Illinois proposing law to ban tackle football for ages 12 and under
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The game of football is increasingly being scrutinized for its violence and the effects the game has on head trauma, and with that backdrop a law was proposed in Illinois on Jan. 25 to ban tackle football for players ages 12 and under.
The proposal is calledthe Dave Duerson Act, named for the former Chicago Bears player who took his life in 2011 at age 50.
After his death, Duerson was found to have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to repeated head trauma.
Those opposed to the law say there is no scientific evidence that younger players are at risk for CTE, but those supporting it say studies have shown a correlation between the duration of a player’s career and the probability of getting the disease.
That's the reason the proposal is forcing players to wait until they basically reach middle school in order to play tackle football.
Nick Buoniconti, former AFL and NFL middle linebacker who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, has recently campaigned for the "Flag Football Under 14" initiative.
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