With increasing attention focused on football and the risk of brain injury, legislation has been proposed in several states to ban youth tackle football.
We created an interactive map and timeline to keep track of proposals and legislation.
There are only 6 states with active proposals. Hopefully, more states will follow over the coming months and we will keep the map (and this guide) updated with new developments.
Tackling In Youth Football: State by State
(click on a State for details of proposed legislation)
Instructions
- Click on a State for details of proposed legislation.
- States with current proposed legislation are highlighted in orange.
- Timeline
- Legislation By State (List)
- Further reading/links
Lawmakers in New York hold public hearing on Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s bill to prohibit children twelve years old and younger from playing organized tackle football in the state of New York.
Lawmakers in Massachusetts hold public hearing on Rep. Paul A. Schmid III’s bill to prohibit children in the seventh grade or lower grade levels from playing tackle football at school or in youth sports leagues in the state of Massachusetts.
California governor Gavin Newson signs the AB-1 Youth athletics: California Youth Football Act, which:
- Limits full contact practice to no more than 30 minutes per day for two days a week
- Bans full contact practice for youth football teams during the offseason
- Requires a medical professional to be present for all games
- Requires an independent person to attend all practice sessions, with the authority to remove players showing signs of injury
8th Bristol District state Rep. Paul A. Schmid III and 20th Middlesex District state Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr. sponsor “An Act for No Organized Head Impacts to Schoolchildren” which would prohibit children in the seventh grade or lower grade levels from playing tackle football at school or in youth sports leagues in the state of Massachusetts.
The Herald News
A study by Seattle Children’s Research Institute and UW Medicine’s Sports Health and Safety Institute found concussion rates among football players ages 5-14 were higher than previously reported, with five out of every 100 youth, or 5%, sustaining a football-related concussion each season.
EurekAlert!
The Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program releases a white paper suggesting that flag football should be adopted as the standard for youth programs until high school.
Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program
The “Safe Youth Football Act” is withdrawn by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento prior to vote.
San Diego Tribune
A- 3760: Legislation introduced by Assembly member, Vainieri-Huttle would prohibit children under the age of 12 from participating in tackle football programs offered by a youth team organization.
TAPinto
State Rep. Carol Sente announced that she was withdrawing the proposed legislation from consideration pending amendments.
WJOL
The Maryland House of Delegates, Ways and Means Committee voted to rejected legislation which would have prohibited tackling in football and heading in soccer by kids in elementary and middle school.
The Baltimore Sun
The Dave Duerson Act (House Bill 4341) passed out of the Illinois House mental health committee on an 11-9 vote. The bill will now pass to the full House for a full debate and vote.
The State Journal Register
State Del. Terri Hill files a bill in the Maryland General Assembly to ban tackle football for children under 14.
Baltimore Sun
Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento) and Lorena Gonzales Fletcher (D – San Diego) announce the “Safe Youth Football Act” to protect children from brain injury by establishing a minimum age to play in organized tackle football programs.
Press Release
State Rep. Carol Sente announces the “The Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE”, which proposes to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12 in the state of Illinois.
Sports Illustrated
Assemblyman Michael Bennedetto announces the “John Mackey Youth Football Protection Act”, which proposes to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12 in the state of New York.
New York Times
Alaska
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Alaska.
Alabama
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Alabama.
Arizona
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Arizona.
Arkansas
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Arkansas.
California
Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D- Sacramento) and Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D – San Diego) introduced a bill called the “Safe Youth Football Act” in February 2018.
The bill was scheduled to be voted on by the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media on the 1st May, but was withdrawn on the 26th April.
On the 31st July 2019, California governor Gavin Newson signed a law that:
- Limits full contact practice to no more than 30 minutes per day for two days a week
- Bans full contact practice for youth football teams during the offseason
- Requires a medical professional to be present for all games
- Requires an independent person to attend all practice sessions, wit hthe authority to remove players showing signs of injury
Further Reading:
- East Bay Times
- AB-1 Youth athletics: California Youth Football Act
- Kevin McCarty
- SFGate
- San Diego Union-Tribune
Download Press Release (Right click > “Save As”)
Colorado
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Colorado.
Connecticut
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Connecticut.
Delaware
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Delaware.
Florida
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Florida.
Georgia
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Georgia.
Hawaii
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Hawaii.
Idaho
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Idaho.
Illinois
“The Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE” was unveiled in January 2018, and proposes to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12 in the state of Illinois.
