Argumentive Speech

 Dr. James P. Kelly reports; “Multiple Concussions are the big concern in football, compared to war-related head trauma, which usually involves one battlefield blast and the impact of the head against a wall, the ground or other hard surface.” Concussions in high school football cause major problems for the players. I believe that football is helping teens with the relief of stress, having fun, and relaxing, but it is also hurting teens physically and mentally, so it should not be taken away, but made less violent.

Football is hurting teens mostly through concussions. David Epstein explains “The minor hits cause the brain to go back and forth against the skull.” This shows that minor hits are just as bad as major hits. If a player receives many minor hits it will eventually add up to worse than just one major hit. The article “Concussions among United States High School…” explains the statistics for symptoms of having a concussion; “Headaches 40%, dizziness 15%, confusion 8%, loss of consciousness 3%, and amnesia 6%.” Headaches are the number one most symptoms in concussions and my brother experienced a three day long headache along with his concussion.  This statistic allows people to become aware of how to spot a concussion before it is too late. 

            The problem with high school football is the concussions. “Based on the national estimate, the majority of concussions resulted from participation in football 40.5%.” (Concussions among United States…) Concussions can lead to death, memory loss, and may lead to symptoms that last 3 days or longer. According to the article “The Damage Done” minor hits are just as traumatic and there can be hundreds of them each game.” Football is hurting teens physically by putting them through concussions. The risk of a concussion is rising within each season. Researchers have figured that hits of 80 times the force of gravity will cause a concussion. (The Damage Done.) Can you even imagine what that hit could do to your brain?

            It is estimated that 67,000 concussions are diagnosed each year in high school football (Foxnews.com).  Some players do not report their concussion because they believe they can handle it. Another reason is that they are not aware of the concussion. Sometimes the player does not report it because they do not want to be taken out of the game. A solution to concussions would be to make people more aware of it. Let them know the symptoms, and what the concussion could lead to. Without the proper knowledge of a concussion the risks increase of further injury. The concussion could lead to death, or mentally affect the player. The impact the concussion can have on a player can affect the rest of their lives, and/or their football career.

            Sydney Lupkin reported a case of a high school football player in 2006 that was diagnosed with Second-Impact-Syndrome. Second- Impact-Syndrome is when the brain swells very fast after a victim suffers from a concussion. Cody went to the doctor after the hit in his shoulder, but his CT scan registered that he was okay. He made the decision to keep playing even though his body was telling him differently. “It's probably something to do with the immature brain, because our brain really keeps growing until you're 18, 19 years old" (Turner). Dr. Turner is saying that Second-Impact-Syndrome is rare in older football players and more common in younger players because the brain is still maturing. Cody’s brain was sending signals to his body to receive more blood to the brain. This was causing his brain to swell against his skull. When he left the hospital 98 days later he had suffered through pneumonia, renal failure and sepsis, and temporary cardiac arrest. He faced the problem of not being able to walk or talk. He was not able to be involved in any activities as he was in the rehabilitation section of the hospital.  

            Cody was aware that his body did not feel good enough to play, but he went with what the doctors told him. Isn’t that what we would all do? His mom states “sometimes we have to listen to what our bodies are telling us.” That is well said and exactly what we should do. The doctors went with what the CT scan was telling them. The scan was telling them that nothing was wrong, but in fact there was something very wrong. This is one story of many victims that have suffered from side effects of concussions.  If they would have been more aware of what could have happened it might have saved Cody from what he went through. In this situation football hurt Cody mentally and physically, and he might have to deal with it for the rest of his life.

            Football gives the players a chance to blow off steam from a hard day at school, work, or home. Playing the game gives the boys something to look forward too, and get excited about. Some players live, breath, and sleep football. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be if they receive injuries repeatedly. Football is fun for the boys and helps them in their social lives. They get physically fit, and give them a motivation to keep their grades up. It teaches them responsibility by having them to show up on time to practices and games. They have to show teamwork and work well together with their teams to win the game. Football is a sport that teaches discipline and respect toward their coaches and teammates.            

            Football has its good side and its bad side. The sport can help a player grow in ways you will never expect. On the downside it can lead a player into harm’s way for the rest of his life. Football should not be changed, but should allow everyone to be aware of the risks. We take risks every day, and I believe if the boys love the sport with all they have they should be allowed to play. One thing we can do if we cannot stop football is we can make people aware of concussions. Allow people to know what the symptoms are of concussions, and how it can affect you in the long run.