Buckeyextra
March 30, 2021
If Gene Smith had his way, cute kids swimming in oversized football helmets would be grabbing flags instead of pulling at their facemasks.
The Ohio State athletic director said Tuesday that if he were sports czar for a day, he would ban any child under age 13 from playing organized tackle football.
“We’re putting kids at risk, which is why I embrace flag football,” Smith said upon release of a national sports study on youth sports in Franklin County. “I don’t know why we’re having them tackle at 7 or 8 years old. I don’t get it.”