https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:20:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2106884 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:38:47 +0000 coopsmama 2106884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not going to set hard and fast boundaries on this sort of thing but I'm also not going to encourage my son to play football, if that makes sense. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2106881 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 23:33:37 +0000 erinpye 2106881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have girls, but no, I wouldn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104613 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:37:55 +0000 Synchronicity 2104613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Football isn't big around here, so I don't anticipate this being an issue, but I'd definitely let my kid play hockey which I suppose isn't any safer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104612 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:36:36 +0000 photojane 2104612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't forbid it if it was his dream/passion, but I don't think I'll encourage it. We love watching football, but it's definitely dangerous. My husband is 5'8, so I don't think it'll ever be an issue. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104587 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:15:02 +0000 jedeve 2104587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: I agree. Yes you can get injured doing anything, but brain injuries affect a lot more than your body. The depression former NFL players have had to deal with is so devastating. We have always been big football fans, but have really been struggling with how we feel watching it on an ethical level. </p> <p>@Mrs. Coral: my sister tore both her ACLs in high school soccer. </p> <p>I have major issues with youth sports in America. Youth sports are more popular and more competitive than ever, but we still have a huge obesity epidemic. Young children are being selected at an early age to specialize in a sport and their families spend $1000s on multiple leagues, equipment, the kids suffer repetitive stress injuries before maturity. And the rest of kids are left behind. </p> <p>I think schools should be focusing more on making sure ALL kids are active, healthy, learning teamwork and getting lots of outdoor time rather than having the best (insert sport here) program. //end rant </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104568 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 20:02:16 +0000 farawayyama 2104568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only have a girl, but if we have a boy probably not. My brother has a head injury so these things scare me. </p> <p>DH and I also debate cheerleading. There is some really interesting stuff about the lack of safety regulations in cheerleading because it isn't acknowledged as a sport. By a lot of measures, it is considered to be more dangerous than football. I say no - push her into dancing or gymnastics if she shows interest in cheerleading, but DH says we check out the safety regulations where she's cheering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104531 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:31:46 +0000 Dandelion 2104531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! If he is doing well in school and is interested, then he can play any sport he wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104519 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:19:06 +0000 Mrs. Coral 2104519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Yes, I have heard soccer is the "most dangerous" sport. Now, I'm not sure according to what standards, but I have witnessed my brother's team and some of my friends sustain some serious injuries from soccer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104513 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:15:07 +0000 MamaCate 2104513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely not. I even struggle with our support of college and pro football as fans given the information about long term injuries. I was a big athlete in high school and I had my share of physical injuries which I agree are part of sports. What scares me so much about football is the long term lasting effects on your ability to cognitively function, which can't necessarily be seen or predicted in the moment. I would also say no to hockey for that reason as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104505 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:08:13 +0000 Canoli 2104505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really really don't want them too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104504 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 19:06:37 +0000 gingerbebe 2104504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH played all the way through college and he does not want our son to play football because the way the game is played now is totally different from when he was a kid. He said when he was in high school they were taught how to avoid injury and play smart and now it's just about getting as huge as you can get and hitting as hard as you can. He thinks it's just reckless. His cousin who played in high school recently was doing dead lift competitions on the team as a freshman and they were pulling over 500 pounds and what not. DH believes that's just going to get these kids to damage their bodies before they mature - and that's before the contact injuries.</p> <p>We would much prefer our son to play hockey if he wanted a contact type sport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104116 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 14:23:17 +0000 MrsADS 2104116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tackle football? No way.</p> <p>We are big football fans, and DH played in high school, and although I think "most people" who played casually (i.e., not at college level) are fine, there is too much research now about brain injury, even for high school athletes. There was a college-aged man up north somewhere (I can't remember exactly), I think it was earlier this year, who killed himself, and he had the same chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they have seen in NFL players - and he only played high school.