Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football's Make-or-Break Moment

by Carla Killough McClafferty

When the 1905 football season ended, nineteen players were dead and countless others were critically injured. The public was outraged. The game had reached a make-or-break moment―fourth down and inches. Coaches, players, fans, and even the president of the United States had one last change football or leave the field.

Football's defenders managed to move the chains. Rule changes and reforms after 1905 saved the game and cleared the way for it to become America's most popular sport. But they didn't fix everything.

Today, football faces a new injury crisis as dire as 1905's. With increased awareness about brain injury, reported concussions are on the rise among football players. But experts fear concussions may only be the tip of the iceberg. The injuries are almost invisible, but the stakes couldn't be the brains of millions of young football players across the country.

Award-winning author Carla Killough McClafferty takes readers on a bone-crunching journey from football's origins to the latest research on concussion and traumatic brain injuries in the sport. Fourth Down and Inches features exclusive photography and interviews with scientists, players, and the families of athletes who have literally given everything to the game.

It's fourth and inches. Can football save itself again?

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Football, Science, Middle Grade, Health, Teen

96 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through much of the opening chapters of 4th Down and Inches I had luke-warm feelings. I made several notes about the chapter titles, the early organization of each segment, even the chapter titles. Our task in reading for a CYBILS award is to narrow down the year's best non fiction. When you consider that its our job to send a handful of titles through to the next round out of the hundred books nominated, out of thousands of published titles, minor issues become more pronounced. At one point in the early stages I wondered to myself, "How much more should I read before I conclude I've read enough to make a decision?"

I even like the overall structure of football's history. I acknowledged that even though the title font might not be to my liking, I'm sure it wouldn't bother its intended audience. So I kept reading. Boy am I glad I did. I finished this book in tears. Quite frankly, I believe that 4th Down and Inches should be required reading for every kid who plays football, every one of their parents, and everyone of their coaches.

Full Review

http://mrlewis5.blogspot.com/2013/11/...

[Mike DiNardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received a few concussions in my day, and the end of this book kinda scares me. The new field of concussion studies is broken down into understandable content with authentic stories from players or deceased players. Sports related brain injury was nonexistent until football players deaths were investigated for in the early 2000's.
I was interested in the topic of concussions, but the book drew me in with the intro. Playing hockey I never knew the origins of football. The beginnings were bloody and kind of like Roman Coliseum games where men were beaten to death in large piles. This was ok with many people, but caused a division between universities where the game was primarily played. When enough people died in 1905 the president, Teddy Rosevelt, called a few colleges together to reform the game. I was amazed about people dying and presidential intervention, because everyone can see the danger with sharp blades on ice.
The book became technical after the history lesson with stories of how concussions have affected people from the first death to recent concussions. The game is fraught with concussions, but this was true with all sports. The competitive nature of people is to keep working and trying to win. Many times I knew I "shook it off" in games after receiving a concussion.
I am glad about books coming out about concussions are a major issue in sports today. The more people know about concussions, the more willing they will be to demand their/their child's safety. More money will be used in research and better technologies will be developed to lessen the effects of the brain and kenetic forces. I wish the book went into new technologies which are being developed and that I wouldn't have to get research then now. The book got me interested.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concussions and their long term effects have been an issue in football since it's inception. This is no different today, when we know that NFL players are affected with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) at the rate of at least 17 in 100. Sadly, this degenerative condition has also shown up in teenage athletes who died as a result of repeated blows to the head in football or other sports. McClafferty does not purport to ban football, nor does she claim that football is the only sport with the risk of repeated concussion. But she does methodically report on the science behind repeated head trauma in football players, and the danger that this can cause. McClafferty does a nice job of combining research into concussions in football with the personal stories of players who have, or had, the utmost passion for the game. What she concludes, as years of anecdotal and scientific reporting have shown, is that football as it is currently played puts its athletes at an increased risk of CTE. There are personal stories, discussions with researchers in the field, and historical instances of discussions of the dangers of football to its players. While there is not prescription here as to how to solve this problem without an outright ban on tackle football, McClafferty leaves her readers well-informed and well-aware of the issue of repeated head trauma in football. Recommended to all youth and high school football players, parents and coaches.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Fiction Book Review

Wow, this book sure opened my eyes to a lot of things. I definitely consider myself to be a football fan; I watch Broncos game every week, and loosely follow who is doing well in the NFL. But I definitely had no idea the history of how and why the rules are written the way they are, and that it took young men dying on college football fields over 100 years ago to put these rules into place.

