Will New York sack tackle football? Proposal would ban youth tackle football for kids under 12

The recent cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has sparked discussions about the safety and health of football players, and even prompted efforts to ban tackle football for children in New York.

Assembly Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto, a Democrat from the Bronx, has announced plans to reintroduce a bill that would ban tackle football for children ages 12 and under in New York leagues and schools.

Benedetto first sponsored the measure in 2013 and it has yet to advance to a floor vote.

The bill has faced pushback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and does not have a sponsor in the state Senate. In the wake of Hamlin’s injury, Buffalo Congressman Brian Higgins has also stated that he will be initiating discussions about player health and safety at the federal level.

The cause of Hamlin’s injury is still unclear and he remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Staff Report

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