Tackling in kids’ sport defended despite new report warning of long-term risks – صحيفة الصوت

Sporting industry leaders have defended tackling in junior sport despite a new study linking the risk of head impacts with degenerative brain disease.

The Harvard University report found millions of children were exposed to repetitive head impacts through sport participation, noting the demographic was too young to know of potential long-term risks associated with the exposure.

One of the authors is Australian concussion expert Alan Pearce, who said there was conclusive evidence of the link between the risk of head impacts and the neurodegenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The study calls for sporting bodies to think about modifications for junior athletes.

The researchers are also calling for repetitive head impacts and CTE among children to be treated like exposure to lead, mercury, smoking and sunburn.

Their research has been published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology.

“We looked at different sports with different characteristics, and they were all showing a similar thing,” Dr Pearce said.

“Anyone who engages in repetitive head trauma … they get CTE where you don’t see it in random populations of people.

“We know there’s causative action here and that’s why we want sports around the world to think strongly about this.”

Tackling needs to be taught

Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians president Mark Fulcher said it was an overreaction to suggest a ban on tackles in children’s sport.