This book is great for young readers and adults alike. It has glossy pages packed with photos, illustrations, and bold graphic headings at the start of each chapter. I am impressed with how clearly the author was able to communicate the SEVERE risks that are associated with concussions (in football but also generally). I feel like I am way more educated when it comes to the history of football as we know it today, and about the science of a concussion and the effects they have on the human brain. The author vividly describes types of concussions, the risks they pose for athletes later in life, and what can happen to someone with repeated brain trauma. She was able to write this book in a way that vividly presents things like history and science-- often "boring" topics to some students-- in an fascinating way. This is a book that I will absolutely be recommending to a few of my fifth grade students that I know play tackle football, not to scare them but to help educate them about their developing brains and how traumatic concussions truly are.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know too much about traumatic brain injuries or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. After years of reading about the death and troubling later years of "Iron Mike" Webster, the early onset dementia of Jim McMahon and the suicide of Junior Seau, among others - I believe more of us are becoming aware of the inherent dangers of football and other sports, with our youth and their precious brains, being the most at risk.

Fourth Down and Inches is a well-researched introduction for those who want to be more informed on the subject. The author shares first-person interviews of players and parents, concussion symptoms parents should be aware of, the protocol for returning to play, extensive source notes and resources for further reading.

[Quamari Young]

Fourth Down and Inches is a book about the dangers of football and how football has changed throughout the early years.In the 1905 season nineteen players died during that football season and because of it the public began to become outraged by it. The president of the United States had to interfere, not only for older players but especially for the children who play football. This was the first time the game of football had to ever be changed. The president had to either change the rules of football or either ban it before anybody can get hurt anymore.

The reasons why players were getting hurt were because of dog piles and diving head first into people causing concussions. Football is about emotions, sportsmanship, and believing in yourself. Not dirty hits and trying to hurt a person, the number one reasons why football is dangerous is because of the possibility of an concussion. You don’t know if you've an concussion until you actually feel it. Scientists have researched the the dangers of concussions.
A concussion happens when the brain touches the skull. When you jolt your head back as the brain goes forward it accelerates into your skull.
I believe football has changed tremendously throughout the years. When I played football there were not as many head shots, but there were a lot of body shots. I think football has become safer but there are still some bad collisions that can be tough on your body; but you have to be tough to play a dangerous sport. And I also believe a nonfiction book like this should keep being read for years to come.
I would recommend this book to anyone even if you don’t like football, this book will teach you about concussions and the things football will teach. I would give this book five out of five because this books explains the main idea of the whole book into stories of actual football players who died playing the sports they love. I’m not going to tell you anymore go and read the book.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the initial history of football and how it nearly came to a halt, and found that held my interest as much as the technical and medical information within the pages. I felt it was very accessible to my child, though I still want to continue our discussion so she didn't miss the information about girls' soccer being the second leading cause of concussions. It can't be emphasized enough that a concussion is an injury to the brain. I think that parents whose child has had one concussion should be encouraged to read this while their kid is healing and not yet engaged in the return to play protocol. I just think at that point the impact would be more relevant as I see too many parents and even volunteer coaches skimming over the concussion information that is provided during the registration process and it seems they don't take this seriously.

I have read in the newspapers and online about the last kids whose profiles were shared. This book presentation is more dramatic, and impactful. I think parents can better relate that it could have just as easily been their kid with that outcome. I am saddened that in my experience as a coach and as a team manager that parents have given me the brush-off and not taken their own child's injury seriously, even criticizing me for my caution in disallowing a child to play when they have not yet been evaluated by a doctor and I have seen them take a hard hit. I have been lied to by the kid about their symptoms and that is just as heart-breaking to me that they cannot see the bigger picture and the potential life-changing impact that playing with a brain injury can lead to. Maybe this book will convey that information better to them than I can.

I do feel fortunate that my daughter has made such significant strides in her improvement and I feel like this book may have made a difference to my other daughter in terms of understanding about the changes that have happened to our family as a result of a TBI. She does wear her safety gear. But this book helped her understand that just because she is wearing it that she is not completely free from injury risk. I think it will help her be a better teammate too because it reminds her to take seriously any impact to the brain that causes a friend or herself to behave or feel differently and call attention to it to an adult. The book was easy for a middle schooler to understand and interesting enough to compel her to finish it in a single sitting.

