California could soon ban football for children under 12 amid health and safety concerns.
State lawmakers will begin a debate Wednesday on whether to ban football in an effort that advocates say would protect children from brain damage or other medical problems. Critics of the bill include coaches who warn that a ban on football would deprive young people of an important source of physical activity.
The bill, authored by Democratic Assembly member Kevin McCarty, is scheduled to have its first public hearing before a legislative committee and is still a long way from passage. Wednesday's hearing is crucial as the bill must be approved by the state Assembly by the end of January to have any chance of becoming law this year.
The measure would follow previous attempts in California to ban football for children, as well as in New York and Illinois, which failed to pass.
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Children playing football during halftime during the NFL preseason football game between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. December 18, 2013. (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
California law already prohibits full-contact practices for youth and high school 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 football officials to complete concussion and head injury education, in addition to other safeguards.
If passed, McCarty's bill would not take effect until 2026.
Pop Warner football players watch before an NFL preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in San Diego. The California Legislature is considering a bill that would ban football for children under 12 years old. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Chris Nowinski, executive director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and a former Harvard football player and WWE professional wrestler, said research has shown that football can cause brain damage such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can then lead to death. of nerve cells in the brain. This risk increases the longer you practice the sport, according to Nowinski.
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“I have no problem with NFL players being adults, understanding the risk and being compensated for taking the risk of CTE,” Nowinski said. “I can't imagine a world where we have kids who don't understand the risk and who do this for fun (and) take the same risk with their brain.”
No state has banned American football.
Children playing football during halftime during the NFL preseason football game between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. December 18, 2013. Photo Tim Clayton (Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
High school football in California has been declining, with participation falling more than 18% between 2015 and 2022.
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The decline came from a high of 103,725 players to 84,626 players, according to the California Interscholastic Federation's participation survey.
In 2023, participation in football increased by 5%, to 89,178 players.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
