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Baseball can result in some pretty serious injuries!!

I don't plan to encourage the kids to play contact sports before high school.

I think football is way too violent. so definitely no football. But hockey and rugby I will let them decide for themselves

@Mrsbells: Funny-- I think hockey is way too violent! I was going to add that, but I figure by the time it gets really violent they are also old enough to make their own decisions.

DH plays hockey and shoots photos for minor league teams (we were married at center ice during a game). I can't imagine DS not having hockey in his life. But it's up to him.

Football is huge here in the south, so most boys play at some point. We'll let him join whatever he would like, but we won't encourage any one sport. We just want him to play something. If he prefers football, so be it. My husband played from 4th grade through high school and loved it.

That said, my brother in law raced motocross and that was terrifying. I saw kids get all their teeth knocked out and multiple air-liftings over the years of watching him. I know my MIL was so glad when he stopped after high school.

I will allow our children to play whatever sport they want, I'm not going to keep them out of fear of injury. I was a gymnastic and sprained ankles and fell off the bars/beam more times than I can count, but only ever got a concussion on the school bus...so there is really no way of preventing a child from getting hurt.

Definitely not football, and I'd prefer not hockey.

@mediagirl: Haha too funny, I was a right wing too!

DH played football in MS and HS and I imagine he would be happy if DS were to be so inclined, since it was a major part of his identity and life. But I'll admit I have concerns, and even today, if DH does something "airheady" (for lack of a better word) we always talk about all how it must be due to football. Hm, maybe I will encourage volleyball instead, haha.

@Foodnerd81: ouch!
my friend alwas got bruises on her legs from playing field hockey too, but she still loved it.

Recently DH and I watched a special on ESPN that was discussing the dangers of football and injuries to children in high school. They interviewed 2 students that were paralyzed and the hardships they're going through because most schools lack the proper kind of insurance to care for these kind of injuries. It scared the bejesus out of me and I told him I didn't want to risk our LO getting paralyze from a football injury. Then I thought about all sports and I want to put LO in a bubble. OMG, I'm going to be one of those crazy moms that run out in the field when my LO gets hurt. =X

It depends on how they do the safety etc. I won't let him participate in anything that seems it is being taught unsafely. For example, he doesn't do gymnastics in town because I haven't seen a good safety record from them. Same for the football program in town. I've heard good things about the wrestling program. I spent a lot of my life teaching fitness programs (gymnastics, crossfit, swimming) for kids.

DH's mom refused to let him play contact sports and he still is upset about it. I will let LO play whatever sport they want.

I will "encourage" our son to play baseball, soccer, basketball, so that hopefully he doesn't choose to play football or hockey. Plus, my husband pointed out that the MLB pays more than the NFL and NHL.

@mrbee: wouldn't a child/person unfamiliar with contact sports game play and training run the risk of more injuries playing against kids who have played there whole lives?

My brother has had to repair two torn ACLs (knees) because of basketball.

@littlek: same here.

My DH is 6'3" and 320lbs of mostly muscle and was not allowed to play contact sports. I have no problem with our kids safely playing contact sports if they want. Plus, we love football!! Haha

I'm undecided about football. The idea of injuries does scare me, but my mil didn't allow my DH to play football for that reason and he has always wished he could have.

We'll be encouraging team sports -- I think they're very important -- and if LO wants to do a contact sport, that's up to them.

No to football not sure about hockey... its nor big around here so I doubt he would even know its an option to play hockey.... I am very weary of head injuries as its a personal issue I have for very good reasons.