Poll: Four out of five Americans oppose tackle football before age 14

A strong majority of the adults surveyed also believe that brain trauma that results in CTE is serious health concern.

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A poll conducted by UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion found that the majority of Americans are concerned about the health effects of sports-related concussions.

The survey asked a representative sample of 1,000 American adults about their opinions on sports safety, head injuries, and the issue of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

According to the poll, four out of five American adults do not think tackle football is appropriate for children under the age of 14. Of the people surveyed, 94% of women surveyed oppose it before age 10, and 84% generally oppose it before 14. Strong opposition also exists among men: 72% surveyed feel tackling should not be allowed in football for children under 14.

Eighty–seven percent of the adults surveyed also believe that brain trauma resulting in chronic traumatic encephalopathy is serious health concern.

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“One of the key findings from the poll is that there is widespread awareness of CTE among respondents who identify themselves as sports fans. Among them, 66% say head injuries in sports are a major problem and they are critical of the handling of the concussions by sports organizations like the NFL and NHL,” said Professor Joshua Dyck, co-director of the Center for Public Opinion.

Added Concussion Legacy Foundation president and co-founder Chris Nowinski: “These survey results show that nearly all adults agree that forcing a child to play a game where they are hit in the head a few hundred times a year is not an appropriate activity.”