Should American Football Be Banned from Highschool - Research Paper Example

Should American Football be Banned from Highschool? Introduction It has recently come to my attention that certain sports played in schools may be banned by their respective administration boards. This, to me, is quite alarming and I feel that such a decision should be given more thought before actual implementation. This research paper shall therefore discuss the reasons why the prohibition of such sports (particularly American football) is reasonable and unreasonable. Why American Football should be Banned? The issue of banning American football in high schools has been tremendously popular. The issue has been met with opposing opinions from those who support the sport and want such an activity to continue, while there are those that strongly oppose the same. In this section, I shall discuss why school administration boards across the country have been considering the prohibition of the sport on their grounds. Unsurprisingly, supporters of the stand that American football should be banned come from adults who are mostly parents of the students. American Football as a Discriminating Sport According to David (105), American football is a gender discriminating sport. The parties particularly interested in playing the sport and those who enjoy the same the most are the males. The sport has been described as a “masculine” activity and female students are not likely to benefit from the sport in the same way that their male counterparts can. It is also thought that female students are not likely to benefit from the sport. They are not likely to hone any beneficial skills from playing the game, at least not physically. The Injuries Suffered by Football Players One of the obvious injuries that may be suffered by American footballers would be head injuries. The seriousness of the risk faced by these players has lead the District of Columbia to ban sports that result in concussions, or at the very least, expose the youth to such threats (between 2009 and 2011). While suffering concussions may not seem to be that serious to some, because head bumps can be helped with a pack of ice, the threat of head injuries can definitely lead to really serious health conditions that can affect a player for life. The trauma however, can manifest later on in the life of the injured player and can be the explanation of “neurodegenerative disease similar to Alzheimer’s” (Trotta and Ingles). Health conditions related to head injuries include dementia and Alzheimer’s itself. Problems such as fractures to the skull are also highly likely and the presence of the skull itself and its ability to cushion the brain from injury is not enough. Serious brain damage is possible (Reed). There has also been research to suggest that the more concussions a player suffers, the more likely would depression kick in. Other injuries to be suffered by such football players include “cervical spinal cord injuries.” It has been known that in the United States, players from Louisiana suffer mainly from this kind of injury (Lawrence et al) Because of the alarming health risks that football may bring, fifteen states have issued laws banning such dangerous sports (Trotta and Ingles). It has been suggested that the best way to deal with preventing such serious injuries would be to invest in the sports equipment. Supporters of the sport should look into providing improved designs of head and mouth gear for the players, to ensure that the players’ gear could withstand injuries to be encountered on the field (Trotta and Ingles). Another solution to the problem would be to educate the players themselves on “safe tackling” methods in order to prevent injury and how these players can best use their head gear in the safest way possible. Unfortunately, according to a study by Lawrence et al., a significant number of players use the top of their helmets in tackling their opponents. This is one of the most dangerous tackling methods, and is actually illegal. However, an alarming majority of player participants in the research study conducted by Lawrence et al. have revealed that their coaches have advised them to tackle their opponents through such a method. There seems to be an urgent need to discourage players from using the top of their helmets as a ramming tool and there seems to be a need to also educate the coaches themselves and discourage them from teaching their players such dangerous methods- all for the sake of winning. Waste of Funding? Reed feels that a sport that brings an incredible number of injuries that could damage the life of an individual is a waste of taxpayers’ money. He argues that there are several other school activities that the funds can go to and football is a waste of money because the negative effects outweigh the positive. While Reed makes a perfectly valid point, I feel that there has to be an equal amount of attention that should be given towards why the sport should be allowed to continue in schools. It is natural for people to get scared of the health risks the sport may bring, but they should also consider the impact that the ban would make on schools and the students all over the country. Why American Football should Not be Banned? The inclusion of physical activities in schools help to minimize the boredom that several students may feel towards their academics. While academics are extremely important and are what students mainly pay for, it is best that there are other activities provided by the school that students can be interested in. In my case for instance, I would not want to attend a school that does not encourage excellence in other fields aside from academics. There are some students I feel, that may not be gifted in academic excellence, but excel in other fields. Why take away one of the most important and anticipated extracurricular activities that schools have to offer? I personally feel strongly against such a possible decision. The following paragraphs shall explain why football should not be banned. Contrary to the belief of several people who have no interest in the sport whatsoever, American football has a number of advantages or benefits that are not learned within the four corners of a classroom but within the four corners of a football field. Leadership and People Skills Audas et al. (647) are convinced that dedication to a sport encourages leadership and teamwork skills. Individuals engaged in a sport that relies heavily on teamwork (such as football and basketball) boosts people relationship skills. Members of the team are encouraged to depend on each other for their collective success. I think that the leadership skills gained by an athlete in a sport is different from the kind of leadership