The bill was introduced by State Rep. Carol Sente, a democrat from Vernon Hills.
On the 1st March 2018, the bill passed out of the Illinois House mental health committee on an 11-9 vote. The bill will now pass to the full House for a full debate and vote.
On the 5th March 2018, State Rep. Carol Sente announced that she was withdrawing the proposed legislation from consideration pending amendments.
Further reading:
Download bill (Right click > “Save As”)
Indiana
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Indiana.
Iowa
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Iowa.
Kansas
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Kansas.
Kentucky
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Kentucky.
Louisiana
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Louisiana.
Maine
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Maine.
Maryland
In February 2018, State Del. Terri Hill filed a bill in the Maryland General Assembly to ban tackle football for children under 14.
The bill also proposes that concussion education be required before children over 14 are allowed to participate in tackle football.
Additionally, there are proposals for restrictions in headers (soccer) and checking (lacrosse) before high school.
On the 5th March 2018, The Maryland House of Delegates, Ways and Means Committee voted to rejected legislation which would have prohibited tackling in football and heading in soccer by kids in elementary and middle school.
Further reading:
Download bill (Right click > “Save As”)
Massachusetts
In February 2019, 8th Bristol District state Rep. Paul A. Schmid III and 20th Middlesex District state Rep. Bradley H. Jones Jr. sponsored “An Act for No Organized Head Impacts to Schoolchildren” which would prohibit children in the seventh grade or lower grade levels from playing tackle football at school or in youth sports leagues in the state of Massachusetts.
On 22nd October 2019, lawmakers in Massachusetts held a public hearing debating the bill.
Further reading:
Download bill (Right click > “Save As”)
Michigan
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Michigan.
Minnesota
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Minnesota.
Mississippi
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Mississippi.
Missouri
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Missouri.
Montana
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Montana.
Nebraska
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Nebraska.
Nevada
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Nevada.
New Hampshire
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for New Hampshire.
New Jersey
In March 2018, legislation was introduced by Assembly member, Vainieri-Huttle which would prohibit children under the age of 12 from participating in tackle football programs offered by a youth team organization.
Further Reading:
New Mexico
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for New Mexico.
New York
In October 2019, lawmakers in New York held a public hearing on Assemblyman Michael Benedetto’s bill (A02692) to prohibit children twelve years old and younger from playing organized tackle football in the state of New York.
The Assembly Health Committee earlier this year voted to advance NY A 1269 (17R), which would have banned tackle football for children under 12, and NY A5745 (17R), which would have mandated that parents receive information on concussions if their child is playing tackle football. Neither bill passed.
Further reading:
Download bill (Right click > “Save As”)
North Carolina
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for North Carolina.
North Dakota
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for North Dakota.
Ohio
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Ohio.
Oklahoma
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Oklahoma.
Oregon
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Oregon.
Pennsylvania
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Rhode Island.
South Carolina
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for South Carolina.
South Dakota
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for South Dakota.
Tennessee
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Tennessee.
Texas
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Texas.
Utah
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Utah.
Vermont
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Vermont.
Virginia
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Virginia.
Washington
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Washington.
West Virginia
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for West Virginia.
Wisconsin
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Wisconsin.
Wyoming
We are not aware of any current pending legislation for Wyoming.
