Renewed Debate Over Football Safety After Two Youth Deaths

HEWITT, W.Va. – Ryan Craddock, a seasoned coal miner and firefighter, has faced many heart-wrenching moments throughout his career. However, nothing could have prepared him for the devastating loss of his 13-year-old son, Cohen. The young athlete died from brain trauma last month after a tackle during football practice at his middle school. On the same day, a similar tragedy occurred in Alabama, where a 16-year-old high school player also succumbed to a brain injury. These incidents have reignited the ongoing debate about the safety of youth football and whether its benefits outweigh the risks.

Craddock, a supporter of football, believes that while the sport should not be abolished, more stringent safety measures are necessary. “I don’t think we need to do away with football,” Craddock shared. “But I do think we need to put more safety measures in place to protect our kids.”

The deaths of these young players have led to calls for concrete actions to prevent future tragedies. Despite various state proposals aimed at banning tackle football for younger children during crucial brain development periods, such initiatives have struggled to gain traction. Additionally, participation in youth tackle football has been declining, with a growing movement steering boys towards flag football instead.

According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2023 saw three football-related deaths due to head injuries and 10 deaths from other causes, such as heat stroke. Dr. Robert Cantu, the center’s medical director, noted that this number aligns with the average over the years. “While two deaths in a week are not typical, it’s not an ongoing trend to be alarmed about,” Cantu commented. He emphasized that “no hits to the head are good,” advocating for non-collision methods in practices, such as using tackling dummies, and recommended flag football for children under 14.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation, co-founded by Cantu, supports this approach and promotes the “Flag Football under 14” initiative, citing that even NFL legends like Tom Brady and Jerry Rice didn’t start playing tackle football until high school. Dr. Chris Nowinski, the foundation’s CEO and a former WWE wrestler, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that age 12 could be a starting point for tackling safety discussions. “Any minimum age requirement that considers children’s brain health would be welcome,” Nowinski added.

Although the NFL has implemented measures to reduce concussions, including limited full-contact practices and new kickoff rules, such changes have not been widely adopted in middle and high school football. Efforts to introduce stricter regulations, such as banning tackling in youth football, have faced significant resistance. For instance, a New York lawmaker’s decade-long campaign for such a ban was unsuccessful, and California Governor Gavin Newsom recently indicated he would not support similar legislation.

Despite these challenges, progress has been made in some areas. All 50 states now have concussion laws requiring athletes to leave the field if a concussion is suspected and to be cleared by a medical professional before returning. Increased awareness and education have likely contributed to a rise in reported concussions, according to Christy Collins, president of the Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention.

Loren Montgomery, a celebrated football coach at Bixby High School in Oklahoma, believes the sport is “safer than ever.” He points to advancements such as penalizing helmet-to-helmet contact, protective technology like Guardian caps, and cognitive tests for concussion assessments. “There’s inherent risk in all contact sports,” Montgomery said, “but the values of teamwork, hard work, and overcoming adversity far outweigh the risks.”

Despite the challenges and costs associated with these protective measures, Ryan Craddock is determined to explore options like Guardian caps in memory of his son, Cohen. Just days before Cohen’s funeral, Craddock found the strength to address his son’s teammates, encouraging them to play in Cohen’s honor. “I told them this was a bad accident, but they should move forward,” Craddock said. “I wanted them to play ‘Cohen strong.’”

As the debate over football safety continues, the memory of young athletes like Cohen serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of protecting the next generation.

This story was originally reported by the Associated Press and has been adapted by the Midtown Times Staff Writers. Photo Credits: unsplash.com