The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Pines, based in Marshall, Texas, has announced it is shutting down its tackle football program.
The club cited in a news release Monday that the risk of head concussions is the reason for the new policy.
The club’s board of directors reviewed the latest research into repeated head blows as part of its decision. The club will continue offering non-contact football, according to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Pines executive director Bryan Partee.
The policy change hits close to home for Partee. He said in a statement his father, who played for the San Diego Chargers, now suffers from Parkinson’s disease which may or may not be football related. Partee said, “I wouldn’t want any of my players to be 20 years old and suffer memory loss or excruciating headaches.”
The club also considered legal challenges against youth football.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Pines serves almost 3,000 children in East Texas with about 75 youth in the football program.
