Submitted by Guestssssssssssssss (not verified) on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 1:01pm.
that decades ago, a high school player in NC died of a broken neck while being tackled in a playoff game. The player who tackled him was about 21 years old. To me, this rule makes sense. It sucks for this kid but imagine if a ripped 19 or 20 year old who could play in college lined up against your gangly 16 year old. If a kid is 19 when football tryouts start, he has failed two grades. Physically, he's way ahead of the other players at the high school level.
I had a high school coach tell me
that decades ago, a high school player in NC died of a broken neck while being tackled in a playoff game. The player who tackled him was about 21 years old. To me, this rule makes sense. It sucks for this kid but imagine if a ripped 19 or 20 year old who could play in college lined up against your gangly 16 year old. If a kid is 19 when football tryouts start, he has failed two grades. Physically, he's way ahead of the other players at the high school level.