Recent studies have revealed that brain-trauma within adolescents can lead to a propensity to commit crime in later life. This has alarmed some authorities leading them to offer greater guidance and advice on how today’s youth should avoid and treat head-injuries when taking part in very physical competitive and contact sports.
In America recently, a retired doctor highlighted the dangers of sports such as American-style football, in which the head is often used as a battering ram to knock down and disorientate opponents. The doctor estimated that a within one season, a football-player will experience over 900 hits and blows to the head of this nature – leading to at-least 25% of players suffering from concussion at some stage in the season. Alarmingly, many will deny their injuries, as they don’t want to be excluded from their team.
Head-injuries for young people are a cause for concern, as they are experienced during a time in which physical and cognitive development is still very much in progress – which can lead to mental health dysfunction such as the lack of impulse control and the inability to assess situations rationally. Studies have also revealed that high-levels of juvenile offenders have suffered from brain-traumas, and that brain-injury can also lead to the potential to re-offend and longer periods spent incarcerated.
Therefore, whilst American style football is a hugely popular game not just in the United States, but increasingly around the world, it may be time to consider the impact that experiencing brain-injury can have on younger players. Simple steps towards making it safer could include: the avoidance of the tactic that requires heads to be used as battering rams, providing head-gear and other safety equipment that provides more protection against physical-collisions, and the avoidance of using the head in other sports such as soccer.
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