I need help gentleman, my 17 year old son is a junior in hs. I raise my son on my own and he is my life. My son plays hs football, and he got his first concussion last year at age 16. Yesterday in practice he got his second concussion. The coach suspended him from practice for two weeks then will be re examined by a dr. My son wants to continue to play, but I'm ready to force him to quit. My bf says it's part of the game, and let him keep going. I worry about my sons health. I hear this is a common problem in football, but this is my sons heath I'm putting forward. His dad is not in his life, and this is going to be a choice I need to make. It will crush him if I take football away from him. I'm ready to take him out of football am I doing the right thing here??
Not a man, But I would question HOW he got the concussions. Are they practicing without proper safety gear? Did he go to the Dr? is there more permanent damage? Why are you going to take it away, How are you going to take it away, is his reaction going to be more dangerous to him in the long run? Lots of considerations to this kind of question...
I've had several concussions from dirt bike (motorcycle) crashes over the years and they are not fun. Years later I still suffer from memory loss and terrible headaches. Have you consulted a neurologist? That would be the first person to seek advice from.
I'm not at all surprised he wants to play. He isn't thinking long term. I would make him quit. He's too young to be getting his brain scrambled.
I think you do find a great medical professional and depend on their asssessment. There are a lot of degrees of concussions. You may not have to be the "bad mom" at all. If the doc says don't do it, you don't do it.
never played football, but i've had a few concussions, one that really scrambled my brains. as some of the other posters said, he's not seeing the big picture here. if he's had 2 at 16, he really needs to step away - it's not worth it - it's football - i am guessing the odds of him making a career in sports is about .01% - he's going to want to be able to use his brains for something else.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
I loved playing football with a passion. I had at least 2 concussions from football. One concussion from motocross, one from golden gloves boxing. I was checked out & tested and do not currently have problems but do worry about the longterm.
I had two concussions one in high school and one in college. I would do what most are suggesting is to take him to the doctor to get checked out and make sure the equipment fits correctly on him. today concussions are handle differently than when I played I only missed one day of practice and did not go through any concussion test like they have today.
I think he will be find as long as he is not getting them close together that is when I would considered pulling him.
Concussion is a serious injury and is finally being treated as such by the sporting community. Look up some of the material on concussions in football and make him read it. IIRC, they are pretty much inevitable in that sport due to the nature and number of impacts regardless of what they wear (which answers naughtynurse's concern to an extent). If he still wants to play after that, then make sure he gets the recommended medical care and time off for recovery when he suffers one. Glad to hear the coach is enforcing a minimum two weeks off. I've heard of cases where it was the coach pushing them to shake it off and get back on the field.
Playing devil's advocate, would anyone play a sport like American football if we all wanted to avoid causing ourselves serious harm? There are many dangerous activities that we partake in day in and day out, for one reason or another. If we consistently "played it safe", what kind of life would we lead?
You have to try to understand why he wants to play football so much. Maybe he does want to try to make career of it, or maybe the football field is the only place he feels he is worth something; I don't know. Then you can both discuss it and attempt to balance the risks with his reasons.
We all take risks in life; we just have to try to make sure that it's worth it.
I have had a few concussions. The first, and most severe when I was 17. I suggest along with others that you consult with his doctor. Then you can make decisions. The final say is yours but keep him in the info loop.
As a parent I do sympathize with your worry but as your son is over 16 aren't all those sort of decisions up to him? When I was his age I was a member of the RAF and my parents had no control over my sporting activities, (even though most of my time was spent avoiding such physical exertion.) or health issues for example they couldn't stop me smoking.
Another consideration is the position. Most of these injuries occur in running backs, receivers, linebacker, safeties, cornerbacks and return specialists. The chances are greatly reduced among interior linemen, guards, tackles, centers, etc. Any player CAN get concussed tackling a running player, but the chances are much reduced for those in the so-called "grunt" positions. Perhaps he can be allowed to continue if he will accept a move to one of the less glamorous positions on the team. In general, though, I tend to agree that a 17-year-old is not going to take a long-term view. That's what parents do.
Alden Bradley
The zenith of sensuality occurs in sensitivity.
Caring matters more than achieving gratification.
My wife played soccer at a high level since she was 5 and had to quit due to injuries at 17. She's still suffering from arthritis in both knees today, at 32. I don't envy your predicament, but I know what I'd do. Does he have anything else in his life that's important to him, or is he all about football? My wife wishes she'd been forced to stop at an earlier time, she also says she didn't care one bit what her parents said.
Yeah, I played football all throughout high school and received a few concussions; the majority was because my form was slipping as I got tired. He needs to make sure and keep his head up when he is tackling. But like the others have said consult a doctor / neurologist before taking his sport away from him..
Just my two cents.
I think you should err on the side of caution, but it won't be easy. He may really be pissed at your for it. Once a kid starts getting concussions, he's like to get more and each one will come with less force. You say he's a junior, make him sit out until he's a senior so he'll have an entire year for his brain to recover. There are a few professional athletes lately that suffered a concussion and had to sit out for an extended period of time. It sucks being a parent sometimes and this is one of those times. Pull him off the team, if he has no lingering problems let him try again his Sr. year with the understanding that if he gets his bell rung, even once, you'll pull him again.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. Socrates 
