The injury to New England Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden during a preseason game against Green Bay is raising safety concerns among medical professionals as data shows fewer children are playing the sport across Massachusetts.
Data from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association shows a roughly 10 percent drop in youth football enrollments compared to 10 years ago, from more than 20,100 participants in 2013-2014 to just over 18,000 in 2022-2023. Meanwhile, researchers continue to find evidence linking exercise to conditions like CTE, Parkinson’s and ALS.
| Year | soccer participant |
| 2022-23 | 18.013 |
| 2021-22 | 17,198 |
| 2018-19 | 18,098 |
| 2017-18 | 19.011 |
| 2016-17 | 18,967 |
| 2015-16 | 19,811 |
| 2014-15 | 19,871 |
| 2013-14 | 20.139 |
| 2012-13 | 19,667 |
| 2011-12 | 19,888 |
Data courtesy of MIAA
Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, a former Harvard football player and professional wrestler, suggests waiting to enroll kids in tackle football until they reach middle or high school and enrolling them in flag football instead. where children are less likely to suffer direct blows to the head.
“The data shows very clearly that flag football is growing very rapidly and youth tackle football is declining, particularly in the younger stadiums,” Nowinski told NBC10 Boston on Monday.
Nowinski acknowledged that the NFL made important policy changes to improve safety, including creating concussion logs, limiting hits in practice, and reducing the number of kickoffs per game. However, Nowinski added that there is still work to be done, particularly at the youth level.
“If the NFL is going to take the next big step in making its players safer, they need to change what happens to football players before they step onto an NFL field,” Nowinski said. “Football is the only team sport in the United States where five-year-olds have the same rules as adults.”
Local non-profit youth football organization Pop Warner issued an emailed statement noting changes the organization has made to improve child safety, including the elimination of the three-point stance and kickoffs teaching blocking and tackling to younger age groups, reducing contacts allowed during training, and requiring coach education.
During a Monday morning news conference, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said prioritizing safety at the professional level was the right decision.
“I think a lot of the rule changes have been beneficial,” Belichick said. “The sport of the sport. As this is a contact sport there is always the possibility of clashes and contact, but try to make the sport as safe as possible.”
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