Letter from AFM

My teenage son was a hotshot linebacker on his freshman football squad a few years ago. He had the size, speed and athletic ability to have a nice high school football experience and I was anticipating three more years of proudly supporting him and his team. So, when he told me he was quitting football for rugby, I was naturally a little disappointed. More so, I was concerned that he would be playing a violent sport with bone-jarring tackling without any protective equipment. In particular, I was worried about head injuries and the possibility of concussions. His three seasons of rugby, which included a Florida state championship, were not injury-free. But I can’t recall ever seeing him or any of his teammates take or deliver a serious blow to the head. The rules of rugby, and the practical reality of playing without pads or helmets, force the players to tackle in a way that