Argumentative Essay: Should Kids Play Football?

Deadly American Tradition
Jim Murray once said, “What about football? Is it a sport or a concussion?” On November 6, 1869 football was born. An unorganized college game between Rutgers and Princeton started a revolution that would soon become America’s favorite sport. With rules to the game being set in the 1880s, no one figured how much impact this sport would have on their health. Sweeping the hearts of Americans, football rises well above other sports in a poll on citizen’s favorite sport with a total of 35% of the population. Distracted by the exciting football gatherings with family and friends, we all tend to neglect the serious dangers of football. Although football provides activity for children, parents should not let their children

An article in “The Week” magazine states that in a recent study about 95% of NFL players that have died due to illness were in fact victims of the football related degenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) (“Should Kids Play Football?” 3). CTE is a found in people who receive repetitive blows to the head, and results in memory loss, social instability, erratic behavior, and unfortunately death. CTE is the most commonly found in retired football players more than any other sport. Not to mention, CTE can affect people of all ages, so it is important to be mindful of the acts you let your child participate in. Including CTE many other diseases have been found to stem from playing football. According to Weller, after football plays resign from the game is when these diseases have been shown to arise. Diseases such as diagnoses of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ALS and chronic traumatic encephalopathy have resulted from the repetitive head blows during football (Weller 1). Retired players today are all still trying to raise awareness to inform parents and current players on the dangers of football and their personal experience. From slowed motor skills to the brain being paralyzed, these players are living proof of the traumatic incidents that occur in football. Not only does football cause present and instant injuries it can cause someone to have a continuous struggle with disease or