On the heels of the National Football League's (NFL) concussion settlement, youth football organizations hope to reassure parents the beloved American sport is getting "safer," according to ABC News.
"This will mean more research adding to what we're already doing on a national level in terms of football player safety," said Steve Alic, spokesman for the Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization USA Football. "Player safety will be advanced not just in football but in every sport."
"Parents are gaining the assurance that coaches are prepared to teach the game better and safer,"Alic said, noting that 2.8 million kids between the ages of 6 and 14 currently play in youth tackle leagues. "And the additional research money coming from this [settlement] is good news for all sports."
According to ABC news, youth sports registration have decreased in the past few years. Alic hopes the NFL taking responsibility and better regulating injuries will show that sports organizations are taking the necessary precautions to keep their players safe.
NFL settled the lawsuit filed against them by more than 4,500 players who believe the league "ignored, minimized, disputed and actively suppressed" the link between concussion and some severe neurological diseases.
"The deal includes $675 million in compensation to former players or their families, a $75 million investment in baseline neurological testing and a $10 million research and education fund," ABC News reports.
Experts agree it isn't just about protecting NFL players from head injuries, because whiplash injuries can be just as bad has head-first tackling. Hits to a player's spine and neck can also be just as damaging.
"You might not have an outright concussion, but these multiple hits to head have potential consequences in the short and long term," Dr. Dennis Cardone, a sports medicine expert and a director of NYU Langone's Concussion Center, told ABC News.
