Football may be America’s most popular sport, but the nation is deeply divided about whether youth should play the tackle version of the game.
In a new study, half of Americans now think tackle football is not appropriate for kids to play; about 45% of Americans agreed that is.
The findings come as participation in youth tackle has declined with growing concern about the effects of concussions on young brains.
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Support for and opposition to kids playing tackle football isn’t evenly divided among all segments of society.
Survey data came from the National Sports and Society Survey (NSASS), sponsored by Ohio State’s Sports and Society Initiative.
Participants, who live in all 50 states, answered the survey online.
The issue divided Americans by race and class.
Black Americans and those with no more than a high school education were not as negative about tackle football for kids as were white people and the college educated. Higher-income adults were more likely to not support youth football.
Men and heterosexuals were more likely to think youth football was appropriate, as were people with more traditionalist values: those who identified as more conservative, and those who said they were Christian were more likely to support kids playing tackle football.
Beliefs about the value of sports participation played a role. Those who agreed that sports build character and that collision sports had health benefits were more supportive.
Support for youth football is tied to people’s formative experiences growing up, including whether participants themselves played and whether their parents or friends were fans.
Where people lived was also a key: People in rural areas were more supportive than those in the suburbs. And the odds of strongly endorsing kids playing tackle football were 27% to 39% higher for adults from the Midwest and South compared to those from adults living in the West.
This study didn’t specify the ages for youth football, but other evidence suggests Americans are much more concerned with kids under 13 playing football than those in high school.
