NATERNET

Ain’t That A Kick In the Head?

This past week, I’ve had terrible neck and shoulder pain, pretty much nonstop. It’s the same kind of pain that you get when you pinch a nerve. I’ve been getting it from time to time for years. Usually, I’ll sleep in an odd way and wake up the next morning with a crick in my neck. It’ll hang around for a day or two and be gone. 

But recently, it’s been hanging around longer and happening more often. 

It stems from my years playing football in high school, when I would gleefully hit opposing players in any way that I could. Form tackling was nice, but if all I could do was hit them with my helmet, I’d go that route, too. 

So now, 12 years on, I have recurring chronic pain. Recurring chronic pain that could have easily been avoided, if only I had coaches who were looking out for my best interests, instead of their own and if only I had known better, myself.

I played with stingers in my neck, partially torn ligaments in my knee and at least one concussion, if not more. I was a fiery, competitive kid who hated to lose and would do just about anything to help his team win. Most of us on the team were. We weren’t the best football players, but we left everything out there on the field every single fall Friday night, just like millions of teenagers before us and millions after us have done. 

In the years since I last strapped on a helmet, I have looked on with concern every time I see a player lead with their head and every time team doctors sprint out onto the field while a player lays motionless on the turf. At a much, much, much lower level, I’ve been there. I delivered my share of blows and I’ve laid on the turf, confused about where I am, head foggy while my body is willing. It was exhilarating at the time, but it’s not anymore.

Every year, some new study is released about the increase in concussions in football. The helmets aren’t good enough, players are leading with their heads too much, fundamentals aren’t being followed, no one is ever sure exactly who to blame. 

This morning, I ran across an article from the LA Times that details an alarming rise in concussions among 8-13 year olds. The study that they quote found that 40% of reported concussion injuries were incurred by that age group. That is not good. 

I hesitate to step back into my old-man shoes, but when I was a kid, we weren’t allowed to play tackle football until age 13. In fact, my elementary school didn’t even have footballs among the gym equipment. Now, I get sent pictures by my brother and sister-in-law of my 9 year old nephew decked out in his uni and pads for his first year of tackle football. I worry.

I have at least one game that I don’t remember. I recall going out to midfield for the coin toss and the first few series, but after one running play where both guards came unchallenged up the middle and cracked down on little old me in my MLB spot. From what I’ve been told, I played out of my mind for the entire game, racking up double-digit tackles and a forced fumble, but I don’t remember a minute of it. The next day, I woke up with a raging headache and a bruise across my forehead. I was in a cloud the whole weekend.

So, what should we do about concussions among youth athletes? I have no idea. I like that the NFL has instituted stricter rules regarding the handling of players who suffer concussions during games. Perhaps that needs to seep down through all levels of football. Protecting still-developing brains is important. Something needs to be done, because football is not going to go away as a sport and it isn’t going to get any less violent, as players are getting stronger, faster and more explosive every year.