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Monthly Archives: June 2017

Would Less Protective Equipment Make Football Safer?

Jun 30, 2017 - Uncategorized by

Unless the rules of play in football changed dramatically, the answer to this question is a resounding NO. Granted, rugby is seen as the fastest growing sport in the U.S., despite its players’ use of no protective equipment while playing a tackling sport. Our Tuscaloosa accident attorneys warn that while the injuries suffered while playing the two sports are somewhat different due to different rules of play, rugby players still sustain serious injuries. Most important, regardless of the amount of equipment or rules of play, child athletes need to be under the diligent protection of the parties in charge of their teams. Reasons Why Rugby is Considered Safe Without Protective Equipment Utah Youth Rugby asserts that rugby does not require safety equipment for the following reasons: The objective is possession rather than yardage. Players are encouraged to pass prior to being tackled, and they learn other techniques to retain the ball. In football, the objective of reducing the opponent’s yardage encourages tackling. Tackling is a different experience. Rugby requires that tacklers wrap their arms around opponents, with no tackling permitted above the shoulders. Football applies fewer tackling rules — and tackled players are hit by hard and heavy equipment. Evasion rather than blocking is the choice. By evading opponents, rugby players rely on better knowledge of the players around them in order to anticipate and avoid contact. In the event of a tackle, they are better prepared than football players who are often hit unexpectedly with brute force. Of course, […]

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