KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME.

KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME. I have posted several times about the National Football League’s efforts to cut down on helmet-to-helmet hits. This New York Times article gives an idea of why the NFL seems to be changing its enforcement of the rules. The article says that: “A result [of helmet-to-helmet hits in youth football] has been a steady rise in concussions — estimated at more than 500,000 each season among the 4.4 million children who play tackle football.” That is, over 10% of children playing football have concussions each year (assuming that there are no multiple concussions). The article points out that the official NFL rule book defines tackling as “The use of hands or arms by a defensive player in his attempt to hold a runner or throw him to the ground”, and notes that the definition already seems quaint. The article describes a camp for teaching young players how to tackle safely (and correctly). I think the NFL, and especially reporters and announcers, have a lot to answer for with the continuing praise of “greatest hits.” I never heard the phrase “to put a hat on him” back in the day.