The Case for Flag Soccer As an Olympic Sport
WHY ISN’T AMERICAN FOOTBALL ALREADY AN OLYMPIC SPORT?
In keeping with an article by NFL.com, the largest logistical issues going through the game of American Soccer being included within the Olympics are similar to that of Rugby. With the massive numbers of individuals on every crew, the “gender equality” codecs the place each men and girls take part in each sport, and the compressed 3 week schedule that may be powerful with a extra bodily game like soccer and rugby. Moreover for American Soccer, the barrier to entry is excessive on account of it is value to equip all gamers with pads and kit, and therefor has additionally been gradual to undertake in lots of international nations, particularly of the poorer selection.
Figuring out all this, it is exhausting to see how both sport could be an excellent match for the Summer time Olympics. Rugby is quite a bit like Soccer in that little or no is required to play the game by way of gear and observe at it is base stage, and has a a lot bigger worldwide following. This amongst different causes has just lately allowed Rugby to be cleared for the Olympics beginning in 2016 by altering the normal fashion to a much less conventional “sevens” format which is quicker paced with much less individuals, which might assist carve an analogous path for American Soccer, or flag soccer extra particularly.
TACKLE SAFETY CONCERNS
Even increasingly highschool, school and professional groups are beginning to cut back the variety of contact practices, nonetheless sporting the likes of soft-padded headgear and shoulder pads for added safety. However what if we might restrict the contact gamers see earlier than highschool and center college whereas additionally addressing a few of the issues for the game associated to it being totally accepted into the Olympics?There’s a whole lot of speak just lately revolving across the safety of deal with soccer, and never simply within the NFL the place concussions are a significant concern. Beginning way back to the youth soccer stage, latest proof has surfaced supporting the idea that even short of a concussion, repeated head impacts and collision can manifest in comparable mind accidents later in life for kids examined between the ages of 8-13. Many researchers are suggesting kids should not be enjoying soccer in any respect, suggesting that kids’ heads are “a bigger a part of their body, and their necks will not be as sturdy as adults’ necks. So kids could also be at a higher danger of head and mind accidents than adults.”
