“Imagine you are in the stands cheering on your team. Hundreds of other fans are around you, forming the roaring crowd. Hands go up in the air as the wave passes. Children laugh and adults yell out. The breeze blows on your face as your team scores yet another touchdown. People get high up on their chairs, screaming in joy, meanwhile, the opposing teams’ fans grow anxious, booing the teams and urging on their players with small cheers and shout. Your team is called to offense, the stadium dies down. Without warning, the ball is soaring through the air, landing in the running back’s arms. Darting through players and dodging attacks, he’s nearly there. Seven more feet you can do it. Suddenly he is launched off the ground, and slammed head first, the attacker landing on top. Turf flies up around them. One player stands up, but your teams’ man is motionless, sprawled out awkwardly. The medics swarm, rushing out to him with a stretcher covered in medical supplies.”

You flinch as the door slams behind you, reality coming back. Your eyes focus back on the TV that displays the headline, “NFL player paralyzed after multiple head collisions occur.” Chills run up and down your spine, everything becomes too hot, yet too cold at the same time. You remember your childhood, that first slam awakening you to the horrors of sports’ injuries. The glamor fades away.

The whole idea of this article is to spread awareness about the dangers of contact sports. One of the many sports that has been incurring a number of injuries is football. While interviewing the football coach, Coach Morrison, we learned some very chilling details.

Shark Attack: What are some severe injuries? Did the players have to be taken off the field?

Coach Morrison: Unfortunately, yes… it’s a violent game. Some guys who had leg issues needed to be carried off the field.

Shark Attack: Can you name any of the injuries?

Coach Morrison: I’d rather not name any players, but I had a neck injury one year… it was pretty tragic. The overwhelming majority of injuries the guys can heal from.

In a usual NFL game, players are given a helmet, shoulder pads, thigh and knee pads, neck rolls, elbow/hip/tailbone/rib pads, and a mouth guard. Our players wear standard safety equipment of helmet, shoulder pads, and leg pads. Should the players want more, Coach Morrison informed us that they can go and purchase extra protective gear, which can be pricey.

Shark Attack: What’s your opinion on the protectiveness of your current gear?

Coach Morrison: I think it just keeps getting better every year.

We were also told that the number of injuries were decreasing over these last few years because people are paying more attention to themselves and their loved ones. They don’t want to be handicapped or mentally impacted early on in life, they want to be able to live. Once their head clears up from the pleasure they find in the sport, and their misplaced love, they are able to see the danger.

There are many pros and cons to this controversial subject surrounding gear though. Getting better gear could mean less injuries, but it would also weigh down the players more and make them tire more quickly. Less head injuries, more weight.

Another contact sport is Water Polo. Due to the growing amount of dangers displayed in the aggressiveness between players, the safety of the sport is seriously being questioned. After interviewing Coach Gorham, current water polo coach, we learned a lot about the daily schedule of a player.

Shark Attack: How many hours do the players practice a week?

Coach Gorham: Between 15-20, depends on their game schedules. Usually on average, between 15-17.

Afterwards, we asked him about the gear;

Shark Attack: What’s your opinion on the protectiveness of your current gear?

Coach Gorham: We don’t have any, there’s no pads or any protective equipment that’s used on a wide level in water polo. Sometimes goalies will use head gear, like a cap that has little more padding in practice, but not in games. We don’t do that here in Santiago.

Basically, there is no gear used in a physical contact sport, where a ball is being launched from player to player, over heads and around chests, at high speeds. Beneath the water they kick, scratch, claw and yank each other around. Any kick to the stomach could knock the wind out of a player, resulting in fatigue, vomiting, and fainting spells. Players could also drown if they aren’t noticed immediately.

To conclude, sports are a danger, and all players are told that before they commit themselves, their time, their schedule, their lives, to it. Whether it be a small hobby just to burn time on, or a fun way to hang out with their friends, the dangers are expressed clearly, and many would appreciate some more protective gear. Reality comes down to whether or not you believe you need it. Would you rather have a massive head injury that could bring your colorful life to an abrupt end, or have heavy gear weighing you down, but protecting you?