# Football Concussions, the next Big Thing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 19, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696 "2012-07-19T08:46:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/141 "2023-09-15T00:10:41Z")

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> **[Serious Brain Trauma Starts Well Before Young Athletes Go Pro](https://www.wired.com/story/serious-brain-trauma-starts-well-before-young-athletes-go-pro/)**
>
> Brain injury from contact sports doesn't just affect professional athletes. A new study of amateur athletes who died before turning 30 reveals that many already showed signs of neurodegeneration.

Here is the study:

> **[Neuropathologic and Clinical Findings in Young Athletes With Repetitive Head...](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2808952)**
>
> This cases series describes the neuropathologic and clinical features of young contact sport athletes who were younger than 30 years at the time of death.

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**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/142 "2023-09-15T14:20:13Z")

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It’s crystal clear at this point that tackle football before the age of 14 should be banned.

At least around here heading in soccer is also banned until at least 12 (and I would recommend that age be raised).

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**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/143 "2023-09-15T20:48:01Z")

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There are increasing doubts about heading the ball in professional soccer here, and we may see restrictions on it in years to come.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/144 "2023-09-15T21:38:04Z")

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Unfortunately heading a wet leather soccer ball at age 13 was already my 5th serious concussion.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/145 "2023-09-15T22:00:14Z")

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I think the rules of tackle football should be dramatically overhauled to reduce the head trauma, personally. That or banned.

I’m not gonna get my wish, but it would save a lot of damage to players.

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**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-concussions-the-next-big-thing/628696/146 "2023-09-16T03:37:38Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> I think the rules of tackle football should be dramatically overhauled to reduce the head trauma, personally. That or banned.

I think you’ll see fewer and fewer parents allowing their children to play football as we continue to learn more about these injuries. I played football in middle and high school and I enjoyed it quite a bit, but if I were a parent I’m not sure I’d want my kid playing.

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