Marcus Wenger

English 102
Mr. Padgett
2/16/16
Risk of High School Football
Over the past 20 years doctors and medical examiners have made
incredible strides in understanding the human brain. As we begin to
understand the brain better we learn what can also affect our brain. Doctors
have discovered through research and studies that concussions and repeated
head trauma causes a disease known as CTE in the brain. CTE stands for
Chronic Truamatic Encephalopathy and is a degenerative brain disease
commonly found in retired NFL athletes. CTE destroys the brain leaving the
recipient debilitated. Recent discoveries on the effect of repeated head
trauma through concussions and CTE prove why football is too dangerous of
a sport to be played in high school.
Repeated head trauma including concussions cause a disease in the
brain recently discovered called CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).
This disease is most commonly found in retired athletes that participated in
contact sports like football and boxing. CTE can only be diagnosed post
mortem by finding concentrations of tau protein in the brain. The tau protein
in the brain builds up and destroys gradually deteriorating the brain.
Symptoms of CTE include, loss of memory, difficulty controlling impulsive or
erratic behavior, impaired judgment, behavioral disturbances including
aggression and depression, difficult with balance, and a gradual onset of
dementia.(BIRI) These effects leave the individual suffering from CTE
debilitated and completely dependent on others. Life for athletes suffering
from this disease end very early and are found commonly in the news now a
days as suicides. This life-killing disease is easily preventable by avoiding
repeated blows to the head which in the end is all what football is about.
Arent only professional athletes susceptible to CTE such as NFL
football players and professional boxers? That is not the case as CTE has
been found in athletes as young as the age of 18 years old. The 18 year olds
post mortem exam found that concentrations of tau protein had already
started to build up in his brain. Young athletes and amateurs commonly
receive concussions from football just like professionals. A study was done by
Robert M. Guthrie researching the probability of concussions in youth
football, high school football, and college football. The study also evaluated
where concussions either in games or practice. The study concluded that 1 in
every 30 youth players sustain one concussion in a competitive year. 1 in

every 14 players at the high school level and 1 in every 20 players at the
collegiate level. As one can see that concussions are quite common for
anyone participating in the sport of football. A majority of football players
who play in high school and college started out at a very young age. The
chance of the athlete suffering not only one but multiple concussions
throughout their youth is very high especially since once an athlete receives
his first concussion they are more likely to receive another one.
Football should no longer be a sport played at the high school level due
to the effect of repeated head trauma caused from the contact sport. The
repeated head trauma causes concussions and develops the process of CTE
in the brain. High School football players range between the ages of 15-18
years old. This key developmental part of a teenagers life is very important
and concussions during this time period makes the teen more susceptible to
mental illness. Despite this sports history, tradition, and ongoing attempt to
make the game safer, football has proven to still not be at the level of safety
needed for developing teenagers to participate in.

Are the effects of football on the brain making the sport too
dangerous?
Why are you interested in this research question?

I am interested in this research question because this topic touches

very close to home for me. Football has been such a big part of my life
and I have played the sport for 10 years starting in 2nd grade. I have
suffered concussions and now that I am done playing I fear what we all
now know about concussions and their effect.

How does this research question affect you and your values, or does it not?

This research has changed my values about football. I still love and
respect the game but at the same time something needs to be done to
make the game safer. When I was in high school I knew about the
dangers of concussions but I still put my team and that moment ahead
of my safety and future. This culture and situation needs to change for
the safety of everyone participating in this sport.
What is your personal experience regarding this?

I have played football my whole life and have firsthand experience

facing this topic. I have suffered concussions and continued to play
until I graduated from high school. I know what it is like to want to play

through the concussion for your team but I also now see what is more
important in life post football.
What makes you qualified to write about this?

I am qualified to write about this topic because I have done a lot of

research on this topic. I have closely followed this topic through the
news over the last couple years. My personal experience from before,
during, and after all of the concussion studies and awareness.

Three Sources
1. The Physician and Sports medicine
a. Concussions is becoming a big issue not only for the professionals but also
for the youth. 1 In every 14 high school football players suffer a concussion
during 1 year of play that goes recorded. 57.7% of high school concussions
occur during practice making it clear that everyone who plays football needs
to know their risks at all levels of the game.
b. The major value at stake in this article is its research about how common
it is for football players at each level to receive a concussion. The frequency
at all levels is very high which is hard to believe especially in kids that are so
young. This proves the importance of keeping their brains safe as they
mature and grow. Concussions impede this process.
c. The source is very credible since it is written from a well published
research study performed by doctors that are professionals in the field. The
study is thoroughly explained and sourced with well documented specific
data. The research was also published helping prove its credibility. The
author does not have any bias since all of his information and conclusions
come from the well published study that he ran.
2. A late hit for pro football players
a. CTE is a late hit for pro football players since the effects do not occur until
later on in the athletes life. Tau protein builds up in the athletes brain from
repeated head trauma and causes what we know as CTE. The fact that an 18
year old football player who died was found with CTE helping raise the
question how young is too young for these dangerous contact sports.
b. The major values and interests at stake for this article are making the
reader aware of the question how young is too young to participating in
dangerous sports like football. Especially if an 18 year old boy was found to
have already been suffering from this disease that we typically only see in
much older athletes.

c. The original article was originally published by American Association for

the Advancement of Science. The study and research was executed by
professional doctors. The author does not have any bias because the
information the author used were from well recognized studies and doctors.
3. BIRI Protect the Brain
a. CTE is a brain disease caused by repeated trauma to the head typically
found in football players and boxers. The condition persists over a period of
years and decades. CTE can be debilitating and impact friends, family, and
loved ones. The disease can only be diagnosed post mortem and can be
associated with Alzheimers.
b. The major values and interests at stake for this article are the effects of
CTE on the brain. CTE destroys the brain causing it to loss mass leading to all
types of completely debilitating complications further down the road in life.
The accumulation of tau protein is the best way to diagnose CTE causing an
interference between neurons in the brain.
c. The article source comes from the Brain Injury Institute Research website.
This is a very credible site that is written by professionals in their field. The
author does not have any bias viewpoints because it is strictly based on
research findings and evidence proven through repeated research studies.

How is the research question arguable, and why?

This research question is arguable because some may believe that

there is not enough evidence linking football as a cause. The NFL has
come up with many new penalties to try and reduce the number of
concussions and there has been a slight improvement. However,
concussions are still way too prevalent to be considered a safe enough
sport and significant changes must be made to the way we play
football.

What are some agreements and disagreements among the sources you
have found?

A lot of doctors and brain trauma surgeons agree that more and more
research is still coming up and needs to be discovered. Many sources
also say that this is a rising issue that will force change to happen with
how we play football.
How do the different perspectives of the sources affect your own?

The different perspectives helped solidify my stance that football is too

dangerous of a sport unless new technology and rules create a much
safer game.
How might you need to revise your research question?

I might need to revise my research question to be more specific as to

why I believe and what evidence I have to argue with. I could also
incorporate a counter argument to help strengthen my paper.