Youth-football ranks take a hit as North Jersey parents rethink safety
November 23, 2014, 10:48 PM Last updated: Monday, November 24, 2014, 8:22 AM
By JEFF ROBERTS
The father does not want to say no.
Anthony LoSauro’s two young sons love football. He loves football.
He played at Bergen Catholic and then at Division III Middlebury. But the Ridgewood dad understands the risks. LoSauro sometimes wonders if the four concussions he suffered in his career have slightly slowed his memory recall.
So even with two years remaining before his older son is eligible to play tackle football, LoSauro and his wife, Marybeth, already agonize over the question: Should they let him?
“I’m definitely conflicted about it,” said LoSauro, the father of A.J., 6, and Will, 4. “It’s a hard decision. The subject goes back and forth with us.
“It’s a back-and-forth in a lot of parents’ minds right now.”
As another youth football season draws to a close and the high school state playoffs are in full swing, the LoSauros’ dilemma illustrates the difficult decision facing parents: Does the game’s intrinsic value outweigh its inherent injury risk?
Game does not outweigh the risk in any way shape or form. Look at some of these retired players and there young age and the physical and mental problems they have. The game is not worth your life.
Hold on a sec….you can get concussions playing soccer, lacrosse, baseball and wrestling.
It’s safe I guess if you want to play tennis, volleyball, baskets or compete in track and cross country.
So maybe it makes sense to leave Johnny and Sally inside and let them play video games once their done with their homework.
As Andy said in Shawshank: get busy living or get busy dying.
ALL Parents are taking a second look on Jr. Football now — I would recommend other sports that offer health and physical participation skills.
Speak to specialist to be advised. There are many.
I recommend the reading of Dr. Earle F. Zeigler text —
PROBLEMS IN THE HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT.
Google the text for more details please.
Every play in football invites injury. The same cannot be said for softball/baseball, soccer, basketball or track.
Tackle football in elementary school should be banned.
The no cut high school team encourages many teens to be crash test dummies for the first string.
James, I sent you a Live Link on Dr. Zeigler — his back ground and writings explains in more detail what sports are all about.
I hope it helps a little — I wish I could post live links here — but, you are much better at it— thanks good friend. Dom
Lots of kids living out dad’s less than stellar sports careers. Sad. I see parents sigining their kids up for non-stop travel teams, private coaches and backyard drills.
Let the kids live their lives. You will never get payback for the time and money spent. No college will compensate for the money spent on coaches, teams and travel. Enjoy life.
Kids should try junior wrestling. Most programs are well run; Ridgewood’s is very well run. Your opponents will be kids who are equal in age, size and experience and it’s a controlled environment (1 ref, 2 young wrestlers and at least 4 coaches). The refs are very cautious with respect to potential injuries. The boys get in shape and build confidence. Lots of novice tournaments for beginners so kids stand a chance of winning a medal or two.
“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” – Dan Gable
Yea, well, wrestling is a bit fruity dude…..
I’m going to get on a mat and roll around with another guy? Not gonna happen.
#9 spoken like a true homophobe.
Once you’ve wrestled everything else in life is easy ~ Dan Gable
#9 – I guess the Speedos the swim team wears would scare you off too. Wow.
#11 – one of my favorites from Gable. Nice.
The junior wrestling program is a good one. Everyone gets to wrestle every weekend. There is no “A Team” “B Team” bs either. And since these are individual matches, you don’t have to feel obligated to participate every weekend if the family has other stuff going on. If you’re paly football, wrestling will keep you in shape in the off season.
Within the next 5 or so years you will see all kids under 7th grade out of helmets and pads if Jr. football wants to survive. No reason for the little guys to be all padded up and bouncing into each other. Teach the little guys, form and skills and let them have fun playing flag football. Wait until they are older until they start to hit. Will be a big plus for everyone.