Youth Football Players 
and Their Injuries

A big problem schools and youth football leagues face, is injuries kids sustain when playing, and injuries like concussions can create serious physical and mental problems, even death, later on in life. Every fall in the U.S., 1.2 million kids play high school tackle football, this creates many problems for coaches and families, and creates injuries galore, but cannot really be stopped except for abolishing high school football completely. 

Most of the kids who play in youth leagues, try to hit others as hard as they can, either for a thrill, to appear tough, or to send a message to the other team. To stop this, coaches could talk with their team about the physical dangers this presents. Or create more touch football leagues. High school football players endanger their lives, brains, and spines while playing football, but to some, it is worth the risk.


50% of all high school football players receive concussions during the time they play, and 35% get more than one. One way this could be reduced, is if coaches and team doctors watch kids who take hits to the head, face, or neck, closer if they start to show symptoms. If you know one of your players or teammates has had a concussion before, you could encourage them to take a break for their health, explain to them why they should sit out a game so they don’t receive a second or third concussion. 

Concussions can create serious problems having to do with your brain, and physical appearance. If it comes to this, all you can do is get to a hospital and receive surgery, where they will remove blood clots and steady your brain in your skull. Concussions cause serious problems with youth football, as do spinal cord injuries that can result in paralyzation to the lower body, or full body.
Kort, before his injury

Injuries such as concussions to high school football players and other younger players can be seriously damaging, such as to a boy named Kort Breckenridge. Kort was the captain of the football team, a star Safety. After making an impressive interception, he returned to the returned to the bench because of a headache. Soon after, he returned to the game. After making what seemed to be a routine tackle, he collapsed and complained of severe head trauma. Kort was rushed to the hospital, and received brain surgery for a very severe concussion. Now Kort lives with semi-retardation and has speaking problems.

As you can see, many youth players’ families across the United States have been destroyed by deaths or serious injuries to the children. Most of these occur in a story like Kort’s. This could definitely be changed, mostly by implementing safer ways to play, and medical staff or coaches watching players closer to see if they are experiencing symptoms of an injury possibly sustained while playing.


We thank Asa for his contribution and hope to publish him again in the future. His expository writing is always welcome, along with anything he may write that is humorous and gives his opinions.