[Clay Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, football was very popular, but not safe at all. By the end of the 1905 football season, 19 people were dead. These deaths were mainly caused by concussions and blood clots in the brain. In the beginning of the book, the author talks about a man named Von Gammon. Von played football at the University of Georgia. While playing the University of Virginia, along with other players, Von was knocked to the ground. All of the other players stood up and continued to play. Von did not. He later died due to a concussion. Early in the book, it talks about the early troubles with football and how it effected many people's lives. Because of Von and other deaths and injuries, many people wanted to ban football from being played in the United States all together. Later in the book, the author talks about the studies that have been done that specifically correlate concussions with football. These concussions can be very dangerous to all football players. Due to this, equipment has been changed tremendously from the late 1800’s to now. This book tries to give people a different outlook on the game of football and how safe it really is.

This book talked all about the early stages of the game of football. It dealt with many problems and arguments about whether football should be allowed or not. People that are interested in the game of football, and how it started would be very interested in this book. By reading this book, I learned a lot about how people felt about football in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s. This book also talks a lot about the brain and problems that football can cause to it. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in football and problems that are caused by it.

This book is probably one of the best books I have read this year. I really enjoyed reading this because I am very interested in learning new things about sports. This book made me realize that most sports weren't always like they are today. By reading this book, I learned that blows to the brain can be more damaging than I ever thought before. Concussions can be a very scary thing to deal with and can lead to even larger problems, and with pout proper treatment, even death. I am very satisfied with this book and am happy I read it. I would rate this book at a 4.5/5.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about traumatic brain injury and football. The book begins with the history of American Football which I hadn't known before reading this book. The was developed from Rugby by Walter Camp who worked at Yale University. It was a hit from the start and played among colleges and between the Army and Navy Military schools in the late 19th century. In 1905, 19 players died from concussive injuries from football. Columbia University decided to end football but faced protests. Other colleges were under pressure to do the same while with players and the public football was more popular than ever. Eventually some rules were changed, players were encouraged to wear helmets and the debate about concussions seems to have eventually been minimized and ignored. Helmets weren't required until the 1940s. Football was seen and is seen as a man's game and the pain and injuries that go with it, consequences of becoming a man. While we don't seem to explicitly say that today, it was often mentioned in the 19th and 20th centuries for continuing the game. Even studies in the early 20th century found that players would do anything to get back into the game and try to ignore injuries to get back into the game. A player in the 1980s actually chose to have his fingertip amputated off in order to go back to the game and play instead of going to the hospital to be reattached. Now with MRI machines, the medical profession can see what is going on in the brain better than previous years. People are also expected to live longer so when football players show symptoms at an earlier age and die young, it is noticeable. What medical professionals are finding that football players like Boxers who have been studied more extensively are suffering from brain diseases caused by traumatic brain injury. Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and other brain diseases happen more to football players than the general public and players tend to die faster. Many who die are donating their brains for scientific research. While this information may seem to be scary, the book presents the information in a logical and very informative way. I think that children in older elementary grades or middle school will benefit from this book and the information it provides. I learned a lot and I think others will too.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at the connections between football and concussions. The first thing you read about in the book is the history of the sport of football. One of the things I found most interesting was the fact that conversations about the dangers of concussions with football players started at the beginning of this game. Football has always been a dangerous sport and it started out even more dangerous than it is today. I knew players didn't start out with the padding and helmets of today. What I didn't realize was that they started out with no padding or helmets and that it was a fairly common occurrence for players to die. From the time football started in the 1890s to when it was reformed in the 1900s it seems between 10-20 players died each year as a result of injuries sustained playing football. The fact that the game persists to this day is astounding!

The other thing I found really interesting was the fact that brain injuries are so very common among all ages of football players. The book gets into the science pretty heavily which I think will go over some kids heads, but they will understand the injuries and deaths that football players have sustained. Concussions and football have been in the news a lot lately, but the connection actually started in the 1980s. Repeated concussions and repeated blows to the head without concussion have resulted in dementia, ALS, Alzheimers, and death among football players. And it isn't just the professional players that have to worry about it. Brain damage has even been found in high school and college football players. The fact that we let our boys start playing at a very early age and then have them continue into their teens means they are likely to get hit thousands of times. This means there is a greater chance they will sustain brain damage or injuries. I'm glad I never played football, but I worry about those who have and will.

