Like many of the 2,400 kids now playing fall sports in city programs, Adam Mason couldn't wait to jump into his protective pads and rumble down the football field, visions of Peter Warrick dancing through his head. And like many moms, Terry Mason couldn't help but have visions of torn ligaments and cartilage, knee injuries and broken wrists dancing through hers.
Children benefit from the demands of a sport, parents say.
They have to be responsible. Here, coach Kendrick Scott works with players during a practice at Cobb Middle School. Yet, in the final analysis, she decided the benefits of having her son play on a junior tackle football team far outweighed the risks. This gives him something to do. Teach them to respect authority.