Sports are a major part of the American lifestyle. They have evolved to become a major part of my life as well. To me, sports have become jobs for some while also providing entertainment for fans. My goal is to be one of those people who works in the sports world and wants to watch the competition as well. Playing sports is not all about championships and salaries, there are some consequences that go along with it. When playing any sport there`s always the fear of injury. A sport like football has its athletes more susceptible to hurting themselves. Common injuries are pulled ligaments, broken bones, and possible head trauma. Playing sports myself and having many family members who have played football I have seen the effects constant hits to the head can have on someone. My family members have complained of headaches, ringing in their ears and other signs of repeated concussions. Seeing the problems they now have to deal with I am concerned for other friends and family who want to play the sport. I am worried for their immediate health as well as in the future. I am someone who enjoys watching my younger cousins play football and even seeing NFL games on tv, but am hesitant because those athletes are putting their bodies and minds on the line for other people`s entertainment. Because football is a very big part of our culture the debate over allowing kids to play football is constantly questioned.

One article I read gave me even more insight into the effects of playing football. The article, "Football Head Impacts Can Cause Brain Changes Even Without Concussion, by Melissa Locker, helps to give an overview of what happens to the brain after head to head contact in football. The author explains how even when a person shows no signs of a concussion, usually an obvious sign of head injury, there is still possible damage being done to the brain. Because the signs may not be seen on a person, doctors are educating kids and their families on what could really be going on even if it`s not seen at first. The doctors in the article are very adamant about keeping kids away from high impact contact sports while their brains are still developing. Their main goal is to inform people about the effects of football and if they still do wish to participate, the precautions on how to stay safe. Because of the statistical evidence and reasoning given in the article the doctors show great credibility. The doctors and specialists have done the research to understand what is happening to the brain. Because the doctors have seen what comes of helmet to helmet contact, they have taken more of a cautious side and do not want youth players participating while their brains are still under developed and not taught what the effects are.

Another article, "Don`t Let Kids Play Football" by, Bennet Omalu, takes a strong stance about keeping our kids out of football. A study done by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center showed kids who had more hits to the head were causing more changes to their brains than those who did not get as many. The researchers supplied the data to different families and teams to influence kids from not playing. Even though the researchers are very biased towards one side they have specific evidence that support their claim. They have data to show how hits to the head can hurt one`s brain and cause irreversible damage. Even though the data shows how bad football injuries can be, the doctors suspect it will be hard to deter people from a sport that is one of America`s favorite past times. Teaching people is an important part of what the doctors want to do even if people do not agree that there is a reason for change. Data can help support one side but can still not be strong enough to change a long lasting tradition.

The last article I used for research was, "Chris Borland Leaves NFL: The Science of Football and Brain Injury" by, Rachael Rettner. The article explains diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE. A recent study showed that scans of 60 deceased football players` brains showed symptoms of CTE. This disease has become a prominent cause of death for former players. The researchers also explain that Alzheimer`s disease and ALS are more common in NFL players than the normal population. Even with the protection of a helmet, a person`s brain can be hurt because of the high amount of force that comes with the impact from another person. After examining the results from different tests the doctors are informing the public about their research. They believe that the more people know about the injuries from repeated hits to the head the more informed they can be to make a decision on whether to participate in such a sport. As more updated and advanced research is done the information found about certain diseases and injuries is presented to athletes to help inform them. This study does not take one side of the argument. The author presents the facts to educate people, not convincing them to not play football. The decision to play football is made by an athlete and their family; making sure they have all the information to help them decide is a big thing.

Deciding whether it`s safe for our kids to play football is a hard topic to talk about. It`s an arguable question because football fans have a firm stance. They do not want something they love and enjoy being taken away from them and kids who want to experience it. My research shows a lot of similarities between their ideas. Most of them have done their own research and tests to find out how bad football head injuries can really be. One article was very one sided saying we should not allow our kids to play football. While the others report their data without saying what you should do. They supply the information that will hopefully help lead people towards making their decision. After doing a lot of reading about the diseases that can come out of football I think more about if it really is that important to put your brain through so much trauma to be entertained. My research question may have to be changed to focus on a specific age group. My stance will still stay the same but be more focused. As I do more research I plan on focusing on making my research question more specific. Football has grown to become a major part of American society. Trying to compromise over rules to keep our kids safe will be hard because of the commitment the fans have towards the game. I am one of the millions of people who sit at my television and on the sideline to watch the football games. It`s a struggle for me to decide between something I really enjoy and the safety of the players I cheer for.

Final Write Up

As I did research for my project I learned more about the impact football has on the lives of the players, than I ever thought I could. I believed the football, although entertaining to watch, was too dangerous for young children to play. I have come to change my opinion after the research. Now, I believe children should be allowed to play football as long as there are new techniques for tackling taught, safer equipment created, and/or different options to play the sport. The research that influenced me most was the interviews with past players and parents of athletes who explain that even with the fear of their kids getting injured, the children can learn so much from the sport. I feel qualified to argue about the issue because I feel that I researched many different parts of the topic to get a full idea about it.
