But as time went on, I became aware of a few things. One, sports may be the only organized activity in this country where adults can scream and curse at kids and it’s not only okay but expected. Two, as the world gets more competitive, the world of sports gets more competitive too, especially the world of youth sports. Three, the injury scare is real at any age—several of my son’s teammates gave up the game because they got too many concussions. And four, younger kids will do anything—and I mean, anything—to impress their older teammates and feel like they belong.
Oh, and five, watching Jack’s high school games are some of my favorite memories as a parent. It turns out football is a hard habit to break.
Game Changer is a work of fiction. It does not reflect what I saw, only what I know is out there. And it’s up to adults to keep kids as safe as possible, even when allowing them to play a violent sport.
It’s the least we can do!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
There is a ton of information about youth sports, safety, and hazing on the internet. Here are just a few articles I found interesting while doing my research:
“Is football safe for kids? Study looks at brain changes” www.today.com/news/football-safe-kids-study-looks-brain-changes-t104222
“NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to reluctant football parents: We’re making the game safer” www.today.com/news/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-reluctant-football-parents-we-re-making-t102819
“Alleged Hazing Leads To Cancellation Of Remainder of Middle School’s Football Season” www.newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/28/alleged-hazing-leads-to-cancellation-of-remainer-of-middle-schools-football-season/
“Despite Greater Awareness, Violent Hazing Still A Problem In School Sports” www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2013/09/09/despite-greater-awareness-violent-hazing-still-a-problem-in-school-sports/#1224b999275a
“Youth football concussion and safety awareness for 2017” youth1.com/football/youth-football-concussion-safety-awareness-2017
“Long Island Football Player Dies After Being Hit by 400-Pound Log” www.nytimes.com/2017/08/12/nyregion/long-island-football-player-dies.html
More articles surely have been published since this book went to print, so please check online for the latest news.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Brianne Johnson for helping me find the right editor.
To Erica Finkel for helping me tell the right story.
To Dr. Jonathan Greenwald for giving me the right medical advice.
To the team at Abrams/Amulet for making the right decisions.
And to my family for being the right family.
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