This Neuroscientist Says Kids Shouldn't Play Tackle Football Until 14

"A neuroscientist and CTE advocate (oh, and former WWE superstar), Christopher Nowinski, dedicates his social media presence to try and educate kids and parents about the dangers of concussions, particularly when it comes to playing youth football. He says that most youth football coaches don't know the first thing about coaching football at all. He also says that the average youth football coach knows little to nothing about concussions or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries."

"In a now-viral video, Nowinski stitches a clip of young football players being taught to "not be soft." How are they doing this, you ask? Well, by throwing giant tackle props at them right in their head, of course! After the football clips, Nowinski comes onto the screen to give a little food for thought to parents who might have their kids in youth tackle football or are contemplating signing their kids to join a league."

"'Would you be surprised to learn that the average youth football coach has never received training on how to coach football? Or how to diagnose a concussion?' he asks before he drops a huge bomb that several youth football coaches don't even believe in CTE! He concludes, 'If you want to keep your child's brain safer, choose flag football under 14.'"

A neuroscientist and CTE advocate, formerly a WWE superstar, uses social media to educate parents and kids about concussion dangers in youth football. Most youth football coaches lack formal coaching training and receive little to no instruction on diagnosing concussions or understanding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Viral footage shows coaches encouraging toughness by throwing large tackle props at children's heads and running unsafe contact drills. The NFL recognizes CTE, yet many youth football organizations refuse to admit its existence and push early enrollment. The neuroscientist co-founded the Concussion Legacy Foundation after developing post-concussion syndrome and recommends flag football under 14 to reduce brain injury risk.

Read at Scary Mommy