Are Youth Football Groups Doing Enough to Protect Kids From Injury? – InsideSources

Interesting piece from Thayne Munce about youth football.

http://www.insidesources.com/youth-football-groups-enough-protect-kids-injury/ 

He asserts that youth football is doing enough when it comes to safety.  He cites the NFL’s Heads Up program as evidence. 

I think he’s 1/3 right.  When it comes to making football safer; there arre three areas of focus:

1. Training of players & coaches in safe technique
2. Enforcement of rules against dangerous or unsafe technique
3. Better, safer equipment

The Heads Up program addresses the first by emphasizing good tackling technique.  However, I think a critical evaluation of how youth football is doing with the other two is still in order.  At all levels, rules against ‘targeting, leading with the head, and hitting a defenseless player are being put in place.  These rules need to be strictly enforced such that the penalties – and proper coaching – change the way players play instinctively.  Finally, improvements in helmet technology and other padding can help. 

I appreciate Munce’s opinion about youth football.  A decent start; but more needs to be done.