Love of football not worth loss of life: #tellusatoday

Last year, the deaths of eight players were directly related to high school football; this season, there have been five. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

In high school, parents have the authority to say "no" to their children playing football. Once in college and beyond, it's up to the individual to agree to the violence and injuries, the effects of which often continue after retirement ("Why are high school football players dying?").

With football players dying in high school, even at a low rate, it's time to really look at this violent sport to see if it is worth injury or death to hoist a trophy.

Parents need perspective. Peer pressure, and playing the sport because it is the popular thing to do, are not good reasons to play football. The attitude shouldn't be: "Well, he loves the sport, and so we'll take our chances." Living a shortened life because a teen enjoyed a sport is incredibly irresponsible.

— Harry Schwarz

Football is a violent sport. You cannot take the violence out of it. It is sad to lose these players, but if you think your son is not ready or is unable to play the game, then it is your job as a parent to take him out of it. If you think your son has been injured too many times, take him out of play.

But when you have more than 1 million kids playing high school football with five deaths this year because of the sport, it is tragic, not an epidemic.

— Christopher Daly

The parents profiled in Paste BN's article whose son died after multiple hits to the head in a game want to generate awareness.

The whole idea is to make people aware of preventive steps that can be taken and to make sure they are implemented. Let's talk about how to prevent deaths, not whether we need to end a beloved sport of any kind.

— Ruth Gilbert

In Paste BN's article on high school football, we see an athlete's death caused not by an unorthodox play or Hail Mary pass but by just one hard tackle too many. However, sports have never been about the athletes' safety. Sports are about winning and the roar of the crowd. We demand victory. Sometimes, it comes at the cost of human life.

— Drew Strunk

Better equipment, training needed

We asked our Twitter followers what steps can be taken to make high school football safer for players. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

Remove face masks. Make sure parents know helmets protect mostly against skull fractures , not concussions.

— @Hainsfurther

Better safety has to start with educating and training the coaches.

— @YungCheun

If a player gets a concussion, stop playing for at least a year. Two concussions too close together worsen effects.

— @zoiitsia

Get better helmets to protect from concussions. Give more water breaks during practice. Referees must strictly enforce penalties for hits to the head.

— @JeffOstach

For more of the conversation, follow@USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.