The benefits of playing an organized sport as a kid are well documented. Children learn about the sport, get regular exercise, develop teamwork skills and build strong friendships. Shy kids who participated in organized sports “over time reported a significant decrease in anxiety” according to The Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science. All children can gain value from participating in organized sports.

 According to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, about 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports and 3.5 million injuries occur each year. The highest rates of injuries occur in sports that involve contact and collision. According to the official rulebook, “If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game.” Unnecessary roughness, holding, and roughing the passer are all penalties in the league.