O/T What would you do?

[CAMiller]

This story is big news where I live as it's only 10 miles from me. A high school 'football' team that is too good (and too big) for their opponents who are now refusing to play them. To be honest, if I was the coach of the team I'd be less worried about having competitive games and more worried why I have 18 year old athletes who weigh over 23st (although that is likely a quality that will get them college scholarships and eventually NFL jobs). Would you let your son play against them?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/37573514

PS As mentioned, high school 'football' is big over here. Not so big in WA as in TX but our local school has a stadium that holds 6,000 and it's full for every game on Friday nights. When I played 'soccer' at MGS we were happy to see one man and his dog watching!

[Lasterman]

It's almost a combat sport isn't it, and you wouldn't put competitors of vastly uneven weights against each other in other combat sports. And certainly not kids. So I can fully understand teams pulling out. The potential for serious injury is massive.

[millmoormagic]

It would certainly taste sweeter if your team beat them, wouldn't it? As in all sports though, there's always a team which has the biggest, or the fastest, or the most skillful, i'd allow my kids to play to be honest, i get the fear of injury, but you (or they) could get injured at any time, against smaller opponents, anyway.

[great_fire]

I'd be drug-testing them for sure.

Incidentally Wath RUFC had four players hospitalised during their game at Ripon on Saturday (broken wrist, broken ribs, torn leg ligaments, broken knee & ankle).

[monty_rhodes]

It would certainly taste sweeter if your team beat them, wouldn't it? As in all sports though, there's always a team which has the biggest, or the fastest, or the most skillful, i'd allow my kids to play to be honest, i get the fear of injury, but you (or they) could get injured at any time, against smaller opponents, anyway.

American football is dangerous for evenly matched experienced adults. Anyone who lets their 9 stone son face a 23 stone 6'5" behemoth needs their head examining.

[millmoormagic]

American football is dangerous for evenly matched experienced adults. Anyone who lets their 9 stone son face a 23 stone 6'5" behemoth needs their head examining.

The attitude that makes modern Britain what it is today, i'm afraid to say, full of neo-liberal idiots who wrap everything that's related to them in cotton wool, "don't climb that tree Barnaby, you might get a scratch"

[CAMiller]

American football is dangerous for evenly matched experienced adults. Anyone who lets their 9 stone son face a 23 stone 6'5" behemoth needs their head examining.

Despite MMM's tongue in cheek reply that's absolutely true Monty. At grass roots level, American football has a real problem as parents are starting to direct their sons away from the game in the light of the number of deaths and life changing injuries at high school level and the ongoing concussion related problems/deaths at the professional level. Unfortunately, the financial rewards available through full scholarships to colleges and the NFL pot of gold it will always be an attraction. There are not many other careers that offer 300lb kids with some athletic ability but limited academic ability the chance of a million dollar career, albeit limited in it's tenure.

[monty_rhodes]

Despite MMM's tongue in cheek reply that's absolutely true Monty. At grass roots level, American football has a real problem as parents are starting to direct their sons away from the game in the light of the number of deaths and life changing injuries at high school level and the ongoing concussion related problems/deaths at the professional level. Unfortunately, the financial rewards available through full scholarships to colleges and the NFL pot of gold it will always be an attraction. There are not many other careers that offer 300lb kids with some athletic ability but limited academic ability the chance of a million dollar career, albeit limited in it's tenure.

Sorry, Cam, but I'm still perplexed as to how mmm knew my son's name was Barnaby. If you've been sharing intelligence I shall be very disappointed.

[millmoormagic]

[Grist_To_The_Mill]

Don't tell him your surname is Rubble