Friday Night Lights director: My son is not allowed to play football
The writer and director of Friday Night Lights, Peter Berg, penned a story for TIME on why he is not allowing his son to play football anymore.
From TIME.com:
Head and neck injuries are what parents thinking about letting their children play tackle football should be thinking about, talking about, and demanding answers about, from any coach presenting himself as a worthy custodian for their child’s introduction to tackle football.
Young boys must be taught to play football without leading with or lowering their heads. Young players must be drilled over and over and over with Heads Up Football skills until that skill set becomes muscle memory and second nature.
• Football’s Ultimate Cost: The Chad Stover Story
Berg said he thinks the NFL’s Heads Up Football program is a good start to teaching children to tackle safely, but that he doesn't feel it has been practiced enough by youth football teams. Berg's 14-year-old son is now playing lacrosse instead of football.
• TIME: If you let your kids play football, you've lost your mind
In addition to directing the show, Berg also appeared on the program in 2008 as a minor character.
Friday Night Lights ran from 2006 to 2011.
• TIME cover story: The Tragic Risks of American Football
- Sarah Barshop
