A message from the Grayslake Colts

A Message from Grayslake Colts Football, Cheer, and Dance

Carol Sente, a State of Illinois Congresswoman, has proposed a bill to ban youth tackle football for kids under the age of 12, causing vigorous public discussions on this subject. Carol Sente has the best of intentions for protecting the children in our state, and free and open public debate on societal issues is a valued American tradition. However, thus far, a small group of passionate individuals has put forth their individual desires for our overall community. They have based their proposal on their own emotional reaction to a personal story of one of our famed retired NFL neighbors, a limited amount of scientific study, and in some cases, extrapolating data from young adult or adult football activity with the assumption that the same conditions apply to youth football. The overall effort appears to operate on the assumption that football is bad for kids, and any information supporting the effort will be used to advance the agenda.

Everyone agrees that football is more than a contact sport. It is a collision sport. However, the past decade has seen advances in both equipment and the way we teach players to block and tackle. The cultural changes in coaching, and the implementation of rules prohibiting the use of the helmet for blocking, running, and tackling have fundamentally changed the game for our kids.

In a recent interview on Chicago Tonight (WTTW), Tregg Duerson emphatically stated that the helmet is used as a “weapon”. His statement showed some ignorance on his part regarding where safety sits within youth football today. For those of us who participate in the TCYFL and USA Football’s “Heads up Football” program as a regular part of daily practice (as the Grayslake Colts program does), we find comments like this not only ignorant, but offensive. Every coach teaches fundamentals that prevent the use of the head. League rules dictate that players who use their helmet are penalized for the first violation of the rules, and ejected for the second – whether it was intentional, or not. Every single player and coach is trained to be acutely aware of when the helmet is used, and there is zero tolerance in either practice or games. Mr. Duerson’s statement is a false indictment of each and every adult who volunteers his time and effort to teach our kids a better, safer game of football.

There is not conclusive, corroborative data supporting the claims put forth by Carol Sente, her supporters, or her bill. Selectively grasping at limited data, with the pre-assumption that “football is bad for our kids,” is not a valid platform. We cannot support the aims of the “Dave Duerson Act”. The outright prohibition of participation in a team sport based on the desires of a special interest group is an assault on the freedoms of us all no matter the circumstances. In the future, the precedent could be used to prohibit other activities, affecting even those who support this bill. The decision to allow a child to participate in any given athletic activity should rest solely with the family – not the state.

During this debate, we have once again witnessed the demonization of football without an effort to elicit the opinion of those who participate, or an effort to learn what has been done to make the game safer. There are risks, as with any sport, of injury. However, those involved in football recognize the risks, work to minimize them through numerous efforts, and continue to seek ways to make the game a safer activity for everyone. It should also be recognized that there are substantial benefits associated with participating in youth football – something not often considered by those who are opposed to the sport.

At the most basic level, football teaches children to work together like no other sport. It is often said that there is a place for everyone on a football team in terms of body type and ability. There is also a place for every race, religion, income level, sex (yes, some girls participate as well), family structure, unique ability, etc. As a part of a football team, nothing else matters except that all players work together to accomplish the goal. There is no room for personal differences, biases, or negative interactions between teammates. In a sense, football teaches our kids the best way to function in a diverse society. The lessons learned in this regard are lessons that kids take with them the rest of their lives regardless of future participation in sports.

Football gives unique opportunities for teaching moments about life. Coaches lecture kids at practice about things like behavior in school, at home, and in public. They talk about the importance of school work, self-respect, and respect for teachers, parents and peers. Coaches are a powerful influence in a young athlete’s life, and we emphasize the role seriously. On the field, we often get opportunities for real life lessons. A penalty assessed, a mistake that unfavorably affects field position, a dropped ball or pass, a missed block -- all go back to a single player. The player knows he or she made a mistake that affected the entire team. The other teammates know which player made the mistake. This becomes a perfect opportunity to teach the player how to take responsibility, overcome the disappointment, and resume the activity with a positive mental attitude. At the same time, the other members of the team learn how to forgive, encourage, and help a friend get back on track. Aren’t these the types of lessons we want to be able to teach our children?

We must ask ourselves – should one group of individuals be able to use state legislature to forcibly control another’s voluntary participation in a sport? Soccer, basketball, lacrosse, softball, gymnastics, water polo, track & field, and cheerleading all have statistics surrounding death and injury rates. Of course, specific statistics can be usually be found to support any given position on any subject. Suffice it to say, all of these sports have risks of injury, documented cases of death, and concern about finding ways to make each activity safer. Should we consider banning them all because our children may get hurt simply by participating?

Sports in general, and football in particular, gives our children the opportunity to learn lessons that help them become the adults we all want them to be. Why use the state to force an agenda on a single group based on perception and a limited amount of study based on outdated information? I would encourage Carol Sente and her group to visit any TCYFL organization, practice, or game day. They can see firsthand the advances we have made in rules, training and actual game play.

Our group tirelessly searches for ways to improve both the safety and the experience of the game. We would be open to working with anyone who has suggestions for achieving our goal. We do not feel, however, that a state imposed prohibition on the sport positively impacts the players that so love this game.

Please consider signing this electronic petition in opposition to this bill

https://www.change.org/p/carol-sente-oppose-illinois-ban-on-youth-tackle-football-bill-hb4341-by-rep-carol-sente