“Put your hat on the ball” is an old school tackling technique taught by football coaches and parents. It encourages kids to 1) get lower than the player they are tackling (good thing) and 2) try and force a fumble. The problem with this is that they don’t teach the kids to tackle with their head up at the same time, causing kids to collide with the crown of their head, causing injuries on both the tackler and tacklee. Most neck injuries are caused by compression type injuries, which are avoided by tackling with the head up, and the face mask making first contact.
Short answer is that sports’ benefits greatly outweigh any fear or risks that might be present. Parents should watch a few practices and get to know the coach, that is the smartest way to know what kind of care your children are in. Don’t treat sports like a babysitter and then profess shock that gasp injuries may occur during this free day care. Its a big part of growing up and developing an identity as a child and young adult.
Actually “nose on the numbers” is a very safe way to play the game, it encourages the player to look at what he’s tackling and in the process cause him to arch his back and neck into the strongest alignment. The neck is built to handle this type of impact and the strain is placed on the muscles in the area and not the bones or cartilage. A smarter way to tackle is with the face in the armpit, it is safe and allows the player to wrap up and make a fundamentally sound tackle, as well as jar the ball loose if the runner is carrying it on the wrong side.
Anyone who has played can tell you that “nose on the numbers” is a dumb way to use the helmet as a weapon since every player has a very thick, very sturdy pad covering his chest. The ball carrier won’t feel much besides his feet getting lifted off the ground, and his back hitting the turf.
As someone who played high school sports in an area where football is a religion (central Texas), I can say that I regret it more and more each day. Here are my list of ailments and what caused them. And I quit at the end of my Sophomore year:
-An Ankle that grinds whenever I rotate it. Caused by ill fitting shoes- the good shoes went to the varsity team.
-Bad shoulder- Caused by angle tackle drills. One unlucky shot. Does not hurt most of the time. That one healed right because I walked off the field instead of continuing playing like the coach wanted me to.
-Bad Left Knee. Pops so loud sometimes it will wake people up. Hurts when it rains. Caused by an overzealous coach that had the Junior Varsity stand still and be tackling dummies for the Varsity to practice hitting at the knees.
-Bad Right Knee. Worse than the left. Had to have surgery on this one 2 years after I quit playing. Same cause.
-Tore up wrists. Both of them. From stiff arming.
All this and I am just 26 years old.
On the good side… we had a winning season for the J.V. that year. We were TOUGH.
What to learn from this? If your child wants to Play football, Make sure the coach’s name is not Steve Wright who has coached in both Ingram and Wall, Texas. He will tear your kids up for a winning season. Make ABSOLUTELY SURE about the coaches for the teams.
I never referred to sports as a free babysitter… never even ever thought it that way. My husband coaches some sports, and we are both there for all the practices and games, even if we are not coaching.