CDC: Youth Tackle Football 15 Times Riskier for Head Impacts

A groundbreaking CDC study has revealed alarming statistics about the safety of youth tackle football compared to flag football. The research, published in Sports Health, found that young tackle football players aged 6-14 experience a staggering 15 times more head impacts than their flag football counterparts during practices and games.

Key Findings

• Tackle football athletes sustained a median of 378 head impacts per season

• Flag football athletes experienced only 8 head impacts per season

• Tackle players had 23 times more high-magnitude (hard) head impacts

These findings raise serious concerns about the safety of tackle football for young athletes, as head impacts are linked to increased risks of concussions and other serious brain injuries.

Game vs. Practice: When Are Kids Most at Risk?

A second CDC study, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, shed light on when these impacts occur most frequently:

• Both tackle and flag football players experienced twice as many head impacts during games compared to practices

• Tackle football athletes averaged 7 head impacts per practice and 13 per game

• Flag football athletes averaged 0.4 impacts per practice and 0.8 per game

Protecting Young Athletes: 5 Key Recommendations

To reduce the risk of head impacts in youth football, the CDC suggests:

1. Expanding low-cost, non-contact football programs like flag and touch football

2. Limiting contact practices in tackle football

3. Strictly enforcing penalties for helmet-to-helmet contact

4. Teaching safe, age-appropriate tackling and blocking techniques

5. Educating players, parents, coaches, and officials about brain safety

By implementing these measures, we can help lower the risks of traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and potential long-term brain changes associated with repeated head impacts in young athletes. As parents and coaches weigh the benefits of youth football against these newly revealed risks, the data clearly suggests that flag football may be a safer alternative for children under 14 who want to enjoy the sport.