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Hailee Abker

Dr. Noble

English Composition

25 October 2022

Is Football Too Violent?

Football has become a sport of controversy throughout the years due to its extreme

physicality and increase in life threatening injuries. Many argue that the sport is too dangerous to

continue playing, and suggest we stop allowing our children and youth to practice it. Three

authors in two separate articles describe their opinions on the game of football. “Our Shaken

Faith in Football” written by Owen Strachan, and “Is Football Too Violent For Christians”

written by David E. Prince and Jimmy Scroggins give two different viewpoints on the topic.

Strachan’s depiction of the real world application of football resonates more easily with

me and was overall more constructive writing than Prince and Scroggins’ article. Strachan writes

of the physical effects of football on the human body, why it is so popular, and even why

Chrisitians should discern whether or not we should watch, enjoy, and allow ourselves and our

youth to participate in playing the sport. He especially concerns himself with the brain trauma

and amount of life affecting concussions that athletes suffer from often. Bringing up a good

point, he shares about the lawsuits that the National Football League has recently been faced

with over the mass amount of brain injuries that NFL athletes have had over the seasons. These

lawsuits have brought to light the seriousness of the injuries and allow the public to see how

serious it is for so many people, and have contributed to research. In addition to writing about the

physical toll football takes on a player’s body, Strachan sheds light on Christianity relating to the

sport and why so many people enjoy the game. As a community of people who are vastly
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different from each other, football provides a means of connection for Americans, as well as

being fun to play and interesting to watch and be a part of. It is easily accessible for anyone, and

simple to create friendships and bonds over. In adherence to these points and more, Strachan

provides a few notes on how we as Christians can come to a decision on whether we agree with

and support football or not. He believes that Christians should be knowledgeable on football as a

whole, how it is affected by sin and that we should think wisely on how we intake it, we should

be considerate in if we allow our children to be involved, and we should be careful with how far

we go to support it.

I think that Strachan was wise with how he chose to present the topic, but he failed to

convince me wholly that football is a negative sport to society. I appreciate his point of view, but

do not believe that supporting your favorite football team on a Sunday afternoon is the same as

attending a gladiator fight in ancient Rome. Driving a wedge between the sport of football and

those involved who play, coach, watch, et cetera by saying that it is un-evangelical and far too

associated with sin and violence is a crass thing to do. Do I believe that football is God-breathed?

No, I know that the sport is flawed, as is anything designed by man on earth, but I do not believe

that the nature of football is any more sinful or harmful to society than other activities. Strachan

drives the physicality of the sport deep, focusing strongly on its effects on players. This is a weak

argument, however, because where can a line be drawn to decide what is too physical on a body?

Football is one of many physical sports, so how can it alone be called out to change when others

are not. Basketball, baseball, volleyball, surfing, water polo, track and field, and motocross and

BMX racing are just a few examples of common activities that participants can be injured in at

any time. According to research done at Complete Concussions, men’s rugby, women’s hockey,

men’s football, and men’s and women’s soccer have the highest rates of concussion in game play
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and practice (Complete Concussions). While men’s American football is among these, it does not

hold the highest concussion rank. Should all sports listed then be revised and/or banned because

of risk of injury since football faces such scrutiny?

Strachan advises parents to think long and hard before allowing their children to play

football as children and teenagers. The evidence provided, however, is not bold or strong enough

to be convincing of such a decision. Football has led to leadership growth and character skills

strengthened, and athletics in the lives of youth has so many positive effects. Barring your own

children from that experience hinders them from gaining experience, learning to be physically

active in a way they enjoy, divides them from peers and stops them from forming new

relationships. The NFL understands the risk involved with injury, but provides reasoning for why

the social and emotional benefits are still important. They share five of those benefits being

health, teamwork, discipline, mental toughness, and socialization (NFL Flag). All of these are

not only useful in a team sport setting, but in personal and professional settings all throughout

different phases of life.

Football is a sport enjoyed by millions. From PeeWee league games and high school

Friday night lights to college tailgates and Super Bowl Sunday, football is a beloved aspect of so

many lives across the country. A common ground for so many, football allows us to forget about

our differences and live in community for a few hours a week. As the author of “Our Shaken

Faith in Football” describes in vivid detail, the sport does not come without flaws. But as many

or as serious as those may be, I was not convinced after reading the work that we should cut it

from our lives. If we maintain a healthy relationship with football, keeping it at a level of

entertainment and not blurring lines of idolatry, football is a sport that can be cherished for years

to come.
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Works Cited

5 Benefits of Kids Playing Football – NFL Flag Football,

https://nflflag.com/flag-football-safety/benefits-of-football#:~:text=Teamwork%3A%20Youth%

20football%20teaches%20kids,on%20and%20off%20the%20field.

Complete Concussions. “What Sport Has the Most Concussions?: Concussion Rate.”

Complete Concussions, 24 Aug. 2022,

https://completeconcussions.com/concussion-research/concussion-rates-what-sport-most-concuss

ions/.

Strachan, Owen. “Our Shaken Faith in Football.” ChristianityToday.com, Christianity

Today, 5 Sept. 2013,

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/september-web-only/our-shaken-faith-in-football.htm

l?share=UcQDRqSPuFHzZbYgfKPOsKxqQ1oz4SOt.
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