California Moves Closer to Becoming First State to Ban Tackle Football for Kids Under 12
The California Assembly has taken a significant step towards potentially becoming the first state to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12. Assembly Bill 734, introduced by state Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, aims to prohibit youth sports organizations and leagues from allowing children under 12 years old to participate in tackle football programs. The proposed legislation comes as growing concerns over concussions and brain trauma in young athletes continue to mount.
The legislation, which consists of a single sentence, states, On and after January 1, 2026, a youth sports organization that conducts a tackle football program, or a youth tackle football league, shall not allow a person younger than 12 years of age to be a youth tackle football participant through the organization or league.
Research has indicated that tackle football poses severe risks to brain health and that the longer individuals play the sport, the higher the chances of sustaining long-term damage. Multiple studies have shown a link between repeated concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that can lead to memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, and dementia.
A 2016 study revealed that even a single season of tackle football can have detrimental effects on the brains of players as young as eight, irrespective of whether a diagnosed concussion occurred or not.
While the proposed bill has cleared its initial legislative hurdle, with a 5-2 vote in favor, it must still progress through the 80-member Assembly and secure approval from the 50-member Senate before reaching the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom.
Should the bill ultimately become law, California would be the first state to implement such a ban on tackle football for kids. Previous attempts to pass similar legislation in states like California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland have not been successful.
The move to ban tackle football for children under 12 follows the enactment of the 2021 California Youth Football Act, which requires tackle football coaches to undergo concussion and head-injury education. Additionally, parents of youth tackle football participants must receive similar information, and youth tackle football leagues are tasked with assisting in injury tracking.
Under Assembly Bill 734, children under the age of 12 would still be permitted to play flag football, a sport that has gained popularity among both boys and girls. In 2023, the California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned flag football for girls, resulting in 114 high schools fielding teams in the CIF Southern Section alone.
As the state of California moves closer to potentially enacting this groundbreaking legislation, the debate over the long-term effects of tackle football on young athletes continues. With the rising concerns surrounding brain trauma and mounting evidence of its consequences, the decision to ban tackle football for kids under 12 could have significant implications for the future of youth sports in California and potentially inspire similar actions in other states across the nation.
