Not Safe for Children? Football’s Leaders Make Drastic Changes to Youth Game
With the science available now, we find it surprising anyone would be promoting youth tackle football in any format.” Developing modified tackle, he added, is a way for USA Football “to suggest
that boys of this age are not able to play the game as it was designed.” The solution, he said, is for boys to play flag football through junior high school.
“There are, legitimately, concerns among parents about allowing their kids to play tackle football at a young age,” Mr. Murphy continued, “so they can look at this and say they’ll be more comfortable
that it is a safer alternative.” Worries about the future of youth football are mounting as evidence of long-term cognitive dangers of playing the game grows.
31, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. — USA Football, the national governing body for amateur football, intends to introduce a drastically altered youth football game in response to declining participation
and increasing public belief that the game is not safe for children to play.
Mark Murphy said that The issue is participation has dropped,
and there’s concern among parents about when is the right age to start playing tackle, if at all,
“All of this is all about how do we do a better job,
and a smarter job around the development of athletes and coaches in the game of football.” USA Football has for years promoted a program called Heads Up Football to youth and high school coaches to combat safety concerns and declining participation.
Paul Macklin II said that The games are getting a lot faster and kids are getting bigger, so they need to modify the game so parents feel it’s safe,
He said that youth football was at a “critical crossroads” and
that the football community, which faces “adversity,” must work together to create a safer game with more alternatives for children and their parents.

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