Youth football will become extinct

I.

Introduction
A. 8 HS Football players have passed away due to an injury suffered in-game
this season. That is 8 more than there should be. By the way the season isnt
even over yet, in fact it has only been 8 weeks! That is an average of one
death per week in HS Football! Lets face it any activity with these kind of
statistics should not be considered a sport, it should be considered war.
Through the increased research the American public is finally starting to
acknowledge this harsh truth. Perhaps football in its current state is just not
safe enough to be a sport.
B. In the future, football as we know it may not exist.

II.

1ST THEME (BEFORE) THE BEGINNINGS OF FOOTBALL

A. Safety? Who Cares? [1880-1910]
1. The 1st Football games were played in the late 19th Century with minimal
padding
2. 1905, 19 fatalities nationwide playing football, President Theodore
Roosevelt threatens to shut down football
(Talk about how ridiculously violent football was even from the beginning
and how football was rooted in violence since its conception)
B. Rules Change [1910-1950] 1st Shift?
1

Rules in regards to safety change just enough for Football to not be shut
down.

3. 1937 American Football Coaches Association meeting, Coaches agree

concussed players should be taken out the game.
(Speak in a lighthearted manner about the quick shift football went
through in order to make the game safer and keep football alive. The rules
were changed by leaps and bounds.)
C. This is a Mans Game ! (1950-1990)
1

1952 Study in N.E Journal of Medicine, Players who are scared of

concussions in football should leave football forever. (If youre scared
dont play it)

4. Football advocates believe that injuries are a part of the game, if you
dont want to risk injury dont play football.
5. 1967 First Superbowl was played

6. 1987 Football takes over as the #1 Popular Sport in America

(Speak about the ignorance of America towards football. How
organizations, fans, and players didnt value the health of the players
bodies and only valued the fun and entertainment associated with the
sport)
III.

2ND THEME (THE SHIFT) FOOTBALL INJURIES BROUGHT INTO LIGHT

A. (1) Wait. This Might Be Dangerous. [Concussions] (1990-2010)
1

1994 Merril Hoge retires from the NFL, citing concussions as the reason for
retirement. Hoge sparks the research of injuries in Football when he tells
Sports News: This is messing with your brain.

7. 1994 Football Committee creates Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee

8. Studies find football players suffer depression more than any other sport
due to concussions. During this time period several NFL players commit
suicide.
B. (2) Wait. This Might Be Dangerous [Other Injuries] (1990-2010)
1

1999 NFL exposed for paying under-the-counter disability payments

Research shows that NFL players have the shortest career span as
compared to any other major sport.
(Speak about the research done in the field of football and how quickly the
word spread to the public about how damaging football could be and its
negative effects)

IV.

3RD THEME (THE FUTURE) CHANGE IN PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS,

EXTINCTION, AND ALTERNATIVES OF FOOTBALL
A. HS Football
1

Several private schools switch from 11 on 11 tackle football to 7 on 7

tackle football

9. Increase from approximately 10% to 25% believe HS Football should be

banned.
B. Youth Football
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Less and less parents are signing up there kids for youth football. If they
do it is usually when they are 12 years of age or older.

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10.From 2010 to 2012 there has been a 9.8% decrease in registrations for
Pop Warner Football.
C. Future Generations
1

Kids follow in their parents footsteps if football was never in there parents
lives they are not likely to follow it. This decline will continue to occur until
football is no longer a major sport in America.
(Speak about the change in the public perception of football, how people
are taking action, and how this perception and action could change
football for many years to come)

V.

Conclusion
A. Up until the past 20 years footballs violence was cheered on and people
encouraged it but now people are taking a step back and realizing how
violent football is and are no longer encouraging it.
B. As football continues to become unpopular, younger generations will not be
exposed to football leading to the rapid decline and possible extinction of
football in general.
FACT
Football players are passing away and suffering life threatening injuries due to
brain trauma.
Football is popular and many people play it, therefore many people are putting
their lives at risk.
The problem began in the late 19th century when football was created. It has
always been violent.
DEFINITION
Football is a physical sport, more physical than most, and this is leading to
serious injuries.
QUALITY
Death is a serious topic, any sport where people die consistently should be
reconsidered as a sport.
Advocates of Football, which is most of the American public right now, will be
disappointed but it is something that must be done.
If nothing happens, deaths will still occur and well have to live with the fact that
they could have been easily prevented.

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POLICY
Football should increase research of injuries and concussions and take more
serious action.
Flag Football, Non-Tackle, or 7 on 7 football should be the only kind of Football
being played.

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