American football

American football
American Football is a
tough contact sport
that dominates the
American sporting
scene and is gaining
popularity in Europe. It
is a game requiring all-
round physical fitness.
Players have to be fast,
strong, and proficient in
the six basic skills of
football: passing,
catching, running,
blocking, tackling, and
kicking. American
football has always
been associated with a
large number of
injuries, not surprising
when the game
commonly involves
players in excess of 240
pounds colliding with
each other at full speed.
In the United States, it
is estimated that more
than 300 000 high school
players, 35 000 college
players, and half of the
National Football
League players are
injured to some extent
each season. Head and
neck injuries are
common: there are
approximately 250 000
incidents of concussion
each year. Some injuries
have been fatal or have
resulted in players
becoming permanent
quadriplegics. However,
the number of very
severe injuries has
declined in recent
years. This is probably
due to rule changes
concerning tackling and
blocking with the head,
and improvements in
protective equipment
which were introduced
in 1976. There has also
been a greater
emphasis in training on
strengthening the
muscles of the neck and
learning good tackling
techniques. This is
particularly important
in the younger age
group.
Protective clothing is an
essential feature of
modern football, but
this makes the players
vulnerable to heat
stroke. One study
reported 12 heat stroke
deaths among college
and high school football
players over a three
year period. The victims
were all interior
linemen, probably the
players required to
work hardest and
longest; most were
stricken during pre-
season practice so they
may have been in poor
physical condition; all
were dressed in full
uniforms which
increases workload and
interferes with heat
loss; and most were not
permitted to drink
water during practice.
Clearly, it is essential
that players and
officials should be
aware of the risk of
heat stroke, and ensure
that drinking water is
available during
practice and games.
From wikipedia