Ivy League Moves to Eliminate Tackling at Practice

[HurricaneUWW]

When you sign up for football-- you know the risks. End of story.

Actually, the argument is that you don't and the medical community is just starting to understand the risks. The NFL agreed to pay $1B because it hid known risks. High school kids can't consent to that risk. And there's a strong argument parents can't or certainly should not consent for them.

As the science develops and the correlation between tackling and increased risk of brain damage becomes a universally accepted fact, then the academic institutions (which are principally very liberal, scientifically focused institutions) are going to be on perilous ethical grounds because those kids are not getting paid while the schools make millions off their risk.

I think high school athletics associations, school boards and private schools will be the first to ban tackle football, whether by choice or by compulsion (either because of litigation or legislation). That will be a slow process initially. But there will be a tipping point after which the schools will have no choice but to follow suit.

Colleges and, to a lesser extent initially, the NFL, will continue to make rule changes to give the appearance that they are providing a safe environment. But, eventually, those rule changes will so fundamentally change the nature of the game that they will lose their audience because violence is the draw.

Anyone who thinks the old "you signed up for it knowing the risks" rationalization is going to hold up at the high school or college level in the next decade has their head in the sand imo. I don't like it, but I think it's an inevitable reality.

100% accurate whether we like it or not. Not to mention soccer continues to grow in the US, which directly competes with football for players at the hs level. As a hs coach, I can tell you first-hand that moms are the biggest obstacle in pulling their sons out of football. They will have to continue to take measures like the ones you alluded too in order to appease the quickly growing number of concerns of long-term health.

 

[ILCane2011]

So dumb, and anybody whose also actually played/coached will agree.

If you don't learn how to tackle, you will get hurt during games. Limiting hitting is one thing, eliminating it entirely will only increase injuries, especially head/neck ones.

Did you just choose to ignore the part where actual research proved the exact opposite of everything you just said?

You're a pretty dumb person.

I said/agree with LIMITING hitting in practice to reduce injuries (like the research says, genius). It's retarded, however, to not practice tackling AT ALL. That inevitably leads to more serious injuries in games (because kids don't know how to tackle with correct form).

Nice try though dude, this football thing must be new to you

 

[Port Knox]

I'd rather my future doctors and lawyers not have life long head aches. It's the Ivy league. Let them be.

 

[Tad Footeball]

“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Mr. Teevens said in a phone interview.

This over-simplified thinking would be beyond problematic outside of any setting like the Ivy League where the sample size is extremely small and the difference in skill and speed between teams is nominal. Bottom line- a bunch of slow(er) white guys in New England avoiding receiving and administering contact except on Saturday may not lead to many issues. Extrapolate that thinking out to major college football where guys are bigger and faster than ever or within high school football where there is often an extreme gap in quality between two teams on the same field and you'll see a MAJOR spike in gameday injuries because players will essentially not be practicing the skills that actually do keep them safe during actual gameplay.

 

[Dingaan1828]

Laugh all you want, but Dartmouth kicked the crap out of Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut St. And, we all know how good they are.

 

[Fightinibis]

So dumb, and anybody whose also actually played/coached will agree.

If you don't learn how to tackle, you will get hurt during games. Limiting hitting is one thing, eliminating it entirely will only increase injuries, especially head/neck ones.

Fact.

 

[jakeman1]

Accidental collisions will occur, but they're going to need to teach kids from an early age, not to lead with their heads. The problem is, it looks like a lot of the problems are coming with the OL/DL having the repeated collisions is causing damage too.

 

[sfowler06]

So dumb, and anybody whose also actually played/coached will agree.

If you don't learn how to tackle, you will get hurt during games. Limiting hitting is one thing, eliminating it entirely will only increase injuries, especially head/neck ones.

I wish elementary and middle schools would really focus on reading comprehension. This is for the "regular" season. Im sure they will work on tacking in the spring and summer.

 

[kendallcanes]

Learning to tackle? By the time a player has made it to college, and after pre-season and spring practices, they should know how to tackle. There is always constant improvement, but you don't need to go at full speed to perfect technique.

There are other sports that only hit at full speed during games/matches---- MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, etc. Save the concussions for the games.

 

[nystateofmind]

“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Mr. Teevens said in a phone interview.

This over-simplified thinking would be beyond problematic outside of any setting like the Ivy League where the sample size is extremely small and the difference in skill and speed between teams is nominal. Bottom line- a bunch of slow(er) white guys in New England avoiding receiving and administering contact except on Saturday may not lead to many issues. Extrapolate that thinking out to major college football where guys are bigger and faster than ever or within high school football where there is often an extreme gap in quality between two teams on the same field and you'll see a MAJOR spike in gameday injuries because players will essentially not be practicing the skills that actually do keep them safe during actual gameplay.

