Is the sport of football dying? A Survey

Submitted by JeepinBen on

Interesting discussion in the other thread. I figured I'd check in with the MGoParents and future MGoParents. We'll have to see what kind of responses come through, what the sample size is, and we're obviously not a random sample. I'll post the data once it arrives with some possible conclusions, and then get those conclusions torn apart since I'm a mechanical engineer as opposed to someone who manipulates data for a living.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pnBYKOsAcHUfNTmJuiJVvAX6-4EQuWj1ziKNg4…

YakAttack

July 29th, 2015 at 11:22 AM ^

I'm a man, I'm 34. And I have no qualms about letting my kids play football (of which, I currently have none) if they want to. But I graduated HS at 5'8'' 140 lbs, so I doubt they will have the requisite size.

Blerg

July 29th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^

I went to answer but stopped. I have no children (26).  Pretty sure having a child alters all sorts of your thinking. I simply have no idea what it feels like to have something you care so much about.

JeepinBen

July 29th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^

No kids yet, I plan to break the data down a few ways, including how future MGoParents' attitudes split between yes/no, vs the actual.

Also, I realized that for kids who didn't play football, it would have been good to break them down into "weren't allowed" or "no interest". Oops.

Call this the preliminary survey. I've got way too many answers already to try to change the questions now.

unWavering

July 29th, 2015 at 4:28 PM ^

I'm the same age, but I answered "Yes." While I have no doubt that having kids alters your way of thinking, I don't think it's realistic or healthy to try and shield your kid from every possible source of risk.

Without having seen detailed data, my assumption is that your child will much more likely die in a car accident than have permanent debilitating effects from high school level football. Does that mean you won't let them ride in a car? Of course not.

maizenbluenc

July 29th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^

He's played since 2nd grade. I did buy him a very nice Riddell Speed helmet for his varsity campaign.

I figure the sport is or will evolve - as all sports should - around the concussion issue.

JeepinBen

July 29th, 2015 at 11:39 AM ^

22 minutes for the first 100 responses. I feel like that's a lot.

I'll try to have a new thread with the results Thursday afternoon. I'll also make the data available to Seth and Brian in case they want to do anything with it.

bronxblue

July 29th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^

I only have a daughter right now, but if I had a son I'm not sure I'd encourage him to play football. I probably wouldn't stand in the way of he desperately wanted to, but assuming the sport doesn't figure out a way to deal with all the injury issues they have (not just concussions), I'd be worried about his qualify of life if he played for years. But to each his own.

The Mad Hatter

July 29th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^

And this is pretty much my position, although I have been going back and forth on the issue. I'm not the sort of parent that forbids my kids from doing things because of my own fears, but I won't encourage it either.

He's only 3 and is already a bruiser. No fear and plays right through pain. He'd probably be a good player.

bronxblue

July 29th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^

Oh yeah.  My parents let me play Pee-Wee and I stopped after being kicked in the head while making a tackle and hating that feeling.  It probably worked out for the best anyway - I tapped out at 6' and 165lbs in terms of size (and that was in college), so I'm not sure I would have had much of a future.  But I just worry not so much about the guys who make millions in the NFL, but all those kids who get beaten up in junior HS/HS who suffer from lots of the same injuries without the payoff.  I have family members who still suffer from pain they got playing football decades ago.  

But again, if my son (or daughter) really wanted to play a sport, there are going to be injuries  - soccer injuries for girls can be just as damaging, and I mean if she wanted to be a kicker and they let her on the team I'd cheer for her - but I just feel like there are sports that encourage teamwork with lower potential of major injuries.

JHendo

July 29th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^

I only have a daughter as well with another (yet to be determined gender) little JHendo on the way.  I played football for 8 years and suffered 3 concussions (2 in football, another was a freak foul in basketball).  I don't regret playing for a single second, but if this next one is a boy, I would actively discourage him from playing.  I'm not sure if I would actually disallow it, but I'd get pretty damn close.

To personally be in that environment before the extent of the risks were more well known and to be concerned about what the future may hold for me medically, has really molded my opinion on this.

Blue_sophie

July 29th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^

Considering that my wife and j are both extremely tall and thin 6-4, 170) and all of our family members have a similar build, I think our kids are not likely to play competitive football. Maybe Pop Warner if they want to (and I don't think I would do anything to encourage or discourage them). They will, however, be playing basketball from the day they can stand.

Esterhaus

July 29th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^

 
They would definitely engage football if there was a realistic chance to play professionally and keep me living in style. Otherwise they would be farmed out for labor or sent to the laboratory for compensated experiments with the checks mailed to me directly so that I can live in style. But we're older and never did get around to having children because we were too busy living in style. No point crying over unrealized revenue. /h

PB-J Time

July 29th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^

I did the survey but thought I'd expand. My son is only 1, but I do not suspect he'll play football. My wife has already stated her opposition to the idea, and interestingly her father (Grandpa), has adamatly stated he doesn't want his grandson to play. He does have some authority on this, as he played D-I football on scholorship, and has numerous physcial ailments as a result of years of football. 

Personally I'd rather he find a different sport, but there are issues with others too, including repetative head injury (soccer, lacrosse) which we are getting more and more research.

But hell, he's 1 fergodsakes, I'm just thankful that he's healthy and hope he can play any sport for fun!

Coldwater

July 29th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^

My son is 16 an about to play his first Varsity football season. He's played every year since fifth grade. Tonight is a 7 on 7 tournament too. I highly encourage football participation

Michigan248

July 29th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

Concussion is an issue for some parents, but as a youth coach I'd say the biggest issue right now is the cost of football. To play on my team in metro Detroit it cost $250 for registration
$100 deposit for equipment
$100 deposit for 20 hours of volunteering
$50 for jersey
$50 at least for cleats
$25 physical
$3 mouth guard

The cost adds up not to mention the time 5-6 days a week 2 1/2 hour practices and games

benjamint1024

July 29th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^

I will allow my two boys to play if they want to.  One is 3 years and the other is almost 2 months.  I'll even go so far as to make sure they know it is availible to them, but I will never push them into anything they are not interested in.

Other then concussions, maintaining your health later in life has a lot to do with how you take care of your body, IMHO.  Yes, the injuries are caused by the sport you play, but playing through it or hiding injuries it is up to the individual.  

I played with reckless abondon.  I would run down the field on special teams and hit whomever was the first other colored jersey that crossed my path a hard as I could and I loved it.  My body hurts, and I was done after high school(5-9 180 nose tackle).  And yes, I would do it all the same again.  I'm positive I've had concussions.  I've put my body through worse then football on dirt bikes, four wheelers, wrecking cars...etc.  

When I was young, I did not let injury or pain stop me from competing or playing, and I see that attitude in my young son.  He will fall and scrape his knee or hit his head on things and never even think to stop playing.  I have to stop him and ask if he okay.

I think those that played and excelled at any level of oranized football will share some of these sentiments as well as remember how awesome it was to take the field in front of a packed in croud and make them cheer.  Not to mention how close you were with your brothers on the team.  I'll never forget the feeling, and do not plan on letting my sons miss out on the oportunity, unless they do not want to play.

Sorry about the rant, thats just my feelings on it, to each there own.  Great debate.

Trump

July 29th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^

Life is too short to play the what if game. Let em play. Some of the best years of their lives.