It's a tough decision, and I totally get all the different viewpoints. I've always loved football, and I would never otherwise give advice on this topic unless asked, and you did.

There is alot of anecdotal, passive defensive and hidden emotional advice in this thread. It's pure Pinside. A bunch of middle aged men who have "been there and done that" saying "go ahead! Strap it up, have fun! Back in my day.....blah blah blah". This issue is bigger than that...and as a society we are only on the precipice...huge changes are on the horizon, and for good reason.

Yup. And it's not just the blows to the head that are of big concern. It's the repeated violent snapping movemeant of the head and neck on high impact hits, which sends the brain slamming back and forth against the sides of the head like a pinball between two slingshots.

See above. And it's everything with regard to brain damage. Concussions can and will do permanent damage. This is science people. Maybe not as conclusive as Climate Change science (that's for you Pinside) but pretty damn conclusive.

I think the OP is worried and looking for a rationalization. He came to the right place. The OP is obviously a concerned father. Maybe you did enough due diligence and maybe you didn't OP. At this point, what's your gut tell you?

Wow, big of you to admit there's "still a risk". What are you basing your "football is safer today" statement on? I'll give you an opportunity to answer before I go off on that.

Is this the best you can do?

I love this answer. Thank you.

Because me and my friends are OK, what's the problem? The "downside" you refer to didn't exist until we had the evidence that there was a downside. Before that we were ignorant. And the evidence is unequivocal and heartbreaking. Taking the "downside" into account isn't being pessimistic, it's being informed. And making informed decisions shouldn't be criticized any way.

Even if that's true it's anecdotal. Do you really know if they ever forget things? Or get confused? Absorb and retain information the way they used to? Would you - or they - even know how to measure one way or the other?

All that said, I still might let my son play HS football if he really wanted to. But I very well might not too. I have 2 years to decide, and I will be doing my due diligence.

I have a bias? That's funny. There's unequivocal proof. I have a brain and can read and have heard experts ad nauseum discussing the scientific proof and evidence. But you don't even need that. Use your eyes. Watch the games, see the violence and count the injuries.

The examples you give are anecdotal, wishful, and really just grasping at straws to support your argument. Players are way bigger and way faster, hit way harder and are in better position to make the big hits because of the maturation of the sport and better coaching up and down the line.

And there is way more incentive to kick ass on and off the field than there EVER has been EVER in the sport, at every level. Players have always been in vulnerable positions on the football field, but in the past maybe they had a chance not to get creamed by someone that's targeting their their ass like white on rice. Not anymore. It's bang bang, your dead.

Turn on the radio, turn on the TV, read a newspaper or a magazine, google it, take your pick. Or just watch a freaking game. No one, anywhere, except you, in this thread, says that football is safer today than 20 years ago. Or 10 or 30 or 50 or ever.

That's all.

That's excellent for you. It sounds like you won't be the one(s) shooting themselves in the chest with a shotgun so science can still study their brain. Sounds like your gonna be just fine.

And there you have it folks. Moderator, close the thread!