[Gleason Memorial · Rating 5 out of 5]

This post is part of the Must Read Harder Challenge Grant
funded by IMLS through LSTA and sponsored by the Oklahoma
Department of Libraries.

Fourth Down and Inches
Carla Killough McClafferty
Carolrhoda Books, a Division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
ISBN: 9781467710671
96 pages
Ages 11-17
Non-Fiction

Fourth Down and Inches starts off with a well written short
history of just how dangerous early football was. McClafferty
uses numbers of deaths and injuries in a far from boring
style. She moves fairly quickly through the early controversies
the violence of the sport, should it be banned, and how might it
be made safer without losing the excitement of the game. She
explains how few people understood the dangers of concussion,
let alone the dangers of having your head simply slammed around.

Only recently have these issues been examined and studied with
HITS accelerometers and other methods. One study done with seven
and eight year olds learning how to play stated one child received
a hit that equaled hitting a brick wall headfirst at 20 mph. However,
this is not an anti-football book. It is more a call to know the risks
involved. Knowing the risks helps to recognize the symptoms and perhaps
prevent some of the tragedies that can and do occur.

McClafferty does an excellent job weaving personal stories
around clear explanations of how the injuries occur and how
injury can build on injury without a concussion being diagnosed.
She describes what they mean for the players bodies and how
research is now being collected, studied and used. Medical terms
are explained clearly and succinctly and in conjunction with
excellent photographs and other graphics make this book an
excellent resource. A page detailing concussion symptoms is side
by side with one detailing the CDCs Return to Play Progression
plan followed by well done source notes, bibliography, and further
reading suggestions. A short but very good index is included.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book for both middle and high schoolers describes the problem of concussions as it relates to the history of football. The author tells the personal stories of players that have been disabled or have died from concussions, including changes to the game of football that have resulted from these injuries. McClafferty explains what a concussion is and how it damages the brain—resulting in both immediate trauma and in injuries that might show up days or even years later.

What disturbs me is that these problems are not confined to the high impact world of professional and college football; brain injuries from forceful collisions have been found in high school athletes—and younger. Another alarming fact is that, while helmets help to avoid damage to the skull, they do little to prevent brain injuries from the jarring impacts of many sports.

And even more troubling is that you don’t have to be an athlete to be at risk from long-term brain damage. Since I suffered from severe asthma as a child, I did not compete much in sports. Even so, I sustained three concussions before I became an adult, which have had long-term consequences.

And the author chose to write this book because her young son died from a head injury after falling from a swing.

An appendix at the end explains the symptoms of a concussion and how long someone with a concussion should keep it easy. Kids will find out about the latest research on traumatic brain injuries and learn how they can protect themselves. The information in this book should be passed along to all athletes, coaches in every sport, playground supervisors, and parents of athletes and active kids, all the way down to elementary school.

(Originally reviewed on mackinbooksinbloom.com)

[Kendra Ellett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy football season—especially on Sundays when I can relax and watch the Broncos with some friends. I think football offers a way for people to bond (over their favorite teams), and have something to root for and show pride in. However, until reading this book, I never realized that all those benefits come at the expense of the players’ health...or life. This book describes football’s make or break moment when the 1905 season ended, and nineteen players were dead and countless others were critically injured.

As I began this book, I kept reflecting on my experience watching football games. I wince when I see the players get hurt, and I actually feel worry when they get transported off the field. I don’t think there’s any denying that football is a physically dangerous spot. However, Fourth Down and Inches was extremely eye opening in the way that I now view football as not just dangerous, but deadly. Though this book documents the rule changes and reforms in football from 1905 to now to make the game safer, I was not surprised to learn that severe brain injuries stem from the rise of reported concussions. I don’t think this is an issue that is discussed enough because the popularity of football is so high, but I argue that the brains of millions of football players are more important than the sport.

This informational text was interesting because I have a better understanding of brain trauma in football players, and I want to continue to learn about the long term effects of football, as concussions are probably only tip of the iceberg.

[Elissa Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fan of football. I had to talk myself into reading this. But I'm so glad I did, this is such a timely topic and an extraordinarily interesting read.

