Playing sport is dangerous

and it needs to be recognised as such.

Okay, okay I am not suggesting people do not play sport. It does have benefits too, recognised benefits. That said, it is also dangerous. 

Brother Cat once tried golf and ended up accidentally hitting someone in the head with a golf ball. The other person is still a friend but there was a great deal of blood and anxiety at the time. These days Brother Cat is looking at ankle issues brought on by compulsory sport at school.  He is lucky that is all. It could also be knees, hips, shoulders and hands.

Middle Cat played every sport she could. She was on the state team for two sports and was considered for the national team for one of those. Yes, she was good but now she sets off the alarm as she goes through airport security. Joint replacements tend to do that.

There was a story in this morning's paper about a former footballer looking at the potential amputation of a lower limb because of injuries during his career. This is not the first such story and it will not be the last. Football is a contact sport.

Last week there was a story about wheelchair rugby. I can personally inform you that, even at the most amateur of amateur levels it is a very dangerous game. The boys knew what they were doing the night they loaded an extra wheelchair into the van and took me off to "watch". I lasted about five minutes on the "field" before they laughed and let me sit on the sidelines. Most of the time I kept my eyes closed so I could not see them charging into one another.

At least there is now some recognition that at least some of this can cause serious injury and that the worst of these injuries may not be visible. Brain injury in contact sport is now being recognised and should have been recognised long ago. They now have to send children with head knocks off the field immediately and even immediately is too late in my view.  Padded helmets might help a bit but they are not the complete answer. And only adults foolish enough to risk it should be allowed into a rugby scrum.

So why on earth has someone come up with an idea that seems to be a combination of all that is wrong and called it a "sport"? The RUNIT or RUNIT Straight idea where people deliberately collide with one another while carrying a football is the height of stupidity. At least one person has already died and more will if they continue to take the risks this involves. Trying to ban it now will probably see those foolish enough to involve themselves "play" this "game" illegally. 

Yes, some exercise is good for us. Most of us do not exercise enough but others exercise too much and in the wrong way. All too often they are lauded for doing so. They are made into "heroes" but they are anything except that and it is time to recognise it - particularly if they indulge in RUNIT.