Dr. Paul Butler, a retired doctor in New Hampshire, recently proposed a ban on high school football at Dover High School. Butler claimed the sport was too dangerous, and should not be played at a young age.

                Butler is right in saying it is a dangerous sport; however, a ban on the sport is not the solution. Most kids will do dangerous things anyway. If you ban football in schools, those players will most likely just play on their own. A well regulated game with proper equipment is safer than “street football” games where players do not wear pads and do not adhere to many rules.

                A better solution to the problem would be to develop better equipment. Over time, players have become bigger and can hit harder. Maybe it’s time for a better helmet that can protect against harder hits to the head. The NFL has begun enforcing rules that can better protect players. High schools can follow their example, and use better rules to make the game safer.  

                Banning football would cause a lot of problems for communities all across the nation. Many communities become closer through high school football, and it is tradition to come together and cheer for their favorite team on a Friday night. It also provides many students, who wouldn’t otherwise have much opportunity for a college education, with scholarships. Students learn to be disciplined and hard-working through football, as well as many other lessons that could help in life. Taking that away is just as dangerous as any hit they could receive on the field.