| Violence is a trait of many NFL players. Let's face it, | | | | game, a player's adrenaline is flowing and they may |
| football is a violent sport and it encourages violent | | | | have a lot of extra energy. If the player was in a big |
| behavior. Unfortunately, what football does not do is | | | | game that his team lost, this can increase the |
| teach players how to behave non-violently to | | | | likelihood of violence at home. When you take the |
| problems off the field, particularly when it comes to | | | | environment of football where problems between |
| relationship problems. | | | | players are sometimes solved in scuffles and pushing |
| This violent behavior begins when boys start playing | | | | each other around, this behavior becomes second |
| football as children. The boys are taught to behave | | | | nature to players. In football, if somebody gets in |
| tough and aggressive by their coaches, teammates, | | | | your face, you push them away. However, there is a |
| and even their parents. Boys are taught to use their | | | | huge difference between pushing a strong 275 lb |
| body and strength to tackle competing players. | | | | player out of your face and pushing a 130 lb woman |
| Making a good "hit" is encouraged. This positively | | | | out of your face. What seems like nothing between |
| reinforces boys to behave aggressively. The boys | | | | players can be deadly when used toward a woman, |
| are taught to be strong, to be unafraid, and to be a | | | | and much of the time, it is done as a reflex from |
| man. The name of the game is to be tough, | | | | years of being physical with other players. That is |
| dominant and show no weaknesses. | | | | why it is so important that from childhood on, |
| Unfortunately, the boys playing football are not | | | | football players are taught how to control their |
| taught that this behavior is acceptable only on the | | | | behavior off the field. |
| field. As boys who play football reach adolescence | | | | The NFL does have programs to teach players how |
| and adulthood, they have learned how to use | | | | to behave off the field. The problem is that by the |
| aggressive and dominant behavior to win. It is this | | | | time a player reaches the NFL, it is almost too late to |
| behavior that can lead to domestic violence against | | | | teach behavior control. By this time the player has |
| women. | | | | spent more than half of his life being taught to be |
| Football never teaches players how to communicate | | | | physical and aggressive. This behavior is now so |
| with a woman. Is this the fault of football coaches or | | | | deeply embedded in the player's mind that it is very |
| should parents take responsibility? The correct | | | | difficult to change. That is why it is so important that |
| answer is that both should take responsibility. If you | | | | football coaches and parents teach these young |
| are going to reward a child for behaving violently | | | | boys how to behave off the field and to be gentle |
| while playing football, you must teach that child how | | | | with women. |
| to control their behavior when not playing football. I | | | | If you are a parent reading this article, please talk to |
| believe that from childhood all the way through the | | | | your son about violence and that violent behavior |
| NFL, football players must be taught how to control | | | | towards other people, especially women, is wrong. |
| aggressive and violent behavior. They need to be | | | | Yes, physical and aggressive behavior is ok on the |
| taught that violence off the field is unacceptable, | | | | football field with other players, but that is the only |
| especially towards women. | | | | place it is acceptable. Off the field, players must be |
| The divorce rate among NFL players is very high. | | | | taught to control their aggressive behavior and use |
| Players bring the violence and aggressive energy | | | | their mind to solve problems, not their body. |
| they have on the field home. After practice or a | | | | |