Discussing
A Christian call to force the NFL’s hand on concussions

Christians who are entertained by football should also be invested in the well-being of its players.

Surely the answer is to radically change playing styles. New helmet tech might simply encourage harder hits. Just as padding seems to encourage more reckless play than we might find in rugby, which is, in many ways an analogous sport.

What about a completely radical rethink, strip off the padding and helmets and rejig tackling and blocking to make them safe to the human body with no assistance at all. Back to basics: clever rather than tough, safe rather than shocking.

In Reply to Jonathan Downie (comment #27551)
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I think you're right, Jonathan, that changes in playing style may be required. Perhaps looking back to more traditional tackling styles: break-down, wrap the waist or thighs, push the ball carrier down, versus a huge explosive hit, leading with the helmet. I don't know if reducing equipment will inspire safer play; there's much debate about which sport is safer, rugby or football. I've seen recent stats that indicate rugby players suffer more incidents of catastrophic injury than football, albeit of different types (more spine injuries resulting in paralysis). Protective gear evolved with the game over decades in football, resulting from scores of deaths at all levels each year in the game's early history. Football was thought to be so dangerous that Pres. Theodore Roosevelt (who loved the game) threatened to ban it. The style of play was very smash-nose, straightforward, pushing and shoving, similar to the scrum in rugby, but without the finesse when the ball shuttles out and play opens up. In addition to deaths, players got terrible injuries. In fact, in 1906, the forward pass became part of the game in order to "open the game up" and reduce injuries. How ironic is that? Today, the most dangerous hits we see are those against "defenseless" players just receiving a pass. So, I think you're onto something about playing style, but I don't think stripping off the gear is going to help much.

I also think that the football fan plays an important role. We love the big hit. On the radio and in sports site comment columns, I hear fans making very irresponsible demands of players because they "get paid the big bucks." Fans need to regain an appreciation for finesse in football, the skillful tackle, versus the huge hit. Not sure that will happen. It could start with coaches teaching safer techniques and over time fans will gain a taste for finesse.

I coached h.s. football (freshman & j.v.) for 20 seasons and observed coaching styles of two varsity head coaches, both of whom were intensely concerned with athlete's welfare. I observed many opponents as well, many excellent, some deplorable. Besides having excellent protective gear, what is most important in this dialogue at the school level is how the game is played, how the blocking/tackling technique is taught. If taught properly, h.s football players will be more safe (not immune) from injury. However---the speed and intensity of the game increases 100-fold at the college level, and 100-fold from there into the pros. The huge hit is one danger, but the cumulative effect of head-knocking every play (esp. among linemen) is what is apparently taking the major toll on players. H.S. teams play 9 games in a season, more if in playoffs; college and pro teams play twice that and more---plus pre-season games, spring practices, etc. That much more head-knocking, with more intensity---and for pros, for often much longer than just a 4-year career. Along with discussions about equipment, technique & rules changes, and sideline/locker-room medical protocol, perhaps length of season could bear looking into.