May as well play tick and pass then.
One easy and instant change could be to limit tackling to below the waist, classic tackle if you like. No head contact where presently, as long as the tackler hits the shoulder first, it's hardly counted as a 'head' tackle.
Below the waist tackling would make the game a lot faster with offloads etc.
I think it would be difficult to tackle below the waist at all times. If you are tracking back fair enough but if someone is running directly at you. Also you couldn't do 2 man tackles so close to the line the big guys could fall over the line. The number of penalties would be high as well.
For me the actions and protocols are now in place and people are aware of the risks. So it's up to the individual to choose the career or not, like I'm boxing. The issue 20 years ago was people didn't know the risk and they would play on with a head knock and also play the week after without giving the brain enough time to recover from the injury.
One easy and instant change could be to limit tackling to below the waist, classic tackle if you like. No head contact where presently, as long as the tackler hits the shoulder first, it’s hardly counted as a ‘head’ tackle. Below the waist tackling would make the game a lot faster with offloads etc.
I don't think the overall issue is solely down to "Head High" Tackles.
It's more to do with impact clashes such as, head clashes in a tackle, head impacts on the ground, and poor tackling technique around the waist (where defenders get sparked out because their head as made contact with the ball carrying player's hip).
If anything, your suggestion would probably increase the latter above.
I think it would be difficult to tackle below the waist at all times. If you are tracking back fair enough but if someone is running directly at you. Also you couldn’t do 2 man tackles so close to the line the big guys could fall over the line. The number of penalties would be high as well. For me the actions and protocols are now in place and people are aware of the risks. So it’s up to the individual to choose the career or not, like I’m boxing. The issue 20 years ago was people didn’t know the risk and they would play on with a head knock and also play the week after without giving the brain enough time to recover from the injury.
I think it's only a matter of time before both Rugby codes and Football are forced to change the rules.
There's already been a semi-pro trial football match without heading, and I think kids are already banned from heading the ball in training too, so changes are already being made.
I have every sympathy with Bobby Goulding and anyone else suffering with this terrible illness, but I can't help thinking that all these claims from ex players in this and other sports, is being promoted by ambulance chasing solicitors.
Probably every sport or activity has its dangers, even tick and pass. The logical outcome of reacting to the current litigious world we live in, would be to ban all activities that have an element of risk. You could trip over a kerb while you are out walking, so perhaps we should all stay indoors watching Loose Women - hang on, that may drive you to depression!!!
The important point is that sports recognise any potential long- term issues from playing the game and take measures to minimise that risk. Players should also be made fully aware of any potential risks. I think the game has moved forward in dealing with head injuries in recent years
I am sure that there are plenty of ex players with knee problems and other issues due to playing on with injuries, or pumped with pain killers or cortisone injections to enable them to continue playing with an injury.
I am not sure whether RL has any kind of social fund to support ex players, but perhaps that could be addressed.
There are many people suffering from dementia and not all of them have played in any sport; and there are a number of causes of dementia, so it is not clear cut that it directly arises from sport injuries.
I have every sympathy with Bobby Goulding and anyone else suffering with this terrible illness, but I can’t help thinking that all these claims from ex players in this and other sports, is being promoted by ambulance chasing solicitors. Probably every sport or activity has its dangers, even tick and pass. The logical outcome of reacting to the current litigious world we live in, would be to ban all activities that have an element of risk. You could trip over a kerb while you are out walking, so perhaps we should all stay indoors watching Loose Women – hang on, that may drive you to depression!!! The important point is that sports recognise any potential long- term issues from playing the game and take measures to minimise that risk. Players should also be made fully aware of any potential risks. I think the game has moved forward in dealing with head injuries in recent years I am sure that there are plenty of ex players with knee problems and other issues due to playing on with injuries, or pumped with pain killers or cortisone injections to enable them to continue playing with an injury. I am not sure whether RL has any kind of social fund to support ex players, but perhaps that could be addressed. There are many people suffering from dementia and not all of them have played in any sport; and there are a number of causes of dementia, so it is not clear cut that it directly arises from sport injuries.
Sorry Frank, you're wrong there.
Repeated blows to head within a sporting environment (even minor ones) causes blunt force trauma to the Brain.
The pathologist who examined the brain of former West Brom & England Striker Jeff Astle (who died aged 59 in 2002) said he'd never seen blunt force trauma as bad as that in his entire professional career.
And that was caused by heading footballs.
So much for 'Bring back the Biff!!!'