skills acquired in the classroom. This is because failure in the classroom are, to a point, forgiving. However, failures in the field are unforgiving. There is only one chance to get everything right. On the other hand, in the classroom, there are more chances to do better the next time. On the field, expectations of performance are quite different as compared to academic performance. Naturally, being engaged in a sport means that there are supporters of the team. This translates to more pressure being applied on each team member and one failure is one failure too many because more people would be disappointed. It follows then, that leaders (or captains) of sports groups need to work extra hard to showcase their leadership skills. This is because the performance of the other members of the group manifests in the results of every game. In effect, the athletes also learn how to work in such a way that they can please their supporters. And this is a skill that cannot be learned in any class. Discipline and Life Outside the Classroom According Kemper (1068), American football also encourages its players to be tough and to discipline themselves. This kind of behaviour is something that is not inherent. It is something that becomes a habit, from doing the same thing repeatedly. Therefore, if an individual plays sports on a regular basis, he/she would be able to gain a different kind of discipline that can be carried out of the field, out of the classroom and applied to other activities that are taken up outside the school premises. Students who engage in physical activities and balance the same with their school work are likely to form positive attitudes towards most kinds of physical activities (not neccessarily sports). They have, at some point, have become accustomed to playing a sport and always being physically active, and are therefore less likely to slack off (McKenzie qtd. in Silverman and Ennis). It has also been shown that students engaged in sports are likely to be goal-oriented. They are likely to set goals for themselves when playing, and at the same time, this behaviour of setting goals and being “task-oriented” is something that can also be applied in real life. In other words, the habit of working hard to attain a sense of satisfaction at the end of a successful game can be carried to the student’s life outside the campus, just like discipline. Students who are actively into sports also tend to manage their time more wisely than other students who only focus on their academics, and this is a trait that not all students possess (Tekin et al.) Improvement of Physical and Mental Health It can be naturally expected that American football would help improve physical health despite the injuries that may be suffered. With every physical activity, there is always a risk of being injured. I therefore do not see the reason why the sport should be banned just because of the risks involved. The benefits of playing a sport, in my opinion, still outweigh the consequences. It is known that when youngsters participate in physical activities that span around sixty minutes (or more), a number of health benefits can be achieved. Aside from obviously achieving strength in the muscles, and boosting stamina or endurance, there is also the benefit of gaining healthy bones. There is also the added benefit of reducing the risk of heart problems which must start early on in a person’s life. In my opinion however, one of the best things achieved by participating in a sport is the fact that the physical activity helps reduce stress (Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee). This, for me, is especially important because academic activities can bring about an enormous volume of stress from all the workload. By participating in an aggressive sport, or at the very least, supporting the same, helps reduce stress levels of an average student significantly. Several researchers have concluded that participating in physical activities such as a sport regularly provides a number of benefits. Obviously, there are physical benefits, as mentioned above, but mental health benefits can also be achieved (National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 108). A research study conducted by Raspberry et al. (515), concluded that there is a positive relation between physical activity and mental progress. In other words, if a student is able to participate in a physical activity (such as a sport), this, more often than not, leads to higher grades in the academe. Again, this to me, is something that school administration boards across the country should consider before striking out a sport from their physical activities. Research studies have suggested that the key to acquiring high grades in school would be to balance one’s time between books and physical activities that provide the opportunity for students to excel in as well. Conclusion Overall, I think that while American football does bring about an incredible number of injuries that could be damaging to a player’s life, I feel that all sports come with their own risk. Instead of banning football from schools, there should instead be focus on how the sport can be played with more care for injury prevention. The players and the coaches should be taught how to play the game in the safest way possible and how to wear their protective gear properly. Students who have their heart set on playing and supporting the sport would be crushed at the thought of the sport being prohibited. I am a football player myself and I am directly affected by the idea of a possible ban. I enjoy the hype of the sport, the dedication I need in order to excel and I have met amazing people through football that I would never have been able to meet otherwise. I feel that despite all the injuries, the experience the sport brings is definitely worth it. There is also the possibility of football being the future of a student. Depending on the player’s performance, this could be his key to a college degree, and even better, a career in football. Why take away the dreams of students when the problems can be remedied by care and prevention measures? American football has become a part of American culture to a point that it would be heart breaking to eradicate the sport from schools. How can Americans cope with the loss of the cheerleaders as well? Kidding aside, I also feel that the sport helps keep the students off the streets. Instead of being open to temptation (such as drugs and committing crimes), the youth can do something else productive with their time. My life would not have been the same without football. I can imagine what the ban would do to others, like myself, who are dedicated to the sport. 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