</p> <p>That being said, I really think that because of the research and the studies that are being done, the game is going to be drastically different by the time my child would be old enough to play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2104073 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:57:15 +0000 MapleMoose 2104073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a son but I'd let him play football if he wanted to. If my daughters want to play hockey they will, just like I did. I'm not against letting my kids try sports and activities. In fact I think it's important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103873 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:32:49 +0000 Smurfette 2103873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: ditto </p> <p>I would not limit him from playing anything. Every sport has a risk. Heck driving him to a chess match has risks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103872 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:32:38 +0000 sunny 2103872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have a son, but I'm hoping my kids avoid certain sports/activities and football is one of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103871 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:32:35 +0000 Madison43 2103871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the culture. Like, football around here is not the religion it is in other places, so no one I know experienced the pressure to downplay their injuries or play through concussions. It's just another kids sport. Assuming it stays that way, I'd probably be ok with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103860 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:29:16 +0000 HLK208 2103860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to add, even though football is a rough sport, DH always talks about the life long values that football taught him and how he felt a sense of brotherhood with his teammates (which was huge because he had a rough childhood). There are definitely benefits to playing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103839 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:18:36 +0000 meredithNYC 2103839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly haven't even thought about it given that we're not a super athletic family. I guess I would have to wait and see how the game has evolved/ what new safety measures are in place by the time he's old enough to play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103833 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:15:53 +0000 avivoca 2103833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they wanted to, I would let them. We're actually hoping that H gets into wrestling, biking, MMA, or running. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103827 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:09:48 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2103827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is an interesting topic of conversation. Where we live, football is a way of life. It's very Friday Night Life here! </p> <p>My brother played soccer his entire life, and got a severe injury in college that ended his professional career. With that said, I'm not sure if the danger of a sport would deter us from allowing our child to play - there are potential dangers in all sports! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103737 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 11:13:26 +0000 sarac 2103737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I had a child who wanted to, I'd educate them really seriously about the research coming out about the long term impacts of football trauma, and try to talk them out of it. If they were very serious about it, I'd let them try it. If they wanted to do it as a younger child, I'd make sure the program took the risks of hits VERY seriously. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103643 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:18:34 +0000 littlebug 2103643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in the wait-and-see camp. If the attitudes towards head injuries changes, and protection gets better, I will consider it. If the status quo remains, I would seriously try to steer him in another direction. I don't think I'd ever outright forbid it, though, unless the program where we live has a terrible track record (and it does not). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103634 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 10:08:53 +0000 Tidybee 2103634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If any future son really wants to, we'll entertain the thought, but both DH and I would prefer to steer him in another direction. We love football too, but there is a lot of research out there about the number of cases of brain injury and dementia that worries me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103573 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:27:53 +0000 mrbee 2103573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I played high school football and loved it. I did get some concussions though, and kept playing (didn't know better). Hope that the culture changes - and the equipment too - so that kids can play contact sports safely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103527 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:07:07 +0000 LuLu Mom 2103527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we have a boy, he can play whatever he wants. My uncle was a professional football player, he's had his hip replaced at 50 and both knees replaced as well. He said he wouldn't change it for anything, those are his best memories out on the field, part of a team. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103520 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 09:04:39 +0000 jedeve 2103520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: female soccer players have the most concussions of any athletes, behind football players. And there is some evidence that even without concussions, the repeated force of heading the ball can cause brain damage. </p> <p>I'm sure we will sign them up for youth soccer, but it's definitely something I'm going to keep my eye on! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103503 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:53:48 +0000 .twist. 2103503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably let him. You can get really severe injuries from almost all contact sports (and even noncontact sports!). </p> <p>It would be stupid for me to ask him to take up soccer over football because I don't want him to get injured? The injuries *might* be different, but they can all be very severe. I will be happy that he's into physically activity and just hope that he is well protected and careful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103489 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:45:33 +0000 mediagirl 2103489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we had a boy, we would strongly discourage it. My parents discouraged it in my brother and he never played. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103477 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:37:23 +0000 jape14 2103477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way. DH is a huge football fan but he agrees that he doesn't want our DS playing. The studies coming out on the lasting impacts of concussions are too scary for us to feel comfortable with it. Of course there are other ways you can get concussions, but the risk of concussion in football is far, far higher than in most other sports (for example, basketball, which DH, his brothers, and I all played through high school). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-let-your-son-play-football/page/2#post-2103473 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 08:34:54 +0000 MrsKoala 2103473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I'm generally a fan of letting kids pursue their interests but not to the extent that they could be hurt in the long term because of it so no football for us. </p>