Far too many people make the false assumption that HS football is the same game as the Collegiate or Professional levels of the game. People familiar with the game understand there are serious advances in speed and skills between each level, and only a small percentage of players get to play (move up) at subsequent levelsany where the game is played harder and faster.
At the higher levels, coaching, facilities, preparation, precautions are all substantially elevated as the game gets faster and player skills dramatically improve, not to mention the game, at those higher levels, is played by young, and older, ADULTS, who like it or not, make their own decisions regardin risk vs reward, and their own personal situation.
Their are far more children carrying life long physical problems forward from riding bikes, climbing trees, roller skates and running around not paying attention to their surroundings than from participating in well run organized sports. Smart parents take a little extra effort to insure the program their children are participating is actually "well run".
The NFL player recently deciding to retire, apparently, based his decision on his own PERSONAL history of concussions and whatever reactions he (himself) has experienced and made an informed decision and choice. Good for him, that's the smart thing to do, based on his situation and may, or just as likely may NOT, relate to anyone else.
It would be nice (perhaps naive to think so) if Madden Football and all other video football games ONLY showed properly executed tackles, blocks and other contacts. An old saying that's still relevant,and applies to many facets of the game, "Teach a player to block properly and he'll eventuall hold, sometimes. Teach a player to hold and it's doubtful he'll ever bother to block properly."
