Target: Bernie Sanders, Chair of U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Goal: Broaden national protections for kids at risk from sports-related injuries and deaths.
After only a month of youth football play, seven junior high and high schoolers – ranging in age from 13 to 16 – have tragically died. Most of the deaths resulted from head injuries or heat-related stress. And once again, concerned parents and other advocates are asking why protections for kids are not as robust as for professional football players.
Two of the tragedies – the passing of 13-year-old Cohen Craddock and of 16-year-old Caden Tellier – unfolded on the same day. In both cases, the kids reportedly sustained traumatic head injuries. Cohen Craddock’s father has called for the widespread use of youth guardian caps, which are soft head covers used along with helmets to provide protection. Guardian caps have been mandated in pro football, and they have apparently led to a 50 percent reduction in concussion rates. Yet the caps are seemingly few and far between in youth football.
A dearth of state regulations relating to heat stress in sports have also compounded the risks. As summers get dangerously hotter, kids are often forced to practice in simmering temperatures. But only a handful of states have laws on the books requiring schools to put measures in place to protect young players from heatstroke.
Sign the petition below to urge national investment in safety standards that could save children’s lives.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Sanders,
“I don’t think we need to do away with football. A lot of people enjoy football, including myself. I just think we need to maybe put more safety measures out there to protect our kids.” A heartbroken father who lost his 13-year-old son to a football-related head injury is making his case for the most tragic reasons. And he is right.
In 2023, 13 youth football players died. Fast-forward one year, and more than half this number have died after only a month. Despite these clear and deadly warning signals, the guardian caps that NFL players use to shield themselves from deadly concussions are still an infrequent site on youth football fields. Moreover, safeguards against heat stress are only mandatory in a few regions. And even in states that do have laws on the books, enforcement and compliance are often lacking.
Mandated guardian caps and heat stress guidelines are an important path forward since efforts to limit tackle football for youth have repeatedly failed. Common-sense protections should be the rule and not the exception, especially when the lives of kids are at stake. Please fight for these safeguards at the national level.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Hawk ii
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