How Does Technology Affect Football Safety?

Boom! Laying on the soft football grass, coaches and athletic trainers leaning over me asking how many fingers I see. The last thing I remember was shouting out the plays for my team, and moving a lineman into the correct position. My head was pounding, laying on the football field, lights shining in front of the whole crowd. On the sidelines, I was diagnosed with a concussion by the trainer, I was out. Constantly changing, technology of football has improved drastically over many years benefiting football safety. First, the technology of helmets has really impacted the safety in football. The first helmet, looking like an old airplane helmet, was worn in the early nineteen hundreds, and was only made of leather. Leather, being a really thin
For example, the first shoulder pads worn were only made up of leather, looking like an old vest. Only covering the shoulders means almost two thirds of the body was uncovered. Also, there was only one kind of shoulder pads, and were expected to protect all the different players. President Theodore Roosevelt almost banned football in the 1900s because all of the injuries occurring. Today, the shoulder pads are made up of hard plastic and protect the chest, shoulders, and even the back of a player. In addition, the shoulders pads today can be fastened around the body, instead of only being sewed onto the player’s jerseys. Another example of the equipment is all the other pads worn by players today. In the first game of football, the players did not wear any other pads then the shoulder pads. Today, football players wear all different kinds of pads on their hips, thighs, knees and even their buttocks. With all of these pads, the players look more like a hockey player, instead of a soccer player. These pads, made out of hard plastic as well, have prevented many injuries in the game of football, making it safer for everyone. These pads would not have been possible without the technology of plastic. Plastic plays so many important roles in football, and has made football a safer
Luckily, the new technology in the medical field makes the recovery process more efficient. First, after an injury has occurred, the player can get X-Rays and know exactly what is wrong within a couple hours. Before, the players did not know what their injury was, or how to treat them. They did not even have crutches to use if they hurt an ankle or leg. Today, players work with doctors and athletic trainers after an injury to be able to get back out on the field as quickly as possible. The players today get completely healed before going back onto the field, so another injury does not occur. In contrast, players in the 1900s often played with their previous injuries and only made them worse. If a muscle is completely torn, like an ACL, while playing football today, players can decide to have surgery on their knee to be able to come back even healthier than before. In the 1900s, the players did not have this option, they had to live the rest of their lives with the injuries occurring in their football career. Also, athletes today can even be cared for right on the sidelines by professional doctors, allowing them to go back into the game. Also, the new pain medicine today makes the injuries bearable for the players. The technology of the medical field has revolutionized football and has made it safer for