Sports injuries

[OneEyeJack]

I played football for 4 years in high school and 3 years in college. I played safety most of the time. My injuries were twisted ankles, a broken nose, split lip, sore ribs with bumps and bruises and a few headaches.

My granddaughter is into cheer leading and in 3 years has broken her ankle, her nose, dislocated her jaw and bruised her ribs. She is the one that flies when thrown high into the air and does flips and turns. She keeps getting put into that position because of her athletic ability and sense of position while flipping and turning. This cheer leading stuff is getting complicated and more dangerous every year. What they're doing now was never seen in my high school days.

 

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
I played football for 4 years in high school and 3 years in college. I played safety most of the time. My injuries were twisted ankles, a broken nose, split lip, sore ribs with bumps and bruises and a few headaches.

My granddaughter is into cheer leading and in 3 years has broken her ankle, her nose, dislocated her jaw and bruised her ribs. She is the one that flies when thrown high into the air and does flips and turns. She keeps getting put into that position because of her athletic ability and sense of position while flipping and turning. This cheer leading stuff is getting complicated and more dangerous every year. What they're doing now was never seen in my high school days.



They have been doing that type of stuff since I was in high school (which was 20 years ago).

 

[53' Stude]

I guess I was lucky while playing high school football as a center and defensive end; all I ever suffered was a broken right collarbone

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
I played football for 4 years in high school and 3 years in college. I played safety most of the time. My injuries were twisted ankles, a broken nose, split lip, sore ribs with bumps and bruises and a few headaches.

My granddaughter is into cheer leading and in 3 years has broken her ankle, her nose, dislocated her jaw and bruised her ribs. She is the one that flies when thrown high into the air and does flips and turns. She keeps getting put into that position because of her athletic ability and sense of position while flipping and turning. This cheer leading stuff is getting complicated and more dangerous every year. What they're doing now was never seen in my high school days.



I'm pretty sure I'd be a much smarter man had I not suffered so many hard hits in HS and college.

I've got a torn ligament in my ankle, constant low-grade pain in one of my shoulders, a deviated septum due to a broken nose, an always painful wrist, and significant pain in my left hip and knew during long periods of standing (sometimes required for my job) that is the result of HS football, a short time playing college football, and college indoc.

You're right, though, that some of the things these young girls are doing is insane! I had the best time of my life playing football, and I know girls who have had the same experience with cheer, but I'm not sure I'd want my kids to do either in the future. It'll be a tough choice.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Well I'm in my 50's now and have a good handle on all my sports and non-sports injuries ... you aren't given much opportunity to forget them when the pain and stiffness, not to mention the not working at all parts, remind you every day.

Still, I'd say it's worthwhile and certainly could have been worse.

The step-daughter was the 4' 11" 110 pound Cheerleader that, like OneEyedJack's Granddaughter, is the one they toss around ... 3 years of HS followed by 4 years of College on the Cheerleading Team.

She didn't have too many injuries although there was one serious concussion when they dropped her pretty hard. Apparently no lasting damage but you do have to watch that one especially if repeated.

People get seriously hurt playing sports, being young and dumb, and in the workforce. In my case I chose a career with plenty of opportunities to find yourself in harm's way and although I can't say I escaped completely I certainly didn't get hurt as badly as I could have.

Still, I would love to be active like I once was again, risk and all. You only live once.

 

[OneEyeJack]

One thing that I've noticed is how fans enjoy the experience of football. I played safety in college and after one tough game against a team that mostly ran the ball I received a couple of injuries coming up to stop the run game, a broken nose, and 10 stitches at half time after which I played the rest of the game. At the end of the game walking off the field with my roommate (another player) with one eye swollen shut and the stitches starting to bleed, again with the doctor waiting in the locker room for me. One fan said to another, "wow, we sure had one tough game". I turned to the fan and said, "what do you mean, we".

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
One thing that I've noticed is how fans enjoy the experience of football. I played safety in college and after one tough game against a team that mostly ran the ball I received a couple of injuries coming up to stop the run game, a broken nose, and 10 stitches at half time after which I played the rest of the game. At the end of the game walking off the field with my roommate (another player) with one eye swollen shut and the stitches starting to bleed, again with the doctor waiting in the locker room for me. One fan said to another, "wow, we sure had one tough game". I turned to the fan and said, "what do you mean, we".



We were a small scrappy team. At 180#, I really couldn't compete with some of the big boys, though I [censored] sure tried. I filled in and played O-tackle, while mainly playing O-end and D-end. I got low and when my guy was bigger, tough, stronger than me, I tried my best to carry him past the hole and out of the way of the play. It didn't always work, and there were times when I really got crushed, literally and figuratively.

It only happened a couple of times, but I remember getting hit so hard, that I literally lost all sense of direction for a few seconds.

I don't regret any of it, either. I can't remember a better time in my life.

 

[hpb]

Good thing you guys don't play Australian Rules Football or Rugby - no padding or helmets there boys!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Modern cheerleading is probably on the same danger level as motocross or football. It will end when no companies will write insurance policies.

 

[KD0AXS]

My sister graduated from high school in 1991. She was a cheerleader for football and basketball, and she was on the competition squad. They did plenty of these stunts back then, especially the competition squad. She definitely had her share of injuries. If anything, their rules are more restrictive now than they were back then.