KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Pop Warner Football League is teaching parents the football tackling fundamentals, as well as letting them know the sport is safe for their children to play.
"Everyday he gets on that field, I get concerned, but he wants to do it, so I'm not going to stop him," said Lydia Rollins, a parent who attended the clinic.
Instead, Rollins is going to join him. She, along with several other parents, attended a clinic Monday held by Pop Warner, along with the NFL and USA Football, to teach them safe tackling techniques.
"This gives them a common ground for the parents to talk to their children about what did you guys work on during practice today, and when they get an answer, understand what that means," Jon Butler, the executive director of Pop Warner said.
The parents learned how to properly and safely take down their opponents.
"So what we teach here is the double uppercut, and you get the head out of the way," said Michael Timpson, a former NFL player and instructor.
Instructors taught the parents they need to get the players' heads out of the game, and instead use their bodies to tackle their opponents.
"Helmets and face masks are so far advanced now. Everybody feels invulnerable, which isn't true," Butler said.
Instructors also taught parents the sport is safe, and they should not be afraid to let their kids play.
"I think if the parents understood that the philosophy and the atmosphere is changing to a more safety-oriented tackling technique, that the problems of concussions or the concerns that their children would be hurt would be lessened," said Jeanne Sheiman, a parent attending the clinic.
Instructors also taught parents the signs and symptoms of concussions and the importance of hydration and proper equipment fitting.