Tyler Sash Mom speaks about his struggles





As a parent of 2 boys my stance has changed a lot over the years with all of the information has come out. At first when people started talking about the damage football can cause, I chalked it up as another example of the wussafication of America. I used to coach football, and we were always very focused on teaching kids the right way to tackle. We spent hours and hours on proper tackling technique. But when they get in a game, there are going to be head to head collisions. In youth football maybe most of the collisions are minor, but I was surprised by how hard some of the hits could be. I'm not sure how much more anyone can do to change the game to make it more safe. The more we learn, the more it seems that 30 years from now, maybe we won't have football to enjoy anymore. As much as I love it, I'm starting to think maybe that's not a bad thing. I have one boy who still plays, and I'm really thankful that my other boy has decided to go a different route. I'm not at the point that I am going to forbid my oldest son from playing, but I am considering it now more than I ever have.

Great interview with Tyler's mom. It truly was heartbreaking. I think they did the right thing donating his brain as difficult as that would be. We need more research on brain injuries.
 


Great interview. Very interesting perspective. As someone currently without kids, but planning for the future, I really don't know what my decision will be when it comes to football, if I have boys.

Youth football collisions usually are pretty minor, but I think the younger you start taking those shots to the head, the more damaging it is.

I'm still 100% in favor of playing the game, but Sash's mom definitely opens your eyes, having experienced it first-hand with her son.
 
Last edited:




homes said:
To each his own. I don't understand the distinction you're making between college football and football at every other level.
Click to expand...

I would guess the distinction involves the pros getting paid for the risks they take.

Job hazards vs hazards one risks in order to have a chance to get a job.

Of course, it's essentially impossible to play football for a living without first playing in college. So, whatever.
 


I think the end of high school football is near.

At some point, a high school kid will develop problems down the road, and a lawsuit will happen, and that will start the end of high school football.

Just a matter of time.

College and NFL is a different beast, of course.

Not sure why his mom says she wants, "justice" though. The guy still chose to play football in college and the NFL.
 


Nobody made Tyler Sash play football, just like nobody made any of us play football. Their are risks, and we all knew it going in. There are also millions that have played the game that have no issues. I feel terrible for his family, that was tough to watch and I get they need to find peace of why hes not here any longer, but football isnt what ended his life.
 


People should almost feel obligated to watch. If people are going to take the risk to play, the least we can do is watch.
 






jjh4hawks01 said:
I think the end of high school football is near.

At some point, a high school kid will develop problems down the road, and a lawsuit will happen, and that will start the end of high school football.

Just a matter of time.

College and NFL is a different beast, of course.

Not sure why his mom says she wants, "justice" though. The guy still chose to play football in college and the NFL.
Click to expand...

I strongly disagree. How does college and NFL go on without High School football? Replacing HS football with Club? How is that any different? Just curious about that.
 


It just doesn't make any sense to eliminate football. Educate people about the dangers and let people decide for themselves. There are a million risky things that people do for enjoyment. Take them all away and we might as well be the middle east.
 


Everyone knows the risks, and if you don't, that's pretty sad because its obvious. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and a right to make their own decision whether to let their kids play football. The answer isn't to eliminate the sport. The safety issues aren't as detrimental as people make it out to be IMO.

In fact, the new targeting rule is a joke. It's honestly one of the worst rules I think the NCAA has ever implemented. There is no accountability. I don't think I watched a single bowl game where there wasn't a targeting penalty, and most were absolutely bogus.

As a coach, I have no idea how you teach a kid how to tackle anymore, I really don't. Sports in general are becoming so soft and it's really painful to watch. I'm all for safety but you also have to be real and fix the rule. Some of these refs are keeping kids out of games for a completely legal hit that caused absolutely no harm to the other player, and refs are never held accountable.
 


I'm of the mindset you have a choice. You can play football or not. Just like you can go out for the band or not. If you are unaware of the risks in playing football or other sports then that's on you... Every play could be your last. And the longer/more you play the more risk you take on. Blaming others for choices you make I have a problem with. Like those that smoke/drink do drugs. Individual accountability just seems to be thrown out the window anymore. It's not the spoons fault your fat or the guns fault it shot someone.
 


OmaHawk13 said:
Everyone knows the risks, and if you don't, that's pretty sad because its obvious. Everyone has a right to their own opinion and a right to make their own decision whether to let their kids play football. The answer isn't to eliminate the sport. The safety issues aren't as detrimental as people make it out to be IMO.

In fact, the new targeting rule is a joke. It's honestly one of the worst rules I think the NCAA has ever implemented. There is no accountability. I don't think I watched a single bowl game where there wasn't a targeting penalty, and most were absolutely bogus.

As a coach, I have no idea how you teach a kid how to tackle anymore, I really don't. Sports in general are becoming so soft and it's really painful to watch. I'm all for safety but you also have to be real and fix the rule. Some of these refs are keeping kids out of games for a completely legal hit that caused absolutely no harm to the other player, and refs are never held accountable.
Click to expand...

As a coach (of a different sport) I have absolutely no problem with targeting or other rules being implemented to prevent players from getting seriously injured. In my opinion the painful thing to watch is a player getting medical attention after getting leveled by a player who was head hunting. Sure officials may get it wrong some of time, but I don't see anything wrong with trying to clean things up a bit. I'll always side with a rule set out to prevent serious injury. That said its more policing and enforcing that the correct calls are being made as opposed to eliminating the rule itself.
 


OmaHawk13 said:
I strongly disagree. How does college and NFL go on without High School football? Replacing HS football with Club? How is that any different? Just curious about that.
Click to expand...

That's the thing, though. The downfall of football is going to happen from below, not at the top.

The NFL isn't going to keep going (at least in any way resembling the NFL now) without high school football. I honestly think you're going to see declining numbers of football players (already do) at the junior club level and high school, and that can only translate into the NCAA and NFL. Participation in HS is down 2.5 percent since 2008, and that was before the CTE stuff started being made aware. The generation coming up in the next few years are going to be the ones with informed parents and it's only going to get worse.

Look at boxing. for 60 plus years it was one of the biggest sports there was. 99% of people can't name one boxer since Lennox Lewis retired in 2004, and only hardcore sports fans have even heard of Mayweather and Pacquiao. Yes, part of that is MMA, but ask Freddy Roach if youngsters should box.
 




I'm all for safety and the targeting penalty SHOULD be called. But only when it's ACTUALLY targeting. I've seen way too many times since this rule has been enacted that it is a perfect form tackle and the player is still ejected.......even AFTER review. Makes no sense to me. Someone has to be held accountable. Or make the rule more clear and concise.
 


GrandpaHawk said:
The NFL needs to have stronger penalties towards targeting starting with immediate ejection from the game.
Click to expand...

I agree with stronger penalties, but the point most people are missing is that it's the repeated minor hits that are causing trouble because no one sees any warning signs until it's too late. Just look at how many offensive lineman have been found with it. Justin Strzelczyk, Forrest Blue, Mike Webster, Tom McHale, the list goes on and on. In fact, from the lists I've seen there are way more O-lineman that any other position. That's why I keep saying that there's no really safe way to play the game. You either accept the risks or not.

And along the lines of targeting punishment, the only way you're going to make it sink in is by hitting the pocketbook hard or giving out big suspensions. None of those are going to happen with the NFLPA around.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.


Latest posts

Share this page






Top