Kids should be allowed to play tackle football because they have a lower chance of having brain problems as their life goes on. Another reason is that they can try the sport at a younger age and if they don’t like it they can quit, but if they do like playing football they can play for their childhood and can play when they get older.
Kids under the age of 12 should be allowed to play tackle football because when they are this young they are at a lower risk of getting a concussion or any other damage to their brain or head. It is proven that when they are this young a lot of their injuries will heal faster than an older player.
Professional athletes have a higher risk of brain problems and injuries in football because as the player ages the odds of a football player getting CTE which is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. When the player ages the odds of them getting CTE is increased by 30% each year. A scientist said “The study also found that the risk of CTE increases by 30% each year, meaning it doubles for every 2.6 years of football played,” (Google). When a player gets a concussion their brain moves in their skull and can cause that person to become unconscious or lose alertness which could result in being benched.
However young players should be allowed to play tackle football because it is proven that kids under the age of 12 have a lower risk of concussions and brain injuries but that increases as they get older. “There are studies that have proven that concussions are very rare among young football players and that they can withstand hits because kids under the age of 12 don’t hit as hard as professional athletes.” Also, there are safety precautions that can make sure the player doesn’t have a concussion. There are certified athletic trainers at games to check on athletes and help them with any problems or injuries they are at risk of getting.
In regards to injuries, it is proven that kids have more periosteum which is a layer on the bones of kids to make their bones thicker and stronger. This helps children recover and heal from injuries quicker than adults do. Adult athletes lack periosteum in their bones which can make recovery and healing slower. This means athletes would need a longer time to recover and possibly need physical therapy to be able to recover to their best and achieve their peak performance.
With all of these reasons, I believe that children under the age of 12 should be allowed to play football because they have a faster recovery time. Another reason is if they take all of the necessary precautions the athlete should have no problems while playing tackle football.
