Panel kills bill to prohibit tackle football

nesses testified — 25 of them against the measure. It sought to bar tackling and heading until players reached high school A Maryland House of Delegatesage.committee has killed a bill that would have Nineteen committee members voted to prohibited tackling in football and heading kill the measure; three did not vote. in soccer by kids in elementary and middle Youth coaches around the state took to school. social media and sports talk radio to

The Ways and Means Committee overoppose the legislation, which covered whelmingly rejected the measure, which organized school programs and youth its sponsor had called a “public health” bill. leagues. A youth football administrator

“I really did not expect it to pass, but I started an online petition that accumulatthink it’s a conversation we have to have ed more than 7,000 signatures to “stop the and I don’t think the conversation is over,” bill.” said Del. Terri Hill, the Howard County “It shouldn’t have passed,” said the Democrat who filed the legislation. coach, Michael Melvin, vice president of

“Culturally we love football, I love the Reisterstown Mustangs youth profootball,” said Hill, a surgeon. “It’s difficult gram . “But there are some things we can to appreciate that something we really do. We need to come down on the number enjoy — with clear benefits to our kids — of practices with full pads. We’re playing a may be hurting them without our knowllittle too much football,” Melvin said edge.” Monday.

The committee’s unfavorable report At the hearing, some committee memwas filed this week. The committee voted bers proposed better training of coaches, after a hearing Friday in which 31 wit- but said prohibition was too extreme.

Hill told the committee that the bill, which she has reworked since it was first proposed, addressed youth and football and soccer programs “in school and out, public and private.”

She said her focus was accumulated damage from lesser hits – “sub-concussive” ones – on developing brains that can cause damage later in life.

Youth football leagues, responding to declines in participation, have moved to limit contact in practice and emphasize proper tackling techniques. Under U.S. Soccer Federation guidelines adopted in Maryland in 2016, children under 11 are banned from heading and those who are 11 and 12 must limit heading in practice.

Hill said she didn’t know if she would introduce the measure in future legislative sessions.

“I don’t know what the future holds,” she said. “I’m willing to have a conversation: where can we make things safe.”