According to Gallup Polls, football is one of the most beloved sports in the United States. However, according to a story released by the Today Show, participation numbers are down seven percent due to safety concerns with head injuries. Parents and athletes are concerned with the safety of the game.

Although statistics from the Today Show’s video display advancements that have been made to equipment football players across all levels are using, Grand View University Head Football Coach, Mike Woodley, and Des Moines East High School Coach, Greg Schoon, believe the game is the safest it has been in their lifetime.

“We are very safe, we are precautionary now,” Woodley said.

Woodley has been around the game of football for 45 years, since his playing days at Waterloo East. After a successful senior year in football, Woodley was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Northern Iowa. After his four years, he knew he wanted to stay around the game.
His experiences playing led to a coaching journey, which consisted of many stops across the country finally landing him at Grand View. He started as a consultant for Grand View’s Athletic Director, Troy Plummer. When Grand View was starting up its football program, instead of helping Plummer look for a coach for his new football program, Woodley decided that he would do it. Woodley designs his practices to keep his players safe and healthy for the grind that is college football.

“I think the game is safer than it’s ever been,” Woodley said.

Monday is an off day for the players to recover from the games they have on Saturdays. Tuesday and Wednesday, players will typically wear a helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts. This is very important in the process of keeping players safe. The constant full speed hitting is not safe and recovery is important. During practice players will “thud,” which is the practice of hitting but not fully tackling. Thursday, players are off, or if the game is away that week they will do a “walk through.” A walk through is described as players going through the motions of plays they will run in the upcoming game. No contact takes place during this. Friday will be off, or players will be traveling to the location of their next game.

East High Football coach, Greg Schoon, a former Iowa State football player, sees the changes that have been made to the equipment over the years.

“I still have my college helmet, it’s like a rock compared to what the kids have now,” said Schoon.

Across all levels of football, rules have been modified for the safety of the players. For example, players that lead with the most dangerous part of their body, the helmet, will be ejected from the game for putting the other player in danger. This is why coaches across the nation are teaching their players to tackle with proper form.

Schoon sets his practices up similarly to Woodley, preaching fundamentals with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being “thud” days. Thursdays are a walk through followed by a game on Friday.

The overall point is that the football program at Grand View is focused on the player’s well-being and safety, promoting a positive culture. Both coaches stress the important of letting bodies recover and if a player has concussion like symptoms to put them in protocol.

Concussion protocol is when players who sustain a head injury are not allowed to play until passing a series of physical and mental tests. Depending on the severity of the head injury, players can be held out multiple weeks until their doctor feels the player is ready to play.

Concussion protocol is one of Woodley’s favorite things and he wishes they had it back in his playing days.

“They would just give you some smelling salts and tell you to get back out there,” Woodley said.

Woodley believes that the drop in participation could be due to number of activities the athletes have to choose from.

“We have more kids choosing to individualize in sports and I believe there are so many options for kids to choose from nowadays which could play into the numbers being low,” Woodley said

High School and College athletes have more choices for activities than ever before. It comes down to the individual athletes deciding whether to risk playing football or choosing an alternative sport. With all sports, there is a risk of getting hurt.