In the past few years studies have come out to the public that have shown the dangers of football. The media specifically has made a big deal about what has come out of these studies. Former NFL players, have complained about brain damage due to their football career. Even though these studies and concerns about the sport have come out to the public, this “dangerous” sport is still safe for kids to play. When a former player blames football for later problems in their life it gets blown up in the media but people don’t realize how many lives football saves.

Here at Highland, the football coaches focus on so much more than football. The coaches stress hard work, dedication, and the family bond that is created. Coach Benson is one of the only coaches at Highland and in the state that checks player’s grades on a weekly basis. As a player, it can be annoying and a pain to always have to worry about your football coach checking your grades but as I’ve grown older I can see that he worries about what goes on off the field because he cares about his players so much. Even in the offseason, Coach Benson is the first to know if one of his players is acting up in class or misbehaving. At Highland, football saves many kids lives and helps them succeed off the field especially.

Concussions have become one of the biggest concerns for this sport. The effects of a concussion can last anywhere from a few days to a couple months. Concussions have always been a part of this dangerous sport but only recently have we learned about the large impact it can have on the athlete. Some parents who played back before we knew so much about concussions will not let their kids play. This is confusing to me because now there is so much concern about concussions that kids have to go through a number of protocols and exercises before they are even allowed to be back on the field. The equipment is also as advanced as it has ever been. Even though the nicest of helmets can’t fully prevent concussions it reduces the risk significantly.

Many concerned parents and guardians have found alternate sports for their children because of the dangers that come along with football. Even though these studies have come out and people are more aware of how dangerous football is, it is still safe for kids to play. There are plenty of risks of the sport that cannot be fully prevented but every sport has risks. Parents need to be worried about their children playing football by making sure they are using correct technique when playing and also that they have equipment that will help reduce the risk of head injuries. As a football player myself, I have never suffered from a concussion or any serious injury while playing. I am grateful for coaches that make sure we are playing the right way but most importantly the safe way. It is vital for children to learn at a young age how to tackle properly so they do not put them or their opponent at an increased risk of injury.

Most people do not know that there are more concussions in soccer than in football. This does not justify the risk of football but it gives parents a perspective that all sports have these risks.

Football like many sports gives the athlete an escape from the real world and can give them the positive exposure they needed in their life.

Coach Benson has lost track of how many people that have come through his program and used football as a springboard of success. One that sticks out to him is the story of Hea Tuifua. Tuifua was a four year player for Coach Benson and started at Center in the state championship game in 2010. He didn’t come from a necessarily bad family but football gave him direction in his life. He had older brothers that did not graduate from High School and had also spent some time in jail.

“Football have Hea an opportunity which no one in his family has ever had,” Coach Benson said.

Hea walked on to the William Penn football team and eventually earned a scholarship for football. This upcoming football season he is a Pre-Season All-American for the NAIA division and now is on track to graduate spring of 2016 and is going to have a degree. If it wasn’t for football Tuifua would not have any of these opportunities.

“Football has opened doors for him to where now he has options and now he can pick what he wants to do with his life,” Benson said.

Tuifua wasn’t necessarily heading down a path full of crime and failure but football opened doors for him and it’s going to give him a better life down the road.

A recent story of Michael Oher known as “The Blindside” made it to Hollywood as it tells how Oher was a homeless teenager who was brought into a family who exposed him to football and now he is in the NFL. Football took him out of his tough lifestyle and gave him a career and also a college education that he could rely on if football did not work out.

Stories like Oher’s occur in the halls of Highland. There might not be any NFL athletes waiting for their chance at football but people do not realize the escape that the sport provides and the opportunities to excel in all areas of life.

The game of football is also known for the undeniable team concept and the relationships that come out of playing the great game. Many football teams call their teammates their brothers and refer to their team as a family due to the great relationships that they develop. I am grateful for the coaches that I have had because they have taught so many lessons within the game that will help throughout life. Hard work, perseverance, and the team concept are just a few of these lessons. Other sports can do the same but football takes it to another level.

It is uncommon to hear of people that regret playing football despite if they are still recovering from injuries suffered on the field. No one says “I played college football and I wish I never would have” it is much more common to hear the flipside. Football is receiving a lot of criticism for concussions but all sports have this danger.