|
Published: September 19, 2007 12:46 pm
Imperative that players learn proper tackling
DR. JONATHAN KATES
I have read with interest and sadness the sports articles concerning the catastrophic neck injury sustained by Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. It happened during a collision on the opening kickoff of the second half of the team’s Sept. 9 contest against the Denver Broncos.
These injuries, while rare, are always upsetting when they occur. Unfortunately, over the years, they have been more common at the high school and college levels than the professional level.
The biggest tragedy is because they are 100 percent preventable. Every football player, coach and referee, from the National Football League down to the little leagues of football, should know how to prevent these injuries.
Unfortunately, it has become commonplace for football players to use their helmets – though it is a penalty – while making a tackle to punish an opposing player.
It is a penalty that is almost never called at any level of football. I can say this with authority since I have covered high school football games as a team doctor almost weekly for the past 30 years.
The referees call the penalty of spearing only when an offensive player is on the ground.
Unfortunately, the catastrophic neck injuries resulting in quadriplegia almost always occur the same way that Everett’s injury occurred.
Was a penalty called on that play? No.
It is almost always the tackler who is injured. The next time you watch a professional or college football game on television, count the number of times a tackle is made with the player leading with the top of his helmet.
Those of us associated with football for younger players, beginning in the earliest of little leagues, should emphasize to the players that they must tackle with their heads up. They must see the (jersey) numbers of the opposing players when they make tackles.
When I was a supervising physician for the Dade County (Fla.) school board, I produced a tape that was narrated by former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula and quarterback Bob Griese that was distributed to all of the high schools in the county. It was titled “Heads Up: Tackling the Right Way.”
If your readers have children who are playing football, you must strongly emphasize to them that they must tackle with their heads up.
It is the responsibility of not just the coaches and the referees, but we as parents, to teach our children this simple fact to prevent a tragedy such as this from hopefully ever occurring again.
Dr. Jonathan Kates is an orthopedic surgeon with Somerset Orthopaedics Inc., Somerset.
q q q
Editor’s note: Doctors on Wednesday reported that Kevin Everett was continuing to show significant signs of progress and that he could be moved to a Houston hospital as early as this weekend.
• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
|
|
 |
LIBRARY SCIENCE TEACHER
(Preferably Dual Certified)
The Northern Cambria School District is currently acceptin...>MORE
Golden Living Center – Richland
Is currently seeking
LPN –
FULL TIME: 7-3 & 3-11 SHIFTS
We Offer:...>MORE
SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
(Preferably Dual Certified)
The Northern Cambria School District is currently accepting...>MORE
INVESTIGATOR, no exp. required, training provided. Motivated, disciplined, coachable, & accountable individual to...>MORE
CONCRETE FINISHERS
3 years min. exper. with references & transportation. Full time, vacation, holidays, 401K, Medic...>MORE
GARAGE DOOR INSTALLER/
SERVICE PERSON
Basic carpentry & electric skills req’d. Will train. Valid drivers licen...>MORE
ADMISSION COUNSELOR/
MULTICULTURAL RECRUITMENT COORDINATOR
SEARCH EXTENDED. Juniata College seeks an ene...>MORE
OFFICE MANAGER for busy medical office. Managerial exp. & exp. with medical billing. Starting salary $40,000 or commens...>MORE
NATP PRIMARY
INSTRUCTOR
Primary Instructor for NATP program adult night classes at Admiral Peary AVTS. M...>MORE
Your Best Summer Experience Ever...
Idlewild and SoakZone
Join Our TEAM!
Full and Part-Time Seasonal P...>MORE
See all ads |
DAVIDSVILLE GARAGE SALE 9-2 Friday, July 25, 110 Hickory St. - Lots of baby items, Home school books, Clothes - Boy/Girl...>MORE
JOHNSTOWN GARAGE SALE 9:00-4:00, Sat., July 26, 558 Duwell St., Children’s & Ladies clothing, toys, baby items, carseat,...>MORE
EAST CONEMAUGH Multi family, 8-4, July 25th and 26th, 247 2nd St., 2T BOYS CLOTHES, TOYS, DVD’S, AND MUCH MORE!...>MORE
MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE - 9-3 July 25-26, 214 Ohio Street, Furn., $1.00/BAG clothes, NB-3XL, HH items, 50&27 gal. aquariu...>MORE
3 FAMILY SALE 8:00 to ?
Saturday, July 26, 81 Dahlia Street. Rain or Shine. Household items, Sportscards Sets, Home...>MORE
310 SIOUX ST. (Corner of Sioux & Fieldstone). Fri. & Sat., 9-3. Boys clothes (12 mo-10 yrs.), women’s clothes (plus sz.,...>MORE
120 LEXINGTON AVE.
BonAir. Huge Garage/Yard Sale! 7 families! Decorations, crafts, sewing supplies, exercise machin...>MORE
Garage Sale
138 NORTH WALNUT STREET. Friday & Saturday 8-12. Women’s clothes, nurses scrubs, boy’s clothes sz. 5 & 6, Play ...>MORE
LARGE MULTI-FAMILY,
508 Thrasher St., Rt. 271 Between Conemaugh and the Blue Jay. 8 am-3 pm, Sat., July 26. Couch, ...>MORE
EBENSBURG YARD SALE
7 am to ? 7/25 - 7/26, 412 S. Locust Street. Kids’ clothing boy/girl infant-6T. Household items...>MORE
See all ads |
|
See all ads |
2001 SUBARU OUTBACK
Ltd. Sedan, excl. condn., fully loaded, auto., leather, 64k mi., $10,490. 814-255-9949....>MORE
CABINETS - 6 Upper Wall-mount, solid maple, arched fronts. Sizes 30Hx21W; 30Hx18W; 18Hx30W; 15Hx36W; 30Hx9Wx9W. Good con...>MORE
ELTON YARD SALE - 8:00 am-3:00 Saturday July 26th, 121 Lone Rd., Turn off Rt. 160 close to the Homestead Inn. Crafters m...>MORE
PLEASANTVILLE
Stone and brick ranch home, approximately 2,000 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, large sunken ...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Discuss this story
