Brady: Government should stay out of youth athletics

Posted on March 5, 2018

*Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady doesn’t want the government overseeing the rules of youth athletics. (Photo courtesy Illinois National Guard)*

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – While a bill in the House of Representatives seeks to ban children under the age of 12 from playing tackle football, State Senator Bill Brady doesn’t believe government has a place in youth athletics.

Listen to Senator Brady speak with WJBC’s Scott Laughlin about gun control, youth football regulations:

The bill, which passed out of the House Mental Health Committee last week with an 11-9 vote, now awaits a second reading and debate. Brady, a former youth football player himself, said parents should decide whether or not to let their child play full contact football.

“Extra curricular activities like sports do a lot more good than harm,” Brady explained. “We should leave it up to parents to make those decisions – not the place for government.”

The proposal is being spearheaded by State Representative Carol Sente.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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