Ea
I have every sympathy with Bobby Goulding and anyone else suffering with this terrible illness, but I can’t help thinking that all these claims from ex players in this and other sports, is being promoted by ambulance chasing solicitors. Probably every sport or activity has its dangers, even tick and pass. The logical outcome of reacting to the current litigious world we live in, would be to ban all activities that have an element of risk. You could trip over a kerb while you are out walking, so perhaps we should all stay indoors watching Loose Women – hang on, that may drive you to depression!!! The important point is that sports recognise any potential long- term issues from playing the game and take measures to minimise that risk. Players should also be made fully aware of any potential risks. I think the game has moved forward in dealing with head injuries in recent years I am sure that there are plenty of ex players with knee problems and other issues due to playing on with injuries, or pumped with pain killers or cortisone injections to enable them to continue playing with an injury. I am not sure whether RL has any kind of social fund to support ex players, but perhaps that could be addressed. There are many people suffering from dementia and not all of them have played in any sport; and there are a number of causes of dementia, so it is not clear cut that it directly arises from sport injuries.
Sorry Frank, you’re wrong there. Repeated blows to head within a sporting environment (even minor ones) causes blunt force trauma to the Brain. The pathologist who examined the brain of former West Brom & England Striker Jeff Astle (who died aged 59 in 2002) said he’d never seen blunt force trauma as bad as that in his entire professional career. And that was caused by heading footballs.
But neither you nor I know whether other factors also contributed to the dementia now afflicting former players. The report related only to football with players heading a football (whether a rain sodden leather football of Jeff Astle's era or indeed heading the modern day lighter ball coming at 80mph).
The long-term impact of head injuries in sport has only been highlighted in recent years and RL has reacted to minimise the risk by introducing head injury protocols. I would hope that RL and clubs continually review and improve the protocols in the light of any further research; as well as addressing the welfare of players post retirement.
In my view, this is the correct approach, rather than a knee jerk reaction to change the game beyond recognition or ban it. In this case, you would probably have to ban most sporting activities, as they all carry an element of risk.
Ea
I have every sympathy with Bobby Goulding and anyone else suffering with this terrible illness, but I can’t help thinking that all these claims from ex players in this and other sports, is being promoted by ambulance chasing solicitors. Probably every sport or activity has its dangers, even tick and pass. The logical outcome of reacting to the current litigious world we live in, would be to ban all activities that have an element of risk. You could trip over a kerb while you are out walking, so perhaps we should all stay indoors watching Loose Women – hang on, that may drive you to depression!!! The important point is that sports recognise any potential long- term issues from playing the game and take measures to minimise that risk. Players should also be made fully aware of any potential risks. I think the game has moved forward in dealing with head injuries in recent years I am sure that there are plenty of ex players with knee problems and other issues due to playing on with injuries, or pumped with pain killers or cortisone injections to enable them to continue playing with an injury. I am not sure whether RL has any kind of social fund to support ex players, but perhaps that could be addressed. There are many people suffering from dementia and not all of them have played in any sport; and there are a number of causes of dementia, so it is not clear cut that it directly arises from sport injuries.
Sorry Frank, you’re wrong there. Repeated blows to head within a sporting environment (even minor ones) causes blunt force trauma to the Brain. The pathologist who examined the brain of former West Brom & England Striker Jeff Astle (who died aged 59 in 2002) said he’d never seen blunt force trauma as bad as that in his entire professional career. And that was caused by heading footballs.
But neither you nor I know whether other factors also contributed to the dementia now afflicting former players. The report related only to football with players heading a football (whether a rain sodden leather football of Jeff Astle’s era or indeed heading the modern day lighter ball coming at 80mph). The long-term impact of head injuries in sport has only been highlighted in recent years and RL has reacted to minimise the risk by introducing head injury protocols. I would hope that RL and clubs continually review and improve the protocols in the light of any further research; as well as addressing the welfare of players post retirement. In my view, this is the correct approach, rather than a knee jerk reaction to change the game beyond recognition or ban it. In this case, you would probably have to ban most sporting activities, as they all carry an element of risk.
I'm not saying change contact sports beyond recognition, but whether we like it or not, its going to happen eventually anyway, as more lawsuits and compo claims come in from former players and players families.
The Jeff Astle case was the alarm bell needed to get people talking about, and more importantly, to get the relevant medical minds researching the effects.
Nobody knew what AIDS was before it hit the headlines in the 1980's, but that doesn't mean it never existed before then ...of course it did, and it will be the same for sporting related Dementia / Alzheimers ...It's just now we actually know something about it.