Comparing Head Impacts in Youth Tackle and Flag Football
A CDC study published in Sports Health reports youth tackle football athletes ages 6 to 14 sustained 15 times more head impacts than flag football athletes during a practice or game and sustained 23 times more high-magnitude head impact (hard head impact).
Head impacts increase the risk for concussion and other serious head injuries.
![Youth tackle football athletes had 15 times more head impacts than flag football athletes during a practice or game.](/traumaticbraininjury/images/HU-NCIPC_FootballBrainSafety_Social_Opt03_1.jpg)
Key findings from the study “Head impact exposures among youth tackle and flag American football athletesexternal icon” include:
- Youth tackle football athletes experienced a median of 378 head impacts per athlete during the season.
- Flag football athletes experienced a median of 8 eight head impacts per athlete during the season.
These findings suggest that non-contact or flag football programs may be a safer alternative for reducing head impacts and concussion risk for youth football athletes under age 14.
More Efforts Needed to Prevent Head Impacts During Youth Football Games
![Learn how you can keep athletes safe from head impacts.](/traumaticbraininjury/images/pubs/learn_keep_safe_head_impacts1200w675h-medium.png)
A second CDC studyexternal icon published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine reports youth tackle and flag football athletes sustained two times more head impacts during a game than during a practice.
Key findings from the study “Differences in head impact exposures between youth tackle and flag football games and practices: Potential implications for prevention strategiesexternal icon” include:
- Youth tackle football athletes had an estimated 18 times more head impacts per practice and 19 times more head impacts per game than flag football athletes.
- Youth tackle football athletes had an average rate of almost 7 head impacts during a practice and 13 impacts during a game, resulting in 2 times more ≥10g head impacts in games versus practices (g is a measurement of gravitational force equivalent).
- Youth flag football athletes had an average rate of 0.4 head impacts during a practice and 0.8 impacts during a game, resulting in 2 times more ≥10g head impacts in games versus practices.
- Youth tackle football athletes sustained 2 times more high magnitude head impacts (≥40g) in games vs practices.
These findings suggest a greater focus on game-based interventions, such as fair play interventions and strict officiating. In addition, the expansion of non-contact or flag football programs may be beneficial to reduce head impact exposures—especially for youth football athletes.
We All Play a Role in Protecting Youth from Concussion
Parents can:
- Looks for non-contact sports options, such as flag and touch football.
- Read about concussion safety and talk to their child about concussion.
- Make sure their child’s sports team has a concussion safety policy.
- Choose a sports program that enforces rules for safety and avoids drills and plays that increase the risk for head impacts.
Coaches can:
- Talk to their athletes about concussion and teach ways to lower the chance for getting hits to the head.
- Avoid drills and plays that increase the risk for head impacts.
- Get informed about school or league concussion policies.
- Take a training on concussion.
Healthcare providers can:
- Identify athletes at greater risk for concussion during preseason exams and discuss non-contact sports options.
- Talk to athletes about concussion safety and strategies to lower the chance for this injury.
- Take a training on concussion.
Schools and sports programs can:
- Offer non-contact sports options, such as flag and touch football.
- Make an effort to have certified athletic trainers available at games and practices.
- Enforce rules for fair play, safety, and sportsmanship.
- Inform coaches and parents about school or league concussion policies and offer trainings.
- CDC’s HEADS UP initiative to improve prevention, recognition, and response to concussion and other serious brain injuries among youth.
- CDC’s Traumatic Brain Injury website featuring data, reports, and fact sheets.
- CDC’s Pediatric Mild TBI Guideline to help healthcare providers take action to improve the health of their patients.