Staff Writer
REDMOND, CA— Pete Stenhoff, former high school football player, never expected that one play would confine him to wheelchair for the rest of his life.
That, however, was not the case. While playing for the Chula Vista High School football team, Stenhoff rammed his head into an opposing ball carriers chest fracturing a vertebra in his spine.
The result? He was unable to graduate with his class, lost 38 pounds, and is now confined to a wheelchair for life.
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| Chula Vista High school football players stand on
the sidelines during practice. |
He’s not bitter; “I knew the risks involved when I decided to play.” While he may have known there were risks, did he really understand what they were? Each year there are 20,000 injuries in high school football. 7,000 of those are to the head or neck and 2,400 of them result in permanent disabilities to the players.
Last year alone, 13 high school students died from football related injuries. Many critics blame the helmet design for these numbers.
For students like Stenhoff, injuries are something that comes with the territory. “But,” he adds, “I wish I would have known just how bad it could be.”
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Further Reading on Helmet Reform:
Does Football Have a Future?: click here
It's the Concussion Crisis: click here
Tackling Head Trauma: Safety Guidelines for Football Helmets: click here
Further Reading on Helmet Reform:
Does Football Have a Future?: click here
It's the Concussion Crisis: click here
Tackling Head Trauma: Safety Guidelines for Football Helmets: click here
What do you think? Should the government mandate helmet reform to protect our children? Comment below.
