Football had a health problem long before COVID-19 came along. Every level of the sport has been affected by concussions, brain injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Any Pop Warner tackle- football league can be at risk as well.
It's not possible to prevent concussions on the football field. There is no way to eliminate the sport without wiping them all out. I don't think anyone would justify that argument. There are many problems caused by the barbarism of the sport and denying them is a problem. One professional league is trying to limit head injuries while not giving up on their athletic ability.
The American 7s Football League has had an annual season for the last three years. The championship game of the A7FL will be played on Sunday. The stadium is on the eastern side. Players without helmets or pads will be featured. Special teams injuries can be caused by players running almost the entire length of the field before making contact, which is why the A7FL doesn't have kick offs, field goals, or punts.
The most exciting play in sports is a 3- against-1 throw-off, according to Sener Korkusuz, co-founder of the A7FL. A football field is about 37 yards, but games can be played on a sideline or far-hash mark.
You don't have to watch any of our games. According to Korkusuz, our guys are not hitting head-to-head, not repeatedly hitting head-to-head with subconcussive blows that contribute to what many think causes chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It is not something that happens in our game. In traditional football, if you hit a helmet-to-helmet, you are out of the game. Those add up over a career and are trouble even if it is not a concussion. We are moving in the right direction.
Korkusuz didn't have an exact number for the league's history but said he believes the number of total yearly concussions is in the single digits. The number of concussions in the preseason and regular-season games and practices decreased from the previous year.
Korkusuz said that they wouldn't say that and hadn't said that before. It is possible to have a head-to-head concussion. There is a chance that it could be a freak accident. We are concerned about going to the back of the ground. That is now the main area of concern. Today, some of the equipment is available to help. The soft-padded headgear is a piece of equipment that can be used in the league.
David is one of the co-founders of A7FL. The message from Korkusuz was that the results found in mixed martial arts about preventing head injuries as an evolution from boxing is the lane helmetless 7-on-7 football. Fighters in MMA were given different ways to win bouts. Boxing is more important than knockouts with head blows in the UFC. Leading with their heads is less common without a helmet.
The A7FL is still in its infancy compared to most major American sports leagues, so its trials to limit the start of the disease won't have much data for a long time. It is a great start.
We will have more concrete numbers and how much of a percentage in reduction compared to traditional football in the next 20 years, according to Korkusuz. It is shocking to see that a sport like this can be played. No helmets, no pads, and still maintain the excitement of the game.
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