I believe it is safe to say that the majority of people one time or another have heard about the importance of brain development in childhood and adolescent years. With this being the case I am constantly surprised at the lack of vigilance from parents and schools leadership in regards to this issue. Although, the brain is quite possibly the most important organ in the human body people are somewhat careless with it and have been jeopardizing the overall health of their child’s brains for years. Due to this, I believe children under the age of 14 should not play tackle football because younger players are more likely to sustain brain injuries that will affect their present, as well as develop mental health issues in the future such as chronic …show more content…
A concussion is when the body becomes subject to a hit which causes the brain to bounce around within the skull. Because of the way that concussions occur they are commonly known as a sports injury, especially a football injury. By allowing children to participate in tackle football from Elementary School up, they are being subject to repetitive unnecessary amount of early onset mental problems. “Sometimes people call a concussion a "mild" brain injury. It is important to understand that while concussions may not be life-threatening, they can still be serious” (Brain Concussion). Children who get concussions may experience disturbances in their ability to concentrate and remember things which will have a negative effect on their schooling. Not only is a concussion disturbing the normal balance of the brain, it is also interfering with the child’s education which will ultimately affect the child’s future. Recently there have been multiple NFL players publicly say they would not let their sons play football such as Terry Bradshaw and Adrian Peterson. In addition, Troy Aikmen Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys quarterback said in an interview “if I had a 10-year-old boy, I don’t know that I’d be real inclined to encourage him to go play football, in light of what we are learning from head injury.” (Son play football). Therefore, parents and educators who have their children's future in mind should consider waiting to let their children participate in tackle