High School Football Argumentative Analysis

The sport of football plays a complex role in the lives of its players; its pros and cons have caused a debate of whether or not adolescents should continue to participate in the sport. Participation in any sport involves the risk of injury, but football seems to be an exception. Many believe that football is an overly-aggressive sport that endangers the players' health. Others argue that the sport's benefits outweigh the risks, helping players build stamina, social skills, and character; however, they do not fail to recognize the fact that the sport of football is quite risky. High school students should not be allowed to play football, because its players could suffer from injuries to their physical, mental, and emotional health that could can could cause long term health complications. Football players could suffer from concussions and many other harmful injuries, which can lead to them falling behind in life. Football players also have a higher probability of suffering from multiple concussions that lead to permanent brain damage. The aggression and violence players display …show more content…
Among these threats is the danger of potential permanent brain damage. In the article, "High School Football's Benefits Outweigh the Risks," the author refers to a study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which used 3,439 former NFL players. According to Riley's account of this study, "Among these players, the incidence of neurodegenerative disease is three times higher than in the general population." This shows that football is a high-risk sport. Preserving the mental health of young athletes is of great importance, especially because they still have a long life ahead of them. If they develop permanent brain damage early, they will only suffer as they age, causing them to also become mentally