There are lots of kids who like to play football. Some of them see their favorite players on TV from a local team and want to be like them. Many might dream of being a Superbowl-winning quarterback like Patrick Maholmes or a fleet-footed receiver like Jamar Chase.
However, some parents don’t know if they should let their kids play football. They know about the potential dangers that come with this game. It’s very physical, and even if you try to legislate out the most dangerous hits, professional players often sustain concussions, broken bones, and other injuries.
Even kids who play peewee football or who have pickup games in the park can injure themselves. A hard hit on the playground can lead to a young person sustaining a serious injury. At that point, the parents may need to hire a personal injury lawyer to see if they can sue someone who they deem responsible.
Should you let your child play football? It’s a complex question, so let’s take a moment to discuss it right now.
Team Sports Let Your Child Make Friends
First, let’s look at some possible pros when you’re considering whether you should let your child play football. If you find that you child wants to play, and that they have a talent for playing one of the positions, then they can try out for a team associated with their school.
If they make the team, then they will have teammates, and they will probably become friends. It’s important for a child to have friends. If they’re antisocial, then they may have to play by themselves. It’s not good for a child to not have companions when they’re growing up.
Football usually makes kids popular. Since other students normally hold athletes in high regard, you may want your child to play for that reason.
Many Kids Lead a Sedentary Lifestyle
It’s also true that many kids lead a far too sedentary lifestyle these days. Childhood obesity rates continue climbing, especially in certain parts of the country.
Many kids come home from school, go up to their rooms, and spend hours on social media or playing video games. They may eat a largely unhealthy diet as well. It’s often a constant battle for parents as they try to get their kids to eat healthier and to play outside.
If your child shows that they want to play a sport, then you might want to encourage that, even if it’s football. Yes, some risks come with the game, but if your kid wants to go outside, run around, and get some fresh air and sunshine, then you may want to encourage that. Your child’s doctor might feel the same way.
They Will Seem More Attractive to Potential Romantic Interests
Maybe your child also wants to start dating at some point, especially if they’re in middle school or high school. You probably understand that will start happening eventually, and you should probably encourage it.
If they’re antisocial, play a lot of video games, and seldom go outside after school, that’s not usually a combination that encourages a potential crush to take an interest in them. However, if your child plays a sport, that can make them seem attractive to possible romantic interests.
Kids gravitate toward athletes. It’s true when they become adults as well. If your child plays football, and if they’re good at it, they may find that they have better luck with getting other kids to date them if they ask them out.
They Have a Chance to Go on to Make Serious Money
If you let your child play football, then there’s always the chance that they’re a prodigy. If they show that they have serious talent, then that could lead to great things for them.
They might play football in middle school and on into high school. They might get athletic scholarship offers from various prestigious colleges.
These days, college football players can make money. They also get a chance for an NFL team to draft them if they turn out to be the best of the best.
At that level, they can make millions of dollars. It’s statistically unlikely, since there’s so much competition, but it’s something you may decide to encourage.
They Can Sustain Serious Injuries
Now, let’s talk about the cons. With football, one immediately emerges, and it’s very obvious. If you let your child play, then the game might hurt them.
At the NFL level and all the way down to peewee football, the coaches try not to let their players hurt themselves. They wear pads and helmets, and their coaches also try to show them the best techniques to avoid injury.
As we mentioned earlier, though, football comes with an inherent danger element. It’s a violent sport. Bodies smash into each other, often at high rates of speed. When you play football in high school, that’s even more the case. The players get larger and heavier.
A single play can cripple your child if they land wrong or if another player falls on them in a certain way. There’s no guarantee that this will happen, but it’s always possible.
Their Grades Might Suffer
If you let your child play football on a school team, there’s also the chance that their grades will start to slip. It’s not the easiest thing sometimes to balance learning the playbook in football and spending time at practice while you’re also trying to study for your classes. Some young people prove that they can do it, but others don’t have the capacity to do both.
You will need to think about football’s pros and cons if your child says that they want to start playing. If you feel that the pros outweigh the cons, then you may give them your blessing.
They might at least try it. If you see their grades slipping or they sustain a serious injury, you can always insist that they stop.
