NY Democrats Say Children Under 12 Should Be Banned From Playing Football!

Written by Steve Cannon for USSA News.

Key Takeaways:

• New York Democratic lawmakers are introducing the John Mackey Youth Football Protection Act
• The bill would ban tackle football for children under the age of 12
• The bill is named after an NFL player from New York who died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2011
• The bill aims to protect young athletes from the risk of injury to their developing brains
• The bill has been introduced just in time for the Super Bowl and comes weeks after a Buffalo Bills player went into cardiac arrest on the field.

The John Mackey Youth Football Protection Act, named after an NFL player from New York who died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2011, would ban tackle football for kids under the age of 12.

Why Ban Tackle Football for Children Under 12?

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, a Democrat who represents the Bronx in New York City, has been trying to get the John Mackey Youth Football Protection Act passed for over 10 years. During a press conference in Albany, Benedetto called the bill a “vitally important” piece of legislation that will protect young athletes. Benedetto notes that the U.S. Youth Soccer National League banned heading before the age of 10 and body checking is outlawed in youth soccer leagues until the age of 14.

Senator Luis Sepulveda, who is sponsoring the bill in the state Senate, says that it’s about time that youth football caught up with the science. Sepulveda argues that many institutions have already said that kids should not be playing football at a young age and that he is enthusiastic about sponsoring the bill as he has an 11-year-old son and doesn’t want him to have any cognitive impairment due to a sport that he enjoys.

Pop Warner, the largest youth football organization in the country, disagrees with the bill and argues that there is “no conclusive proof” that youth football can lead to CTE. Billy Kent, the president of Schenectady-Belmont Pop Warner football, says that a ban could wind up hurting kids more once they are old enough to enter tackle football and haven’t had the necessary training.