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Maybe Massachusetts will outlaw being male.

As long as everyone gets a trophy and the squad is gender fluid, how can it be a problem?

Last year I went to an 8th grader's "graduation".

In the past there was no school ceremony. You went home and that was it. Maybe dad threw a cookout for you and your friends.

Now it is a school ceremony with "diplomas" and gowns. Then a 90 minute "awards" ceremony. Every nuance of school life lauded, awards, recognized. Ninety minutes. For a class of about 30 kids.

Maybe the Massachusetts legislators could help pick up the kids from soccer practice, since they obviously want to take a role in child rearing.

Can we pass a law that prevents idiots from making decisions or creating legislation?

New Jersey was already ahead of Mass here. I think they basically banned tackling during football practices by allowing only 15 mins a week or some ridiculous nonsense. So the kids essentially have to learn how to properly tackle during actual games. This will surely lead to more injuries. Idiots.

Maybe what legislators ought really be thinking about, or perhaps the CPSC, is doing-away with all that armour throwing eggball players wear.

I haven't made a study of this, but, from what I've read: While rugby players suffer more injuries, they suffer way fewer serious injuries. Particularly head and neck injuries. They wear a fraction of the gear.

Don't agree with making it legislation, but it's good to have flag football leagues. The best example I can think of is future hall of famer Drew Brees:

He didn't play a down of tackle football before highschool. Instead, he played flag football.

He helped start a flag football league, FNA, in Louisiana that has spread other parts of the country. Here is a story about it in San Diego.

Safety is one of the reasons for pushing flag football:

Football has lower and lower participation rates every year and getting kids to love the game through flag football is a good thing. Parents are pushing their kids into other sports such as soccer.

Several studies on the effects of concussions in preteens and their impacts.

Frankly, I approve. I'm not sure it should be promoted even in high school. We are now seeing proof of serious brain injury in adults playing American football, and children have not yet had their full skeletal and muscular development that could act to mitigate such injuries.

Grade school children were not playing football when I attended school back in the 1940s. It was done in high school in the 1950s. I don't see a need for that situation to change.

flashguy

Just do away with pro football. then they won't have a big incentive to hurt themselves trying to make it to the pros. they will actually have to get an education and a real job.

The biggest issue I have with school football is all the cash that goes to support it.

Stadiums, coaching fees, and the like, at the High School level. I'm not sure what the expenses are for Jr. High.

When I complained locally about this, the response I got from the district was that if they didn't offer football, these kids would do drugs instead. So, there's my answer I guess.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
Last year I went to an 8th grader's "graduation".

In the past there was no school ceremony. You went home and that was it. Maybe dad threw a cookout for you and your friends.

Now it is a school ceremony with "diplomas" and gowns. Then a 90 minute "awards" ceremony. Every nuance of school life lauded, awards, recognized. Ninety minutes. For a class of about 30 kids.

I remember we had one in 9th grade. My mom was pissed when she found out because I didn't say anything. It wasn't a big deal but it was for her. I still don't get it.

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
Can we pass a law that prevents idiots from making decisions or creating legislation?

How about a law that requires potential candidates to take a reasoning, thinking, constitution literacy test, just for starters?

Especially in political considerations and teachers of all stripes?

quote:

Originally posted by rscalzo:
Just do away with pro football.

Just do away with public funds going to pro football. Ask St Louis how pro football worked out for them. How's that $900 Million stadium working out? Last heard the taxpayers were on the hook until at least 2025.

Good. End the sport and the ridiculous amount of life altering injuries it causes.

I have to say football injuries are not if but when and how bad. My parents flat-out refused to let any of their 3 boys play. And this was the 70s and early 80s. I played soccer and gravitated to non traditional physical hobbies like medieval recreational fighting (which I did for 25+ years).

My son played high level baseball through HS and on a wood bat mens league. As a catcher, I did worry sometimes

quote:

Originally posted by caneau:
Good. End the sport and the ridiculous amount of life altering injuries it causes.

I would certainly have a hard time encouraging a kid to get involved. 40 years on I still know where my football injuries are. I didn’t have enough fun to justify 40 year old shoulder pain.

While I agree it shouldn't be legalisation I also feel parents should really place their kids' safety first and steer them (the kids) toward flag football. Issues really arise when 13 year old Johnny, who might weigh 100lbs soaking wet, is hit by 13 year old Timmy who's been shaving the last two years and weighs a solid 180. Toss in the fact parents and coaches are aggressively cheering on little Timmy to do it again and then set his eyes on Gregory, you have a recipe for disaster.

Flag football kind of evens the playing field with regards to a size advantage and places the emphasis on skill, speed, and agility for the specific position.

Foozball is da debil!

The "football" of today is a far cry from what I grew up watching:
Guys merely handed the ball to the ref after they scored...they didn't arrange themselves like a set of bowling pins while another teammate bowled the ball into them.

Guys tackled, and tackled well... not the running full bore and launching a shoulder into the guy with the ball kind of tackling.

A receiver was mad at himself for missing a catch, instead of bitching and moaning while flailing about and play-acting in hopes of getting a pass interference call.


In short, I don't care for what football has become, but the government should stay the heck out and let kids be kids. Learning something about being a member of a team is still a beneficial thing to know.

Do any good players even come from up north?