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I played football in up through High School, and I'd definitely say I would be a different person today if I hadn't gone through it. The camaraderie amongst the

I played football in up through High School, and I'd definitely say I would be a different person today if I hadn't gone through it. The camaraderie amongst the team is unique amongst every experience I've had since. Plus working through something so challenging definitely provides a great level of satisfaction. I like who I am today, even if I might have a higher risk for any symptoms, and I believe football played a key part in my development.

heygrady 9y ago
Feeling camaraderie is not exclusive to football. I felt that same thing being in the marching band and playing soccer. It is a good thing for young people to belong to a team and work together to achieve a common goal. Because it's possible to experience the benefits of camaraderie without the risks of brain damage, it's sensible to question if football is too dangerous for children.
- ApolloFortyNine 9y ago
  I made a response answering this over here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14867607 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14867607 Basically, Football works you harder physically (strength), which makes the camaraderie that much stronger (you all overcame the same adversity).
  - heygrady 9y ago
    Your core argument that football builds stronger camaraderie [than other sports or team-like activities] is unsupportable. There is no reason to believe that football is the key ingredient to lasting feelings of camaraderie. What if we just put high school students through a marines-style boot camp? Also, everyone from the marching band still remembers marching through Disney World in 100+ degree heat in full marching uniforms. It was tough and it was a memorable bond we all shared.
  - root_axis 9y ago
    Physicality is just one aspect of teamwork and camaraderie. Ever played in a (good) band? The levels of shared precision and intimacy required to synchronize on complex pieces of music for hours is difficult to put into words and certainly not to be taken lightly as far as camaraderie goes, you have to rely on the competence of your bandmates on a level that is relatively uncommon compared to most sports.
luckydata 9y ago
Don't you think any kind of challenge in a team setting would have provided the same growth without the side effect of possibly irreversible brain damage? I'm happy you like football, but I don't think you can say it forms character in a unique way, it's just a team sport and there's tons of team sport where hitting people with your head aren't the bread and butter of it. Try volleyball, if you have to fuck up something I would rather go with the knees and hips rather than the head.
- ApolloFortyNine 9y ago
  "Just a team sport" No other sport works you as hard as Football does. Between three-a-days (practicing 8am to 8pm) for weeks, and each practice primarily consisting of basically playing football (running play after play, at 100%, for practice, with tackling), Football works you harder than any other sport. I'll get told by some this is just my opinion, but the vast majority of other sports are not shear tests of strength the same way Football is. If you're a lineman in football, every play is practically you bench pressing another player your size over the field. And it's the same for every lineman, and anyone on offense has to do the same. So yes, I believe Football works character differently due to the sheer difficulty of the sport physically.
  - rpearl 9y ago
    For swimming at a college level, we got up at about 4:30, swam 5-7, lifted 7-8, then classes, then swam 4-6, then stretches/bodyweight exercises. This was while classes were in session. During the winter training trip, we would do the same, but also swam sprints in the middle of the day. Sometimes other teams, including the football team, would try to use the pool for off-sport workouts. We would crush them. But when we ran, they would not outrun us. And that's just one sport I have personal experience with. Please do not discount what other athletes are doing--any sport is an intentionally competitive environment, everyone is looking to gain advantage: that push to go harder is present and is not exclusive to football.
    - ApolloFortyNine 9y ago
w00bl3ywook 9y ago
I got the same benefit from joining science club! Minus the brain damage.
- kodfodrasz 9y ago
  Or not, you cannot know until you try both. You should know the scientific method from the science club. ;)

heygrady 9y ago

Feeling camaraderie is not exclusive to football. I felt that same thing being in the marching band and playing soccer. It is a good thing for young people to belong to a team and work together to achieve a common goal. Because it's possible to experience the benefits of camaraderie without the risks of brain damage, it's sensible to question if football is too dangerous for children.

ApolloFortyNine 9y ago
I made a response answering this over here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14867607 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14867607 Basically, Football works you harder physically (strength), which makes the camaraderie that much stronger (you all overcame the same adversity).
- heygrady 9y ago
  Your core argument that football builds stronger camaraderie [than other sports or team-like activities] is unsupportable. There is no reason to believe that football is the key ingredient to lasting feelings of camaraderie. What if we just put high school students through a marines-style boot camp? Also, everyone from the marching band still remembers marching through Disney World in 100+ degree heat in full marching uniforms. It was tough and it was a memorable bond we all shared.
- root_axis 9y ago
  Physicality is just one aspect of teamwork and camaraderie. Ever played in a (good) band? The levels of shared precision and intimacy required to synchronize on complex pieces of music for hours is difficult to put into words and certainly not to be taken lightly as far as camaraderie goes, you have to rely on the competence of your bandmates on a level that is relatively uncommon compared to most sports.

luckydata 9y ago

Don't you think any kind of challenge in a team setting would have provided the same growth without the side effect of possibly irreversible brain damage? I'm happy you like football, but I don't think you can say it forms character in a unique way, it's just a team sport and there's tons of team sport where hitting people with your head aren't the bread and butter of it. Try volleyball, if you have to fuck up something I would rather go with the knees and hips rather than the head.

ApolloFortyNine 9y ago
"Just a team sport" No other sport works you as hard as Football does. Between three-a-days (practicing 8am to 8pm) for weeks, and each practice primarily consisting of basically playing football (running play after play, at 100%, for practice, with tackling), Football works you harder than any other sport. I'll get told by some this is just my opinion, but the vast majority of other sports are not shear tests of strength the same way Football is. If you're a lineman in football, every play is practically you bench pressing another player your size over the field. And it's the same for every lineman, and anyone on offense has to do the same. So yes, I believe Football works character differently due to the sheer difficulty of the sport physically.
- rpearl 9y ago
  For swimming at a college level, we got up at about 4:30, swam 5-7, lifted 7-8, then classes, then swam 4-6, then stretches/bodyweight exercises. This was while classes were in session. During the winter training trip, we would do the same, but also swam sprints in the middle of the day. Sometimes other teams, including the football team, would try to use the pool for off-sport workouts. We would crush them. But when we ran, they would not outrun us. And that's just one sport I have personal experience with. Please do not discount what other athletes are doing--any sport is an intentionally competitive environment, everyone is looking to gain advantage: that push to go harder is present and is not exclusive to football.
  - ApolloFortyNine 9y ago

w00bl3ywook 9y ago

I got the same benefit from joining science club! Minus the brain damage.

kodfodrasz 9y ago
Or not, you cannot know until you try both. You should know the scientific method from the science club. ;)