Studies/Research
- Most Parents Want Age Limits on Football Tackling (U.S. News)
- New findings on concussion in football's youngest players (Seattle Children's Research Institute)
- Playing Tackle Football Before 12 Is Tied to Brain Problems Later (New York Times / Boston University)
- New study recommends that kids should only play flag football until reaching high school (Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program)
- Report to Congress on The Management of TBI in Children (CDC)
- The Management of Traumatic Brain Injury In Children (CDC - PDF: Right Click > "Save As)
- Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football (JAMA)
- Study: Hits, Not Concussions, Cause CTE (Boston University)
- Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Fatalities Among High School and College Football Players — United States, 2005–2014 (CDC)
- Participation in high school football has experienced a dramatic decline due to increased concerns of concussion and brain injury risks (Reuters)
- Study: CTE, other brain diseases can start earlier if tackle football played before age 12 (Annals of Neurology - reported by USA Today & Time)
Organizations Supporting Ban On Tackle Football
News/Press
- Statement Of Michael V. Kaplen, New York State Assembly Committee On Health, Assembly Bill A02692 (brainlaw.com)
- NY Lawmakers Consider Ban On Tackle Football For Children (Chicago Tribune)
- New York lawmakers will consider ban on tackle football (New York Post)
- More Restrictions Are Placed on Youth Football in Canada (New York Times)
- The N.F.L. Struggles to Tackle Its Latest Problem: Tackling (New York Times)
- Five Public League schools drop football (Chicago Sun Times)
- Debate needed on tackling football’s biggest problem (northjersey.com)
- New York Legislator Renews Effort to Bar Tackle Football for Children (New York Times)
- Moms take on football, suing Pop Warner for their sons' head trauma, deaths (San Diego Union Tribune)
- New lawsuit points finger at Pop Warner for mismanagement of head injuries (Sports Illustrated)
- Minimum age for tackle football gets Illinois hearing (The Seattle Times)
- Is This the End of Youth Football? (California Today / New York Times)
- Should youth tackle football be banned? Forum presents both sides of debate (Daily Herald - video below)
- Illinois youth tackle football ban dead for now (SJR)
- Bill looking to ban tackle football for children under 12 stalls in Senate (Fox Illinois)
- Pop Warner football tackles the bill (Half Moon Bay Review)
- California bill to ban youth tackle football pulled before committee vote (San Diego Union-Tribune)
- Naperville area middle schools replacing tackle with flag football (Chicago Tribune)
Editorials/Opinion Pieces (Supporting Ban)
- Editorial: Football comes with a high price (The Times News)
- Should Your Kid Play Football? (FamilyMinded)
- Things we'd change in sports: Time to ban tackle football for kids under 14 (USA Today)
- Mass. bill would rightfully ban tackle football for children, adolescents (Daily Free Press)
- What Time Is The A.F.C. Championship Game? (New York Times)
- Traumatic brain injuries are a serious concern, even for players who don't suffer concussions (Education Week)
- High Schools Are Dropping Football. Students Are Safer For It. (Washington Post)
- The uneasy crown of King Football (Daily Record)
- Opinion: Block kids under 12 from playing tackle football (The Mercury News)
- Brett Favre supports legislation to end youth tackle football (NBCSports.com)
- Ban on youth tackle football necessary and inevitable, Charleston doctor says (The Post & Courier)
- Ban California kids from playing Pop Warner football (The Mercury News)
- Banning tackle football for kids? There's nothing 'nanny state' about it if the science is sound (LA Times)
- A majority of Americans believe it is not safe for children to play tackle football before they reach high school (poll - UMass Lowell-Washington Post)
- Protecting kids from brain damage matters more than football (The Tribune)
- Children should not be playing tackle football, says Packers great Brett Favre as he fears HE may have C.T.E. after suffering 'thousands' of concussions (Daily Mail / MSN)
Editiorials/Opinion Pieces (Opposing Ban)
- The Kids Who Still Need Football (New York Times)
- Illinois parents — not lawmakers — should make the call on youth football (Chicago Tribune)
- No scientific link between youth football and CTE (San Diego Union Tribune)
- The Reasons Not To Ban Contact Sports For Children: An Answer To 'Concussion' (Forbes)
- Should children under the age of 14 be banned from playing organized tackle football? (debate.org)
- 'Tackle football is not the enemy.' Proposal to ban youth tackle football draws ire. (The Modesto Bee)
- We need to change youth tackle football, not ban it (myCentralJersey)
- Replacing youth tackle football with flag football might not make our children safer (USA Today)
Events/Debates
Further Reading
- Concussion & Sports (brainlaw.com)
- Why Age 14? (infographic - Concussion Legacy Foundation)
About The Authors
This information was compiled by Shana De Caro & Michael V. Kaplen to impart significant material on legislative proposals to restrict tackle football and prevent brain injury and brain damage in our nation’s youth.
The authors were amicus counsel to the Brain Injury Association of America and wrote the amicus briefs on behalf of the Association to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court opposing the NFL class action brain injury settlement proposal. Shana De Caro is the secretary and member of the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of America. Michael V. Kaplen chairs the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and is past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State. They have each chaired the Traumatic Brain
Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice, are co-authors of the “Current Issues in Neurolaw” Chapter in Traumatic Brain Injury: Defining Best Practice, Psychiatric Clinics of North America, and serve on the Board of Directors of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Press/Media Inquiries
The partners at De Caro & Kaplen are available for comment on news and developments in tackle football legislation. See our press & media page for more details.
All Graphics and information included on this page may be republished with link attribution to:
https://brainlaw.com/youth-tackle-football/