Many are divided on what age children should begin playing tackle football to reduce risks from head injuries because there is a lack of existing research to provide support.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is stepping in to find answers.
According to TIME Magazine, the CDC is working to provide data through “rigorous evaluations” on youth football to determine "what age groups are at most risk of sustaining head injuries.”
Youth and high school football have been under the microscope as of late for two reasons. For one, the increasing amount of research on football’s affect on the brain through brain damage such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is leading many to believe the sport might not be worth it.
For two, last year’s high school football season saw an especially deadly year when eleven football players died by November.
The latest controversy over whether or not kids should be playing football- and if so, at what age- is relevant to the classroom because trauma from the sport could cause significant academic struggles for students.
A survey from the Children’s National Health System recently revealed that students who suffer from concussions are concerned about their academic performance for the following weeks; many said concern over recovery can be distracting in the classroom.
Aside from wondering if there should be an age ban on tackling in football, some have wondered about banning tackling altogether. For example, Ivy League coaches set a precedence in March when they voted to ban tackling in football practice. Some wondered if high schools should follow suit for the best interest of students.
Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor
4/20/2016
|
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and receive
top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more!
No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education!
COPYRIGHT 1996-2016 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2024 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.