What Must Change on Field to Protect Football Players From Injuries?

American football is thrilling, strategic, and deeply embedded in American culture. However, it’s also one of the most physically punishing sports in the world.

From concussions and ACL tears to shoulder dislocations and spinal trauma, injuries are an inevitable part of the game. Yet, they don’t have to be as frequent or as severe as they currently are.

Experts, players, and coaches alike are calling for a shift in how the game is played.

What Must Change on Field to Protect Football Players From Injuries?

They also want changes in how it’s structured from the ground up. Here are several key areas where change can make football safer without sacrificing the spirit of the sport.

1. Smarter Practice Structures

Injuries aren’t just happening under the Friday night lights or during Sunday broadcasts, they often begin in practice. Many teams, especially at the college and professional levels, are already experimenting with limiting full-contact practices to reduce wear and tear on athletes.

This shift is becoming increasingly urgent at the youth and high school levels, where players are especially vulnerable. In 2024, PBS News reported at least seven football-related deaths in August alone. Two high school players sustained fatal brain injuries on the same day.

Tragic headlines like these underscore the need for safer, smarter practice structures from the ground up. 

Incorporating non-contact drills, position-specific skill development, and controlled scrimmages can significantly reduce the number of high-impact collisions during training.

The NFL and NCAA have already adopted new rules to limit full-contact practices, and youth leagues are beginning to follow suit.

These changes reduce injury risk and help athletes build technique in a safer, more controlled setting.

2. The Turf vs. Grass Debate: A Hidden Risk Beneath the Cleats

The playing surface might seem like a minor detail, but it plays a major role in injury risk. A growing body of evidence is now calling artificial turf into question.

According to NBC News, 7 of the 10 NFL stadiums with the highest injury counts from 2017 to 2022 had artificial surfaces. Despite this, many football stadiums continue to use turf due to its lower maintenance costs and all-weather durability.

Take the dome in St. Louis, for example. Home to the Rams for years and now the UFL’s Battlehawks, it’s getting a $1 million turf upgrade. While natural grass might be safer, the choice to keep turf means safety measures need to improve.

Artificial turf is less forgiving than grass. It doesn’t give underfoot the way natural grass does, increasing the risk of ACL and Achilles injuries. Plus, turf heats up fast in warm weather, causing fatigue and dehydration that lead to mistakes and injuries.

Players must demand better protections, and if ignored, legal action can hold organizations accountable and raise awareness.

If you’ve been injured on artificial turf in St. Louis and proper safety or aftercare wasn’t provided, St. Louis personal injury lawyers can help. They will carefully review your case to determine liability and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim. 

TorHoerman Law notes that these lawyers will guide you through the often complex legal process and handle communications with insurance companies. They will also fight to secure fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

3. Investing in Safer Equipment

Advancements in equipment are crucial to lowering injury risks. While helmets and pads have improved significantly over the years, there’s still progress to be made, particularly in preventing head injuries.

For example, the NFL continues to lead innovation by offering players safer, better-performing helmets. The 2024 season features the five safest helmets ever tested, along with a record 12 new models. It also includes eight new position-specific helmets designed to protect players based on the typical impacts they face in their roles. 

This rapid development is driven by the league’s collaboration with manufacturers, medical experts, engineers, and team staff. It highlights how investment and teamwork can push equipment safety forward.

Alongside helmets, there have been improvements in shoulder pads, mouthguards, and cleats. Cleats designed for different playing surfaces are especially important in reducing both immediate injuries and long-term wear on players’ bodies.

4. Prioritizing Real-Time Medical Oversight

Spotting an injury the moment it happens, especially head trauma, is crucial to preventing it from getting worse. This is why real-time medical oversight and independent sideline evaluators are so important. 

The NFL has taken big steps in this area with its “concussion spotters.” These trained professionals watch games closely and can immediately call for a player’s removal if a head injury is suspected. 

This quick action helps protect players who might be too caught up in the game or adrenaline to notice their own symptoms. Expanding this model to all levels of football could save countless players from serious, long-term damage.

5. Cultural Change: Breaking the “Tough It Out” Mentality

One of the most deeply ingrained aspects of football culture is the expectation that players will tough it out, even through injury. While mental toughness is admirable, this mindset has led to serious long-term consequences for many athletes.

Changing this requires leadership from coaches, medical staff, and fellow players to model and reward self-advocacy and caution when something doesn’t feel right. Encouraging athletes to speak up about pain, stiffness, or disorientation shouldn’t be seen as weakness, but as professionalism and longevity.

6. Youth Football Reform: Prevention Starts Early

Many of the habits and injuries that plague pro athletes begin in youth football. Reforming how the sport is taught and played at early levels is essential for long-term change. This includes:

• Age-appropriate tackling techniques (such as Heads Up Football)
  
• Limiting exposure to full-contact drills
  
• Teaching injury recognition and recovery strategies early
  
• Encouraging multi-sport participation to avoid overuse injuries
  

The goal? Create smarter, more resilient athletes who understand how to protect their bodies as well as compete.

FAQs:

• Can wearable technology help predict and prevent injuries in football?

Yes. Wearable sensors track players’ movements, workloads, and impacts in real time. These devices provide valuable insights into each player’s physical condition and risk factors. This data helps coaches adjust training intensity, identify fatigue, and spot dangerous patterns before injuries occur, making practice and gameplay safer.

• Are there gender-specific injury prevention strategies for female football players?

Female athletes often face higher risks for ACL tears and concussions due to anatomical and hormonal differences. Studies show that factors like wider hips and ligament laxity contribute to these increased risks. Tailored strength training and neuromuscular conditioning can address these risks, improving safety for women playing football.

• How do weather conditions affect injury rates in football?

Extreme heat or cold impacts muscle performance and fatigue levels. Temperature extremes can also affect players’ reaction times and coordination. Hot weather increases dehydration risk, while cold can stiffen muscles.

Adjusting hydration, warm-up routines, and practice intensity based on weather reduces injury likelihood.

Overall, football will never be risk-free, and most athletes who lace up know that. But being tough shouldn’t mean being reckless.

With the right combination of safer practices, improved equipment, better playing surfaces, and a cultural shift, we can protect what people love about football. At the same time, we can greatly reduce the toll the game takes on players’ bodies and minds.

The choice isn’t between tradition and safety, it’s about evolving the game to ensure it survives and thrives for generations to come.