On this episode of HeadCase, I talk with Sean Hanley, a father from Massapequa. We talk about his son, how his son involved with LIFFL, annd his thoughts on the possible New York state ban on tackle football.
Cameron: Alright, uh, can you tell me your name and where you’re from?
Sean: Sean Hanley from Massapequa, New York.
Cameron: So it is your son who is the one who plays flag football?
Sean: Yes
Cameron: Uh, how old is he?
Sean: He’s nine years old.
Cameron: How long has he been playing uh, flag football?
Sean: He’s been playin’ for the past, uh five years.
Cameron: Why did you decide to let your son uh, play football?
Sean: I think it’s a good sport, it’s you know it’s an active, they get, they get to move around, throw the ball around pass it, it’s, it’s a, it’s a little you know, it’s a, it’s they get to move around quick and stuff in a flag football environment.
Cameron: Uh, why did you decide to start your son with uh, non-tackle football?
Sean: Well it’s obviously uh, flags a little bit safer and uhm, like I said earlier, I think with the flag football the kids pass the ball a lot more and they can run and their more agile not wearing the equipment and uh, less prone to get uh injuries at such, such a young age.
Cameron: How do you feel uh, non-tackle football has helped your son uh develop his skills so far?
Sean: Well he’s a quarterback and uh, you know by learning’ how to throw the ball, not wearing the equipment and all the heavy equipment they have to wear in tackle, you know it’s let him, let him develop into a more accurate uh quarterback, and uh, I think he’s developing’ real well. Uhm, just playin’ uhm, without all the heavy equipment and he can run the ball, and he can zip in and out a lot a faster not worried about getting hit, and he’s developing’ his confidence uh better by not being’ worried about getting’ tackled and thrown to the ground and hit.
Cameron: Uh, how has news about concussions in the media affected your decision on letting your son play football?
Sean: Well there’s been a lot of uh, obviously unfortunate incidents in the past few years involving tackle football throughout the country. Uhm, and I think that that uh, definitely heavily weighed on my decision as, as to why I put him into flag football.
Cameron: Have you ever seen someone get hit in the head with a concussion, uh, in your life?
Sean: Yes
Cameron: Oh, can you tell me a little bit, uh, where that and when that was?
Sean: Well just you know myself playin’ sports throughout, throughout my uh, childhood, I’ve seen people get hit and get concussions and it’s not uh, you know not uh fun injury to get, I mean it’s, you know it could potentially be a life long injury. Concuss… you know your brain starts to swell and it’s not uh, something you want to get at such a young age.
Cameron: Have you played football before?
Sean: Yes
Cameron: When was that, in high school, or in middle school, or your youth?
Sean: Yeah in high school I played football.
Cameron: Where did you play football? What school?
Sean: Uh, in Holy Trinity.
Cameron: How do you feel that we can improve on safety standards for uh football?
Sean: I think maybe uh, you know, we could uhm, get better uhm standards and maybe a little bit stricter rules and not uh, you know have the kids be be put into tackle at such a young age.
Cameron: Is there one rule specifically that you would like to change?
Sean: Not any, not any specific rule. No.
Cameron: Uh, Well you just spoke about banning a little bit under the age a little bit. New York State is thinking about placing a ban on tackle football for kids under twelve year, years old. How do you feel about this?
Sean: You know I think that’s, that’s a personal decision. I’m not whole heartedly against tackle football. Uhm, I think that’s the, that should be given, you know that parents should have the right to choose if that their children into tackle football. I think that should be their decision. Maybe not a law banning it whole itself. You know.
Cameron: How much uh, impact uh, or influence do parents have on flag football and having their kids play?
Sean: Well I think the parent pretty much is the one that decides whether or not they uh are gonna’ put their kid into flag football or tackle football. I know uh my son here he, he uh wants to play tackle football I think its just we’re gonna’ hold off a few years until he uh gets into uhm, get’s a little older and develops his body a little bit stronger and better.
Cameron: How do you think this potential ban will affect uh kids like your son?
Sean: Which ban are you talking about?
Cameron: Uh the New York State ban, the potential ban they are talking about, uh, the one on tackle football for kids under twelve years old?
Sean: Well if they do ban it, I mean then obviously flag football’s gonna become uhm, a lot more popular. There’s gonna be more kids playing and it’s gonna get a lot more competitive.
Cameron: Ok, uh, you said you would talk about your son maybe playing tackle football in a, maybe in a couple of years, Do you think you would eventually let him play?
Sean: Yeah, I think once he’s developed, and uh you know he starts to go through puberty I don’t see a problem with him playin’, when he gets older, but when he’s, he’s nine years old his body’s growin rapidly and I think it’s going uh in my opinion uh just better to keep him in flag for now. You know, develop his confidence better.
Cameron: Alright. Thank you.
Sean: Sure.
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