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Just gonna say it, cause I know everyone is thinking it - Hamish is such a shit name.
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Just gonna say it, cause I know everyone is thinking it - Hamish is such a s**t name.
I played from the age of 6 til about 22. I never was concussed once.We're in an awkward transition period to a sport that has very little to no physical contact.
Unless the AFL creates a sport that is safe to play at all levels they'll continue losing kids to other sports and it's entire future will be at risk. Purists won't like it.. but I genuinely don't think the AFL has any other choice.
We already have recruiters concerned about the lack of talent in pipeline to support the current system let alone a 19th team. Reality is participation rates are WAY down at all junior levels and many parents do not want their kids playing AFL.
My son has had his 5th concussion yesterday in just over a season of under 9's footy. Five kids left the game yesterday with concussions. I know for a fact that more than half of his team won't go on to under 12's.
And at the same time the AFL is up to its eyeballs in lawsuits from former players dealing with post career brain trauma thats likely to lead to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of compensation payments.
Change is coming. Many won't like the new product - but there's no viable future for the AFL unless it evolves.
Probably an issue if you’re getting concussed as a coachWhere the hell is your son playing? Both my boys have played since they were 6 and are now adults playing at state league level. One concussion between the 2 of them. I have coached for 11 seasons and for memory have had 6 concussions total across that period. My younger brother is coaching under 9’s in WA and I just texted him ‘how many concussions have you had this season?’ His response was: ‘LOL none, it’s under 9s FFS’
I agree that concussion protection is important, but it sounds like something is seriously, seriously wrong in your junior competition if you are having that volume of concussions at under 9s.
Obviously the sample size is extremely small, but in the past few years the number of high school kids signing up for Australian rules football is dwindling especially compared to soccer.
In the lightning carnival for a high school just last week, only 30 signed up for AFL (whole contingent is about 500) while 150 signed up for soccer. As recently as maybe ten years ago those two numbers would have been swapped around. Roughly 100 signed up for basketball which also indicates a trend there perhaps towards less physical contact sports.
I say 'perhaps' because it may also be attributed to the rise of internet streaming and greater penetration into Australia of traditionally overseas sports like soccer and basketball.
Probably an issue if you’re getting concussed as a coach
Isn't under 9's non tackling and mandatory helmets? Are they playing grown men?We're in an awkward transition period to a sport that has very little to no physical contact.
Unless the AFL creates a sport that is safe to play at all levels they'll continue losing kids to other sports and it's entire future will be at risk. Purists won't like it.. but I genuinely don't think the AFL has any other choice.
We already have recruiters concerned about the lack of talent in pipeline to support the current system let alone a 19th team. Reality is participation rates are WAY down at all junior levels and many parents do not want their kids playing AFL.
My son has had his 5th concussion yesterday in just over a season of under 9's footy. Five kids left the game yesterday with concussions. I know for a fact that more than half of his team won't go on to under 12's.
And at the same time the AFL is up to its eyeballs in lawsuits from former players dealing with post career brain trauma thats likely to lead to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of compensation payments.
Change is coming. Many won't like the new product - but there's no viable future for the AFL unless it evolves.
Most 8 and 9 year olds are clumsy and lack awareness of others around them on the field during games.Isn't under 9's non tackling and mandatory helmets? Are they playing grown men?
Fair enough, appreciate the insight.Most 8 and 9 year olds are clumsy and lack awareness of others around them on the field during games.
Head clashes are common as they run into each other a lot.
10 year junior coach from 6s up…me
You’ve let your kid keep playing after two concussions? At U/9 level?We're in an awkward transition period to a sport that has very little to no physical contact.
Unless the AFL creates a sport that is safe to play at all levels they'll continue losing kids to other sports and it's entire future will be at risk. Purists won't like it.. but I genuinely don't think the AFL has any other choice.
We already have recruiters concerned about the lack of talent in pipeline to support the current system let alone a 19th team. Reality is participation rates are WAY down at all junior levels and many parents do not want their kids playing AFL.
My son has had his 5th concussion yesterday in just over a season of under 9's footy. Five kids left the game yesterday with concussions. I know for a fact that more than half of his team won't go on to under 12's.
And at the same time the AFL is up to its eyeballs in lawsuits from former players dealing with post career brain trauma thats likely to lead to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of compensation payments.
Change is coming. Many won't like the new product - but there's no viable future for the AFL unless it evolves.
Isn't under 9's non tackling and mandatory helmets? Are they playing grown men?
No helmets. A lot of tackling.
Multiple kids with head injuries each week.
It’s tricky. I coached a junior side that were full of young kids who were naturally aggressive and quickly adapted to the changes in rules with tackling as the age group progressed.Fair enough, appreciate the insight.
Not sure how you're supposed to get around that if you're the AFL.
That statement is flawedIf parents are perceiving soccer as 'safer' than afl that would be greatly ironic given that sport is doing nothing to change headers and thats a greater concussion risk than half the stuff in the afl.
I concur. As far as I know and felt, modern soccer balls are lighter than a lump of fairyfloss.That statement is flawed