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EDITOR’S NOTE: Ninth grade students recently read two articles on the safety of football for young people. One article spoke at great length about the dangers of developing long-term problems as a result of hits to the head when one is young, and it called for a ban on football for kids. The other extolled the values of football and said the risk of long-term injury from youth football is overblown. The BluePrint asked freshmen to read these articles and respond to them.

I believe that we shouldn’t prevent young people from playing football.  This sport teaches so many important life lessons, such as teamwork and hard work that usually cannot be taught at such a young age. 

Not many young people even get a concussion from playing football.  Also, my question is, if we aren’t going to allow them to play football, what about all the other contact sports?  Where do we draw the line?  The choice to play football should be made by the child not the parent/adult.

There are many lessons to be learned in this sport, like “The huddle is color blind.”  This means no matter the color of your skin or your religion you are accepted in football.  This allows young people to feel like they fit in, by boasting their self-confidence.

I know if my child truly wants to play football and he or she understands the risks, then put’em in coach.   As much as I know I do not want my child hurt, you cannot keep them in a bubble forever.