Each fall, kids of all ages join league or school teams to play flag or tackle football. Whichever type of football a 人妻中出视频 plays, parents may worry about safety on the field.
Flag vs. Tackle?
Given concerns about concussions and head injuries, the number of young football players has dropped since 2008. But according to , an estimated 1,000,296 kids ages 6-12 years old played flag football, while another 677,872 played tackle football in 2021.
In fact, a 2015 article by the indicated there were tackle leagues for kids as young as age 5, which begs the question: How old should a 人妻中出视频 be before they begin playing tackle football?
Travis Nolan, MS, LAT, a clinical athletic trainer at 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频, says it is generally safe for 人妻中出视频ren as young as 5 or 6 years old to begin playing flag football. However, kids should not begin playing tackle football until middle school. This is consistent with legislation that has been introduced in a number of states.
But there has been considerable debate, along with a movement to delay playing tackle football until high school.
The Aspen Institute recently released 鈥攁bout the time a student begins high school, arguing that it allows 人妻中出视频ren to learn fundamental skills of football while enjoying the physical, emotional, and social benefits of sports participation.
鈥淭he most important thing is for students to start learning proper tackling techniques once they begin to play tackle football,鈥 Nolan says. 鈥淲hen we have poor tackling technique, if we're leading with our head down and tackling in that type of form, we're putting ourselves at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion, as well as sustaining a severe or serious cervical spine injury.鈥
It should be noted, however, that flag football results in the same types of less serious injuries as tackle football, including sprains, muscular injuries, bruises, and contusions.
Specialization Can Lead to Overuse Injuries
When your 人妻中出视频 demonstrates a love for playing a particular sport, it is easy to let them specialize in that sport at an early age. According to Nolan, specialization at an early age is not a good idea, no matter the sport.
鈥淭he main reason is overuse injuries,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t's probably one of the biggest things that we see in a clinic setting of 人妻中出视频ren specializing in a sport at an early age. One of the most common injuries that we see is an OCD or osteochondral defect caused by injury to cartilage around a growth plate. And that can be a pretty serious injury that could lead to lifelong complications if not handled properly.鈥
Also, if they specialize too early, kids don鈥檛 have the opportunity to use different muscle groups and learn different movement patterns that they would experience participating in a variety of sports or other physical activities like hiking, swimming, skating, or skiing.
Safety Tips
Whether they play flag or tackle football, parents can make sure kids are safe by following a few tips:
- Your 人妻中出视频 should not be playing more hours than their years in age. For example, a 7-year-old should not be practicing and playing football more than seven hours a week.
- Make sure your 人妻中出视频 learns the rules of the game. For example, in flag football, they should know that it is a non-contact sport and that tackling is not allowed.
- For younger 人妻中出视频ren, emphasize having fun instead of focusing on competition.
- Make sure coaches are trained in safety and first aid鈥攁nd that an automatic external defibrillator (AED) is available.
- Make certain your kids are wearing safety equipment properly and that the gear supplied by league or school is certified and in good condition.
- Check the football being used to make sure it is appropriate for your 人妻中出视频鈥檚 age.
- If your 人妻中出视频 is experiencing joint pain, have it checked by a physician. If there is a growth plate injury, you want to have it treated promptly, as these types of injuries can cause problems later on in life if not cared for properly.