But for this prompt, I may never have learned that sporting games such as boxing, football, rugby, wrestling, etc, were generally categorized as contact sports.
In simple words, contact sports are sports that involve physical touch and/or meetings between players.
While these games are fun and thrilling, there are lots of risks involved ranging from low to high risks and even fatality. Due to the nature of the sports, most of the injuries and hazards are accidental. These injuries could be in the form of dislocations, sprains, broken bones, cuts, and concussions, to mention but a few.
Especially with boxing and wrestling, I sometimes wonder what drives the players to sign up for the game, knowing how hazardous it can be. I certainly understand that there's the fun and finance element, and so I would not begrudge the participants on the right to trade their healthy bodies away for money to take care of their needs. Still....
I used to like the game of wrestling. And when I was much younger, we would watch it together as a family. Now, I don't know where the dislike I have for it cane from.
My parents enjoy the sport. As I write this, they are seated side-by-side in the living room, watching, gesturing, hailing, laughing, and whatnot. It irks me.
I wonder what is so fascinating about people trying to outdo themselves by inflicting injustices on one another.
In a way, i think you have to separate football from the other two. I may not be a fan of the game, cause, why are a dozen men chasing a small ball around and about, however, I think that, in football, the object of the game is to score more points than your opponent by moving the ball down the field and scoring goals.
Many attempts have been and continue to be made to somehow reduce the head trauma and injuries involved in playing the game, from rules changes to better equipment. So, doing harm to an opponent is merely a side effect, not the main objective.
In boxing and wrestling however, the literal goal of the activity is to inflict so much physical trauma on your opponent that when you knock them down enough times, they will no longer able to stand back up.
I do not think that there are any more regulations that could be made to reduce the risks that haven't already been put in place. Anything more and the game could lose its appeal, cause, what is football without tackling? What is boxing without hitting your opponent? What is wrestling without beating your opponent to submission? Sure, we rightly know that these techniques can not be stopped cause they are what makes the game the game.
Certainly, i don't think that the welfare of players is lacking in the area of player health and welfare. In some cases, the contact sports injuries happen because the timing of tackles or the body position of the tacklers are totally wrong, making for a hit.
Nonetheless, it is imperative, in order to reduce these risks that players should undergo thorough health checks before and after each game and whosoever is found to have sustained any injury, however little, -and not minding how big or important the game is to him/her- should be made to undergo treatment and only return to the game when pronounced fit by the physician.
Also, players must wear complete safety equipment in order to shield themselves from heavy injuries.
Every rule put in place should be abided by religiously and failure to do so, then there should be penalties.
That's about it.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!
