California may soon ban tackle football for children under 12 due to health and safety concerns.
Lawmakers in the state are scheduled to begin debating Wednesday whether to ban tackle football to protect children from brain injuries and other medical problems. Critics of the bill include coaches who warn that banning tackle football would cut off an important source of physical activity for youth.
The bill, authored by Democratic Rep. Kevin McCarty, is scheduled for its first hearing in a legislative committee, but it still has a long way to go before it passes. Wednesday's hearing is critical because the bill must pass the state House by the end of January to become law by the end of the year.
The move would follow previous attempts in California, New York and Illinois to ban tackle football for children, but none passed.
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Boys play American football during the halftime break of the NFL preseason match between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. December 18, 2013. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
California law already prohibits full-contact practices for high school and youth football teams during the offseason and limits them to two practices per week during the preseason and regular season. Both precautions are to avoid unnecessary physical contact for safety reasons.
Separately, a law that went into effect in 2021 requires youth soccer personnel to complete education on concussions and head injuries, in addition to other safety measures.
If passed, McCarty's bill would not go into effect until 2026.
Pop Warner football players watch before the NFL preseason football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers on Friday, September 4, 2009 in San Diego. California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban tackle football for children under 12. (AP Photo/Dennis Poloy)
Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, former Harvard football player, and WWE professional wrestler, believes that tackle football can cause brain damage, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and damage to nerve cells in the brain. He said research has shown that it can cause death. Nowinski says this risk increases the longer you play the sport.
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“I don't have a problem with NFL players because they're adults and they're taking the risk of CTE and they understand the risk and they're compensated,” Nowinski said. “I can't imagine a world where kids who don't understand the risks are doing this for fun (and) subjecting their brains to the same risks.”
No state has banned tackle football.
Boys play American football during the halftime break of the NFL preseason match between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. December 18, 2013.Photo Tim Clayton (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Tackle football at the high school level in California is in decline, with participation decreasing by more than 18% from 2015 to 2022.
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According to a participation survey by the California Interscholastic Federation, the number of players decreased from a high of 103,725 to 84,626.
In 2023, the number of football participants increased by 5% to a maximum of 89,178 players.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
