sport like football, with 22 players all with specific jobs that may vary on each play is a great way to teach your son critical thinking skills under pressure. He'll be more confident when he grows up, and probably look back when nostalgia when he thinks about his youth football league days.

That is...if he can think at all. Here's a link to a library of research that has proven that the worst possible thing that can happen to a youth is for them to get one or more concussions before the age of 12. Time after time, researchers have found that the damage to the brain at that early age carries forward into their teens and adulthood, and causes serious problems later on.
I understand that the occasional concussion is probably unavoidable for a little boy. I was one, and more than once I used my head as a brake to stop the rest of my body and was more than a little disorientated afterwards.
But having your little boy put on a heavy plastic helmet and run at other little boys is pointless and stupid risk.

It's not like there aren't alternatives. "7 on 7" leagues and flag football leagues are prevalent and available. Your son can learn every single thing about football rules, get good exercise, and most importantly of all can run around the field with almost zero risk of concussion. Especially since tackling is prohibited and player contact is heavily frowned upon.

It's possible you simply don't realize that tackle football is incredibly dangerous for little boys. You might not have spent the time reading Gregg Easterbrook's weekly articles. You might simply have done it as a kid yourself, and having come out of it largely unharmed, are unaware that many of your peers now suffer from serious head injury-related conditions.
But there's also a chance that you know about the risks, and don't do anything. Part of you is thinking that the "head start" you're giving him will pay off with his lucrative Michigan football scholarship and then multi-million dollar NFL contract. Part of you is thinking about how you were a mediocre-at-best football player - not because of lack of physical prowess, nay you were a gifted athlete to be sure - but because you just didn't have a good enough headstart. And if that is so, shame on you sir.

Look, whatever your reasons, I don't really care. Like I said, I try not to judge. Carrying my daughter out of Wal-mart like a banshee/burrito I might not have looked like Dad of the Year. But I want you to stop sending your boy to play tackle football. I judge you...


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