Why children are still playing tackle football, despite brain risks

By TORRENCE BANKS and ANDREW CHODES / Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism
Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Tackle football offers children as young as 5 the chance to make friends, learn teamwork and maybe win a college scholarship. But growing research shows it can also cause injuries that damage developing brains. That leaves families to balance the risks against the opportunities. A four-month investigation found the decision to let kids play varies by race and is often driven by the hope for a better future, according to the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland.