USA Football, which governs U.S. Pop Warner football leagues, will test a few new rules in selected youth football programs in Fall 2017 to address safety concerns.
The changes will include:
- Smaller playing fields (40 yards instead of 100 yards)
- Fewer players on the field — 6-9 players, instead of 11
- No special teams, in order to eliminate open-field hits to players
- Elimination of the three-point stance for linemen
- Players must rotate positions
- Players of equal size must be matched up against one another
Research indicates that concussions and repetitive blows to the head are linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a degenerative brain disease. USA Football is testing these new rules in order to determine whether they are effective at limiting hits to the head, especially for younger players.
According to the CDC, nearly 500,000 kids are treated in the ER each year due to sport or recreation-related traumatic brain injuries. Learn more about the concussion symptoms and regulations concerning youth sports.
