For safer football
The sport can be played with brains preserved
A Boston University study on brain damage in football players revealed what parents and young athletes should already know: Football is a violent game, and playing it can result in long-term damage.
It reinforces the need for safer equipment, solid instruction and caution from parents.
The study, published this week in the medical journal JAMA, included results from the examination of 202 deceased former football players, who played during high school or college or professionally. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition that can lead to memory loss, confusion, depression and aggression, was found in 177 of the brains. The disease was found in 110 of 111 former NFL players.
The results should be put into perspective, however. Family members who submitted their loved one’s brain for research had reason to believe there was some brain damage involved. Frank Wainright, who played for 10 seasons in the NFL, died last October at 48 from a heart attack triggered by bleeding in his brain. His brain was included in the study. In the eight years prior to his death, Mr. Wainright suffered from memory loss, confusion and behavioral changes.
The bad news is that researchers still cannot tell us how many current football players are suffering from CTE, because a definitive diagnosis can only be provided after death.
In the report, researchers said the most severe levels of brain damage were found in former professional players. Those men played the sport the longest of those studied and were subjected to years of head trauma and multiple concussions.
The fact that playing for many years can increase the risk of brain damage should result in a serious discussion within families about the appropriate age to begin playing football. Youths who sign up at the age of 5 will be exposed to many more hard hits over their lifetime than those athletes who begin playing in high school. But proper tackling techniques can become ingrained if learned early, and good technique is a key factor in player safety.
If the decision is made for youths to start playing early, parents should not be afraid to question coaches about their qualifications and commitment to safety. Safe equipment is important too for children.
The NFL, which has agreed to a $1 billion settlement with former players who said the league hid the risks of head injuries, continues to pour money into research and safety advancements. In 2016, the league committed $100 million for research. The NFL, colleges and others who profit from the sport should commit even more. The money is there. Fox charged up to $5.5 million for a 30-second commercial in February’s Super Bowl.
Football provides young and older athletes many benefits. For some, it is a chance for a college education. For a few, it is an opportunity for a lucrative career that might support their family for generations. For many, it is simply a way to be part of a team and build social skills. But football is dangerous. More work and research need to be done to make it less so.