 

[Chuckles]

Wow, just wow! Now posters on a friekin' football board are worrying about the damage caused by contact. Please go to your safe spaces! And get off this board and follow baseball. When you aren't wrapping yourselves in bubble wrap to go outside.

 

[TC7D]

Another nail in football's coffin. This sport will cease to exist in its current form in the next 10-15 years. Just wait til we actually see a college or NFL player killed on live tv. It's inevitable.

 

[iLoveTDs]

How about flag football up to junior year of high school and then contact?

That way players have from 5-16 to learn the game but without hurting their developing brains.

I would agree that they starter tackling at too young an age.

 

[BoxingRobes]

These kids got into football with full contact practices correct?

If you object to the hits why would you get involved with the game to begin with?

If you feel that you are not safe playing the game with full contact, then why not stop playing, and move on to something else?

Why is common sense a super-power in 2016?

In-game, concussions happen. Everyone understands that and accepts that.

Its the countless un-diagnosed sub-concussive hits that are the issue and is, currently, believed to be the ultimate root of CTE. The pile of dead football players that have been posthumously been diagnosed with CTE is stacking up way too high. Limiting overall hitting is helping.

Learning proper tackling form and technique is very important, and I'm all for simulated tackling. However, the more I coach, the more I see, that full contact practices aren't really necessary anyway. Tackling dummies and simulating tackling drills have done the trick, IMO.

 

[DMoney]

Miami doesn't really tackle in practice either, unless it's a scrimmage.

I don't think this really makes a difference with head injuries (players still thud) but it is good for avoiding injuries to the body and legs.

 

[Republicane]

If they haven't learned how to tackle after years and years of youth football and four more years of football in high school, why is it an absolute given that the practices where they aren't tackling are for sure the ones where they'd be learning how to? I mean these guys are playing in the Ivy League, they aren't knuckle draggers. Learning stuff is kind of their thing. Shouldn't the assumption be that they wouldn't be learning in those either?

They couldn't grasp the premise over eight or more years but are suddenly going to pick it up?

 

[pyhooya]

How about flag football up to junior year of high school and then contact?

That way players have from 5-16 to learn the game but without hurting their developing brains.

So freshman and sophomores in high school are not allowed to play varsity???? Makes sense

 

[Republicane]

What this thread mostly boils down to is people who are worried about their entertainment being altered in any way by attempts to lessen the risks to the entertainer. Well not exactly in this instance. These players aren't entertainers. These are players at schools you couldn't locate on a map, in a league you don't care about, playing games you don't watch. So why are you worried? You're terrified that this might reduce concussions and/or other serious injuries and in turn be implemented at FBS schools. Who cares if it reduces brain damage, they're messin' with your foozball. You didn't say anything when they started using blanks during shootouts in movies instead of live ammo but by god enough is enough. You're putting your foot down.

And it is really going to burn your *** when a brain surgeon tells you he knows more about the human brain than you despite all the years experience you have coaching peewee football. "Big shot medical doctor with his degrees and education, I'd like to see him win the league with this bunch of turds like I did the last two years! Brain surgery ain't ****. Give me a box cutter and some channel locks and I could do the same thing he does"

 

[nystateofmind]

What this thread mostly boils down to is people who are worried about their entertainment being altered in any way by attempts to lessen the risks to the entertainer. Well not exactly in this instance. These players aren't entertainers. These are players at schools you couldn't locate on a map, in a league you don't care about, playing games you don't watch. So why are you worried? You're terrified that this might reduce concussions and/or other serious injuries and in turn be implemented at FBS schools. Who cares if it reduces brain damage, they're messin' with your foozball. You didn't say anything when they started using blanks during shootouts in movies instead of live ammo but by god enough is enough. You're putting your foot down.

And it is really going to burn your *** when a brain surgeon tells you he knows more about the human brain than you despite all the years experience you have coaching peewee football. "Big shot medical doctor with his degrees and education, I'd like to see him win the league with this bunch of turds like I did the last two years! Brain surgery ain't ****. Give me a box cutter and some channel locks and I could do the same thing he does"

Great analysis.

 

[westcoastcanes]

“At this stage in their careers, these guys know how to hit and take a hit,” Mr. Teevens said in a phone interview.

This over-simplified thinking would be beyond problematic outside of any setting like the Ivy League where the sample size is extremely small and the difference in skill and speed between teams is nominal. Bottom line- a bunch of slow(er) white guys in New England avoiding receiving and administering contact except on Saturday may not lead to many issues. Extrapolate that thinking out to major college football where guys are bigger and faster than ever or within high school football where there is often an extreme gap in quality between two teams on the same field and you'll see a MAJOR spike in gameday injuries because players will essentially not be practicing the skills that actually do keep them safe during actual gameplay.

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I would hope so, I don't think bags have spin moves and stiff arms to over come like a person.