We begin with the tale of Von Gammon, who played football for the University of Georgia. During a play and a pile up of tacklers, he was found unconscious at the bottom and rushed to the hospital with a concussion. Sounds like something I'd hear about in the news this week. But then I turned the page and saw the photo of Von and my jaw dropped. I realized that concussions in football, while a hot topic of the day, are nothing new to the sport and have been a topic of controversy for generations.

What I found most fascinating about this book is that it's a study of the human brain hidden inside a book about football. McClafferty does not hold information back or dumb it down. We get the science behind the concerns of brain injuries and how evidence points to football as a source for the cases detailed. She doesn't judge, she doesn't make any party the bad guy, she just gives us straight information and talks about what is being done by everyone involved.

And, most surprising, she made me care about these football players in a way I've not cared before.

Very recommended, for the timely topic, for the science, for being of interest to our youth (especially boys), for the involved case studies, and more. Grades 4+.

[Jacqui Pulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the books to choose from for the topic of information text, my eye immediately caught the book called “Fourth Down and Inches”. I read that this had to do about concussions and I knew I would love this book from the title. I play a sport that happens to have a lot of concussions involved in it too and that is why I thought I could learn more about concussions and relate to it so easily.
This book is about football players that did not wear pads and because of that they were getting hurt. It also talks about head injuries and how it occurred and happened. Finally, it talked about how to treat the concussions and it also talked a little about the history of football. I really enjoyed this book and I learned a lot from it as well. It was definitely a good informational book. There were a couple of facts that stuck out to me in the book and some of them were that people who were smarter got drafter more often rather then men with bigger muscles and that lots of people died from head injuries and that is why today, football players must wear helmets while playing.
I would recommend this book for anyone who loves sports and especially football because that is mainly what this book focuses on. The one thing I would of liked to see a little differently is that the book only talks about football in the past and it does not say much about current football today. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I made the decision to read this book.

[Robert G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very educational book. It gave me information on things like CTE, concussions, second impact syndrome, deaths from a concussion, and the history of football. I recommend this great book to someone that wants to know the roots of football and how it all began, or for someone that wants to be a doctor and learn more about a concussions and CTE.

Another reason why this book was so great was because it wasn't a long book that had no action until the 150th page. Right off the bat this book was interesting and it had plenty of stories to tell, the book added up to a total of 16 different stories.

The author Carla Killough McClafferty did a really great job writing this book. As you read you can tell that she understands what she is writing about, she goes far into detail when it comes to things like CTE, second impact syndrome, the brain, and the history of football. She also picked the players that truly loved the game to write about. Players like Von Gammon, Kevin Turner, Joe Theismann, Ronnie Lott, Tom Mchale, Nathan Stiles (High Schooler, died from second impact syndrome), and Eric Pelly (High Schooler). Most of those players are either in the NFL Hall Of Fame or might be within the next few years.

The reason why I picked up this book was because I love football and learning new things... And it was pretty short.

[Makenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a tough read for me coming from a small town where our football team means everything and that is all I knew through high school. I have a younger brother who is twelve and loves football and is great at it. It does worry me that he is exposed to that all the time, but I think that is why we always need to be aware of it. When I was in high school my school did an assembly for all of the athletes before the sports seasons started to be informed on concussions.

My younger cousin was very athletic like my little brother and loved sports. He got many concussions, and one day got into an ATV accident and hit his head. He was driving and blacked out and ran into a telephone pole. The doctors think it was from the concussion he got about a month ago, and he was in a coma for a month. He is now classified with a traumatic brain energy and struggles with one of his legs and short term memory. It was hard for my family and opened my eyes to concussions.

I am glad that there are informative books and I think anyone who plays football or is a parent of it should consider reading it. It might be a hard read, but it is very serious and we have lost too many football players over concussions.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for football fanatics, athletes (boys and girls), parents of athletes, all secondary coaches, and all athletic directors to be informed about the danger of concussions. A very informative read. I can't encourage coaches and AD's enough to read this book.

*Top concussion sports in high school: football, girls soccer, and wrestling.

*No brain scan, blood test, or any exam can diagnose a concussion. Only by symptoms reported by injured person. There are 26 symptoms and every concussion is different.

*Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon often gets lost in his own home and forgets why he walked in a room. He was diagnosed with early dementia at 53. Students can further research with Brett Favre's issues today.

