My issue isn’t age discrepancies. I’m more concerned with young undeveloped necks supporting young undeveloped heads, with an additional 3 pounds added to it. Football also requires a certain amount of mental maturity to play the game and 56’ers struggle with it, much less younger kids. I understand younger kids don’t hit hard enough to hurt each other. Yes you’ll get the odd kid falling wrong, I get all that. I think there’s enough evidence that there could be a link between CTE and other brain related diseases and repeated trauma to the head. The info’s out there, I’m not here to debate it, just stating my opinion.
Quite possibly the larger issue is how many slow developers do we lose because they were out in a no win situation, get the shit knocked out of them and say screw this. If you’ve been involved in youth Football for 10 years I’m sure you’ve seen the 4th grade runt that grows up to be an all conference lineman. I’m sure you’re also aware of the 4th grade phenoms that never even see the field or play in HS.
I’m interested in growing the game. If we don’t adapt, and I feel like the NFHS has done a great job with recent rule changes that moves us in a positive direction. I am not advocating for banning tackle football under 7th grade. I feel like we’re at a place where we can still accomplish the fundamental skills we need without full contact in 56ers, and if the powers that be see fit to do such a thing, I wouldn’t be mad about it.