Ryan Craddock, a coal miner and firefighter, had endured numerous tragedies during his career, but nothing could prepare him for the heartbreak of losing his 13-year-old son, Cohen. Cohen tragically died from brain trauma after making a tackle during football practice at his middle school. This devastating loss, coupled with the death of another teenager from a similar injury in Alabama on the same day, has reignited the debate about the risks of youth football. The question is whether the sport’s benefits outweigh the safety concerns.
Craddock does not want to abolish football, a sport he loves, but believes that more safety measures should be put in place to protect young athletes. His stance reflects a growing concern among many that immediate action is needed to prevent further fatalities. While there have been proposals to ban tackle football for younger children, these efforts have faced resistance. Meanwhile, participation in tackle football among youth has been declining, and initiatives promoting flag football are gaining traction.
The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research reported that in 2023, three young football players died from head injuries, with an additional 10 dying from causes like heat stroke. Dr. Robert Cantu, who has been tracking football-related deaths for over four decades, described these numbers as typical for a year. He emphasized that while the number of deaths is concerning, it would be alarming if fatalities occurred in clusters over extended periods. Dr. Cantu is a strong advocate for minimizing head contact in youth sports, recommending that children under 14 avoid tackling in football.
In line with Cantu’s philosophy, many experts recommend flag football as a safer alternative for younger children. Flag football, which is increasingly popular among girls, is gaining recognition and has even been added as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Games. The Concussion Legacy Foundation, co-founded by Cantu, supports this initiative and suggests that players should wait until high school to start tackling football. Dr. Chris Nowinski, the foundation’s CEO, argues that a minimum age for full-contact football should be implemented to ensure the brain health of children.
Despite growing awareness of the risks, efforts to ban tackle football for youth players face strong opposition. For instance, a New York lawmaker’s attempt to pass such a bill was unsuccessful, and California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that he would not support similar legislation. However, progress has been made in other areas, such as the implementation of sports-related concussion laws in all 50 states. These laws require athletes suspected of having a concussion to be removed from play and cleared by a medical professional before returning.
Many coaches, such as Loren Montgomery, who has led Bixby High School to multiple state championships, believe football is safer than ever due to changes in rules and the use of technology to minimize risks. He highlights penalties for dangerous plays, concussion assessments, and protective equipment like Guardian caps as improvements in safety. These caps are used from the NFL down to youth levels, but their cost and limited warranty raise concerns about their effectiveness for schools. Despite this, Ryan Craddock is determined to investigate the use of Guardian caps at Madison Middle School in his son’s memory, aiming to make a positive change in the sport’s safety standards.
