how to make the game safer

Did that happen alot in the old days? What about Rugby? I know those guys are tough but are they running around with split heads? I have to youtube that![/quote:2me42tom]

I have heard that there are very few concussions in rugby, and that players have figured out how to play that similarly violent game without helmets. Not sure if that is true.

 

Did that happen alot in the old days? What about Rugby? I know those guys are tough but are they running around with split heads? I have to youtube that![/quote:3nzzydau]

I have heard that there are very few concussions in rugby, and that players have figured out how to play that similarly violent game without helmets. Not sure if that is true.[/quote:3nzzydau]

I'm not sure the injury rate but the fact is, it's a very violent game and they are doing it without helmets.[/quote:3nzzydau]
Rugby? Not even close to the same as Football. If you take the helmets away they won't adjust, they will get hurt!

 

So get rid of turf and helmets and force (and hope) that players adjust their tackling techniques? Sounds like a plan!

 

Guess you aren't aware that the game started out that way And again, I'm not saying they should do that but just pointing out that peoples heads aren't going to be "splitting" open. And people are adjusting the way they are tackling now or have you missed that too? People adapt, they adjust, players are wearing body armor now, they can tackle with reckless abandon, take that protection away they aren't going to be tackling in the same manner anymore.[/quote:otvvllf1]

I am aware that the game started that way and see no signs of it changing back.

 

http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7mYY ... _BuDursFIg

the game is much safer now, but no split heads then. maybe a splitting headache.

 

lol, well, you're not allowed to do that anymore are you We were lucky to still have our savior after that :o[/quote:3qhjcwmf]

you weren't allowed to do THAT then either, but. bradshaw was a tough bird. that was on grass, i couldn't imagine if it were on the astro turf that was in 3 rivers. that was indoor-outdoor carpet over asphalt or concrete back then. no padding. these big boys these days are lucky having what they have today.

 

Fact is Rugby is a very violent full contact sport. Ever watch Austrailian rules football? They have some pretty big dude smashing into each other leaping for catches (no interference calls). These guys hit hard.

Fact is the modern football helmet is more of a weapon than a safety device. It is used to hit, lead, plow, spear, etc. Concussions are typically cause from the resultant internal smashing of the brain agains the inside of the skull, not the external hit. They result due to violent change in direction (conservation of momentum) and this is a direct result of the helmet being too hard externally -- extermally hard helmets are there to protect against exterior impacts that could damage the skull.

Add to this that most helmets are not properly fit. The helmet should be a slightly uncomfortable tight fit, not this easily removed slide over fit that requires the chin strap just to hold it in place that most player employ.

Go to softer exterior padded helmets and watch most concussions go away from the game. The technology is there and has been selectively used, but it is just not accepted because now the helmet is no longer that weapon.

 

This should have been Bradshaw's biggest hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfw8acB7 ... =endscreen