Football is a dangerous sport. And though there are risks involved, people still love the game. Michael Behr, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, gives us the rundown on the pros and cons of playing football.
The pros of playing football
Football requires conditioning and strength training, which are excellent forms of exercise and good for cardiovascular health.
“You do a lot of different types of training when you participate in football, from sprints to distance running to interval training to weight lifting,” says Dr. Behr. “So it’s really a good overall health benefit to someone in any age group.”
Playing football is also a great way to improve concentration.
“It forces you to focus on what you’re doing,” explains Dr. Behr. “Otherwise you can be a casualty. So you can’t afford to let down your guard.”
And perhaps most importantly, football teaches the value of teamwork, leadership and having a good work ethic.
“You learn time management, you learn discipline,” says Dr. Behr. “You learn how to deal with losses and disappointments. And those types of things are all really critical to youngsters as they get older and have to apply that to real-life situations.”
The cons of playing football
But playing football isn’t without its risks.
According to the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, more than 500,000 high school football injuries occurred between the 2014 and 2015 school year.
In 2017, thousands of pro-football players agreed to a settlement with the National Football League over serious health conditions associated with concussions.
“Regardless of how safe we make it, it’s still a dangerous sport,” explains Dr. Behr. “One of the hardest things for a team is to get through the season without people getting injured.”
Common injuries include:
And while these injuries can range from mild to severe, they can sometimes be fatal.
“We’ve had a number of deaths around the country of kids who have had head injuries from a tackle that have led to death,” says Dr. Behr. “And of course that’s the worst thing that anyone could ever imagine. There are also the unknown cause of deaths where kids play and die from congenital problems that they weren’t aware of. The most common being an enlarged heart. But some conditions are difficult to pick up on a routine preseason physical.”
Playing football safely
There is an ongoing effort in the arena of sports medicine and through football leagues to try to reduce the risk of injuries.
“At the high school level, we now have physicians that are on the sidelines,” says Dr. Behr. “Schools that don’t have a physician on the sidelines usually have a trainer, and they can evaluate players immediately.”
And the NFL passed several new safety rules this year, including allowing an injury spotter to stop the game if a player appears to have suffered from a brain injury.
“There are risks involved with playing football,” says Dr. Behr. “But I think that’s part of the attraction. I think if you got rid of all the risks, you would in fact take away a lot of the reason it’s attractive to so many people.
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FAQs
The health benefits of football include:
- Improving heart health and blood pressure.
- Increasing muscle mass and bone strength in inactive individuals.
- Reducing body fat.
- Building strength, stamina and speed.
- Training your brain, improving concentration and coordination.
These include neurological issues—chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), concussion, mental illness, and memory loss—as well as ACL tears, arthritis, heart conditions, musculoskeletal injuries, pain, and inflammation.
Is football good or bad for you? ›
“You do a lot of different types of training when you participate in football, from sprints to distance running to interval training to weight lifting,” says Dr. Behr. “So it's really a good overall health benefit to someone in any age group.” Playing football is also a great way to improve concentration.
Why football is a good thing? ›
Practice drills, complex running routes and defensive techniques all encourage speed, strength, and stamina. And these activities also engage motor skills, specifically hand and eye coordination. Plus, a recent study found that playing football has positive effects on bone strength.
Should I let my son play football? ›
Team sports teach youth to work together, encourage others, be a leader, be responsible, and how to socialize and communicate effectively with others. Football can help youth develop mental toughness, allowing kids to build resilience and learn how to persevere through adversity.
What is football in 500 words? ›
Football is an important game from the point of view of the spectator as well as the player. This 90 minutes game is full of excitement and thrill. Moreover, it keeps the player mentally and physically healthy, and disciplined. And this ninety-minute game tests their sportsmanship, patience, and tolerance.
Is football safe for kids? ›
Football is a great way for kids to be part of a team and stay physically active. But football is a contact sport, so injuries do happen. Doctors and scientists are studying how repeatedly hitting the head during tackling affects the brain. These injuries can cause serious brain problems later in life.
Is football good for the brain? ›
Studies have shown that regular physical activity, such as playing football, can increase the production of growth factors in the brain, which can help to improve brain plasticity and cognitive function. By improving brain plasticity, playing football can help to promote lifelong learning and development.
What damage can football cause? ›
Researchers have found high rates of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)—a degenerative brain disease characterized by memory loss, confusion, mood swings, violence, suicidality and more—in autopsy studies of professional football players.
Does football cause stress? ›
Sport helps combat stress. But sometimes it can be the cause of it. Especially in football, where it is not always easy to manage competitive tension properly. These negative emotions run a risk of not only interfering with a result on the pitch but also on the career of a player.
What is it about this sport that makes it so appealing? Psychologists have suggested that our love for football has much to do with our need for social connection and tribalism. People naturally enjoy being part of a group, and watching their favourite team play provides them with a sense of belonging and community.
Does football make you taller? ›
Adequate quality and timed physical activities contribute to height improvement, however football is not the preeminent sport chosen for promoting height growth.
Is football good for belly fat? ›
Playing football is equivalent to muscular strength exercises (anaerobic) such as running at high speed and lifting weights. As these types of exercises help to burn body fat as much as possible, the risk of heart disease and the accumulation of fat in the blood vessels are eliminated.
Does football get you in shape? ›
3. A Great Workout. Combining cardio, strength training, and endurance, football is an overall great workout. If you aren't someone who enjoys going to the gym or a workout class, signing up for a recreational football league may be a great option for you.
What are the pros and cons of games? ›
8. Advantages and disadvantages of gaming
| Pro | Con |
|---|
| Games can be educational such as simulations of flight or real-life situations | Constant use of thumbs, wrist and eyes can lead to problems such as eye strain, RSI and other physical problems |
5 more rowsHealth
- Health insurance (NFL Player Insurance Plan or Affordable Care Act marketplace)
- Assistance with joint-replacement surgery.
- Spinal and neurological evaluations.
- Life insurance.
- Long-term care insurance.
- Reimbursem*nts for medical expenses.
- Supplemental Medicare coverage.
- Discounted prescription drug coverage.
In games such as football, if a referee plays advantage, they do not stop the game when there is a foul because allowing play to continue gives an advantage to the team that has been fouled: The ref should have played advantage because Rooney would have been through on goal.
