Large Majorities of Americans Agree Changes Should Be Made in Football
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – NEW YORK, Oct. 15 — There has been increasing attention paid lately to the topic of concussions. As more tragedies are examined and possible links to concussions found, our knowledge of a once seemingly understood medical occurrence continues to evolve. As this happens, there is a reassessment of common practices, including those in an often cited culprit of concussions–the beloved American sport of football.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,620 adults surveyed online between September 14 and 20, 2010 by Harris Interactive.
While a majority of Americans say they follow professional football (53%) and even more say they like it (62%), when read several statements about the sport as it may relate to concussions, strong majorities indicate that various changes should be made, not only to the equipment used, but also to the way the sport is played and officiated.
Just over eight in ten Americans agree that the risks of playing football are widely known and players participate at their own risk (83%), but Americans don’t seem to think that this understanding precludes aspects of the game from being updated, which could make it safer for all who choose to play.
Over eight in ten Americans say that helmets should be changed to better protect against concussions (83%). Although that seems like an easy change to make, other suggested changes which could affect the game more dramatically were equally embraced. Eight in ten Americans also say that players who suffer a head injury should be required to take a minimum set amount of time off from playing to recover (83%) and that there should be a standardized test used to determine if and when injured players at all levels may return to the field (79%). Interestingly, strong majorities also feel that aggressive tackles which are more prone to leading to head injuries should be restricted in youth football (79%), and, while fewer Americans agree, over half still say that there should be penalties for players who cause head injuries to others, such as suspension (58%).
AMERICANS’ VIEWS ON FOOTBALL-RELATED CONCUSSIONS
Base: All U.S. adults
Agree (NET)
%
Players who suffer a head injury
should be required to take a
minimum set amount of time off
from playing to recover 83
The risks of playing football are
widely known and players
participate at their own risk 83
Helmets should be changed to
better protect against
concussions 83
Aggressive tackles which are more
prone to leading to head
injuries should be restricted in
youth football 79
There should be a standardized
test used to determine if and
when injured players at all
levels may return to the field 79
——————————- —
There should be penalties for
players who cause head injuries
to others, such as suspension 58
——————————– —
While it’s clear that strong majorities of Americans favor all of these possible changes, generational differences can still be seen, with older Americans agreeing with the proposed changes even more broadly than younger Americans do. For example, just three-quarters of Echo Boomers, aged 18-33 years, say that helmets should be changed to better protect against concussions (76%), players should be required to take time off to recover after head injuries (74%) and aggressive tackles should be restricted in youth football (73%), while higher percentages of all other generations say these things, including nine in ten Matures, aged 65 and older, who agree on all three counts. The only statement that shows consistent opinions across all generations is that the risks of playing football are widely known and players participate at their own risk; four in five in each generation say this. Although men follow and like football more than women do, there are no real gender differences in how men and women feel about these possible changes to football, in light of increasing understanding about concussions.
So What?
As doctors and scientists continue to research what happens to the human brain following a concussion, it’s possible that Americans may also continue to rethink some of their favorite pastimes, including football. While only initial data and observations are currently being presented, these already seem to suggest that concussions, or other head traumas common to athletes in certain sports, can cause damage to brain tissue which can lead to physical disability, lowered impulse control, severe depression and ultimately, dementia. Between researchers now reexamining Lou Gehrig’s physical demise and suggesting that he may have suffered from the result of multiple serious concussions, rather than the horrific disease which bears his name, and many football players not only becoming physically handicapped but also emotionally distressed and suicidal, –including a particularly tragic college suicide last Spring–the understanding and treatment of concussions is being re-examined, and from this poll, it seems clear the American public may not be opposed to a critical look at the sport of football, as well.
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