Lots of talk flying around about head injuries and football these days (I saw a PSA on treating head injuries sponsored by the NFL on MNF last night). Given all the talk, will you let your son play football? Is the fun and allure of the sport worth the health risks?

I would welcome any articles or research that you have used to make your decision.

Our story:

I started when I was about seven and played until sophomore year in college when my second major knee injury ended all that. I've had two reconstructions (ACL, MCL) and a couple of scopes. I'm warned that I'll need a knee replacement some day, and I do have some problems from time to time.

I'm a fan. I've been a season ticket holder for UT football since I went there for grad school 15 years ago. Going to games is a tradition. We watch on TV together.

One night, I stood with my young son and watched a chopper take off from the football field at the school where we live, carrying the star quarterback. His injuries were fatal.

My kids have played soccer and basketball (sports I know nothing about), until this year. My oldest played flag football this fall (he's a student at our school now). He's gone to a couple of tackle football clinics sponsored by the school. He wants to play.

What to say?

I played all the way through high school and was recruited to play in college but decided to play Rugby instead, since you get to drink a six pack at practice.

My son is enamored with the sport and watching the Horns storm through the 09' season together has been a great father son activity. I am excited that watching football together will be a lifelong father son activity. But I share your concerns Daddy Clay, as Walker's love of the game has developed into a desire to play, and not flag but full contact tackle.

My strategy is to never to discourage him from playing football, but to introduce him to as many sports as possible and to encourage him to pursue those which he has natural talent. He has the vertical leap of a golfer and is not the biggest guy so I'm hoping this will push him toward another less violent sport such as curling.

Everything has some risk, right? Not letting your kids experience extracurricular activity certainly isn't healthy. I'm convinced that the sport will evolve with better techniques and equipment that will do more to prevent injury. But I'm still not a fan and I think that will express itself in our son's choices later.

Curling's definitely being encouraged, though. It's setting beer consumption records left and right.

Tough one. I've never been a big football fan. But I don't think I'd deny my son the chance to try it if he asked.

Would depend on the age and contact levels, etc, though. Right now, my boy's not a real physical kid, so there's a certain part of me that wants to let him play now (age 6) and let him get banged around a bit in the hopes that he doesn't enjoy it, and then we'll lay the debate to rest. I figure if he's not into it, I get to be the good guy. "Hey, you tried it. You gave it your best shot. You decided it wasn't for you. No shame in that. I'm proud of you for trying it. Now, let's go hit some baseballs!"

Ultimately, I want him to be able to try as many sports as reasonably possible so he can find his own path.

There's another question that I haven't seen presented in this thread and that is, "what are spouses/partners' opinions on football? And how do you resolve that first, so that the parents are presenting a unified front?" I know if my boy expresses an interest in football, we're going to have a real tough time convincing Mama that it's a good idea.

The question of coming to consensus with your spouse is a good one. My wife and I are in a similar place overall (ambivalent, wanting to let him play a sport that interests him, but very worried about injury).

I can imagine this being a point of conflict, though. I wonder if that has been an issue for anyone.

One note: the school has been offering clinics for the 6th graders making the transition from flag to tackle football. They let the kids suit up in pads for the first time, and they help some contact drills. My son is pretty big, so I guess the coaches lined him up against the biggest, most experienced player most of the day. His overall enthusiasm for the sport has dimmed considerably.

He's been talking about soccer more lately. Are trips to Beaumont really better? *sigh*

A recent study suggests that repeated brain injury may sometimes spark a fatal disease that is sometimes confused with A.L.S. And a subsequent article in the Times suggest that Lou Gehrig may not have died from the disease that borrows his name.

This news arrives on the third day of my son's tackle football career. He decided to play, with our endorsement, without much enthusiasm, and partly out of a sense of duty to the school's struggling athletic program. He's one of the biggest boys in his class, and a leader, so he's being recruited. He couldn't bring himself to disappoint.

There is little doubt in my mind that is we asked him to choose, he would pick soccer. Not that soccer, as the article points out, is a safe alternative. This will almost certainly be the last year he is allowed to do both.

In the meanwhile, I've seen his helmet, and it's an impressive piece of gear. I wish I'd been wearing one. Reading that article has me nervous about my own future.

I played football from 5th grade thru senior in high school and I really can't see it being that big of a deal for kids. The velocity and impact created by 150-185 pounders in high school are not something I worry too much about. I hsve more lasting injuries from basketball than I do from football. I think football is a great game for a kid to learn from.

Hockey, on the other hand, may have too much speed involved at the older age groups. My daughter can skate with the boys when she is younger, but at age 12 it becomes full contact...so, we'll jump off that bridge when/if we get there.

Motorcylcing is the tuff question in our household. I'm a firm believer that if someone is ever going to ride a motorcycle, they should learn as a child, as I did. It is very difficult to gain moto skills as an adult. My father had me on a dirt bike at 5 yrs old. I rode until I was in my early teens. Then last year my brother in law was diagnosed with CLL, so i bought his enduro so he could buy the new one he wanted and we've been riding together once a week ever since. I picked up right where I left off, except with better judgement.