Problem
Coaches and medical experts have known for a while that the severe hits that football players take on the field can lead to concussions, blackouts, and even permanent damage. More recently, however, there has been increasing concern that the effects of repeated hits to the head may not manifest themselves until decades later. Early studies suggest that former National Football League (NFL) players suffer high rates of memory and other cognitive problems years after retiring and that they also may develop these problems earlier than non-football players do.
Do you think that football playing should be stopped? Should the rules of the game be changed to eliminate hard hitting? Is the risk of permanent cognitive disability different than the risk of permanent physical disability? Wrestlers, soccer players, boxers, and other types of athletes are also at risk for long-term brain damage. Should these sports be changed or banned? How did the information in this unit influence your opinions?