Advocacy by and for People with ABI (Acquired Brain Injury)
Public Policy of Brain Injury Network
Policy Dated 3-11-10
Sports or Athletic Activities - A Good Mind for Life is more Important than a Trophy: Those of us who have sustained brain injury do not want any children to have brain injuries, just because their parents, fellow students, coaches, schools, and pro athletes, etc. promote and glamorize what really can be quite dangerous sports activities. We recommend that children not engage in sports activity that might lead to brain injury. We believe that contact sports, such as football and rugby, are too dangerous for children. We go so far as to state that boxing is too dangerous. We also believe that children should always wear protective head gear when biking, skiing, and boarding, etc. We also note that particular activities in certain sports are too dangerous for both children and adults. Examples of dangerous activities include head butting in such sports as soccer, football, basketball, etc. We recommend that children never engage in head butting with other children or even with just a ball. Blows to the head are dangerous.
We recognize that playing sports is valuable. Children learn from playing sports. They learn about teamwork, strategy, competitiveness, cooperation, and how to gracefully win or lose by engaging in sport. Athletics and sports also help children develop their coordination skills and help them stay “physically fit.” There is also evidence that exercise in and of itself helps stimulate brain function as well. But surely there are safe sports that children can play in which they can learn the value and fun of organized sport. No dangerous sporting activity is more important than the value of a sharp mind, especially to young people who have their whole lives ahead of them. Being able to think clearly is more important than a winning a game or trophy. So we recommend that society put in more of an effort to stress sports that are less dangerous, especially within the school system.
Perhaps someday even adult human beings will disengage from the pursuit of all contact sports that could conceivably injure the minds of their competitors or their own minds. That time of enlightenment is probably a long way off, but we are happy to present that as a potential goal for humanity.