*It wasn't until 1943 that the NFL required helmets.

*research shows that ALS and Alzheimer's are 4 times higher in retired NFL players than the US population. Love to see more research with all college athletes.

*such an informative read with heartbreaking stories. Only 87 pages, but packed full with facts.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must own for every school.
The history of football injuries makes up the first section, with president Teddy Roosevelt working with Yale, Harvard and Princeton advisers and coaches to make college football less deadly. In the 1900s, football rules were rewritten and the game changed in an attempt to make playing less dangerous.
Concussion continued to be a grey area and it's effects not clearly understood because of the range of symptoms and lack of visible injury. With new technology, concussion awareness is rising. Brains of athletes who have died are examined for signs of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). There is a direct correlation between sports where the head is hit and brain degeneration. The consequences are: memory loss, tremors, headache, depression, hesitancy of speech, etc.
Students will know of many of the professional athletes and their personal stories make this book that much more interesting and relevant.
This book should be required reading for every coach, parent and athlete.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! Opened my eyes! The issue of head injury in football has been a known fact since the start of the game and each time the joy of the game wins out over the long term dangers. Reading the science behind concussions, CTE and the connections with ALS and dementia were clearly explained and illustrated.

My book talk (adapted from pages 7 and 8):
Von Gammon was good at every sport. When he left home to attend the University of Georgia, his friendly personality made him easy to know. The football team was thrilled to have him play with them. On October 20 of Von’s sophomore year the Georgia Bulldogs were playing University of Virginia. Von’s team was down by 7 and Virginia had the ball. Von was playing defense when the center snapped the ball. After the play was over there was a big pile up of players. One by one the Virginia players got up and walked away. Von didn’t. He was carried off the field and sent to the hospital with a concussion. A few hours later Von was dead.

Some said football was to brutal, too violent and should be banned. The year was 1897.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at the relationship between contact sports and brain injuries, specifically football. Much evidence is presented about the short and long term effects of hard hits and the tragedies that can occur when not enough time is allowed for rest and recovery much less retirement.

Stretching back to the notable death of Von Gammon in 1897 and taking readers to present day the author throughly examines individual cases and gives readers the symptoms and treatments they need to be aware of the prevent further tragedies.

The writing is full of quotes, from and about players and the sport and is supported by numerous brain scans and action shots. This book makes for an exciting pleasure read as well as a great source for school reports for grades 5-8.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a huge football fan since I can remember it brought back a ton of memories of my 4 very competitive football brother constantly getting concussions, getting injured and so on. The time of this book was super amazing and it provides a clear and well defined information for the children. Although I knew of all the dangers that takes place in football it is still a sport that is super close to my heart. I think having books like this helps parents become more aware of the dangers but not just the parents but the kids as well. Head injures are a serious subject and watching my brothers get concussion after concussion is something truly scary because you do not know how it would affect them in the long run.

[Jack Groenheim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings to light the serious issues involving concussions and other brain related injuries in the sport of football. Since the games founding, there have been countless injuries, and even in some extreme cases, (the beginning of the game) death. I really enjoyed this book because it was only published 3 years ago, and this is an ongoing issue. The information from this informational text can be viewed every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday night on the NFL network. The improvements we have made in player safety are incredible, but even today players are continuing playing with concussions. The NFL, and the sport of football still have a long way to come in player protection. Overall this book got 4 out of 5 stars because it did a great job as an informational text.

[Ms. Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely book on the connections between the game of football and the lasting effects of concussions. The author recounts the history of deaths occurring from injuries sustained in football games from the late 19th century to today. Also included is the fascinating research being done on CTE at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, headed by Dr. Ann McKee. By combining the personal stories of the families who have lost loved ones because of repetitive concussions and the medical research being conducted to learn more on how the brain responds to them, the author allows the reader to see both the emotional and clinical sides of this issue. Well done-- 'A' rating.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book it makes me happy to know that my brother will no longer be playing football. Concussions are a serious thing and should not be taken lightly. This book is very informative. It has great research done but also makes great points. The brain is one of the body's most important organs and it is the one that we should be most careful with. Football players are most exposed to receiving a traumatic brain injury. The sport is dangerous and has been one of the most dangerous sports. Considering it is Americas most popular sport, Fourth Down and Inches proves that the deaths and injuries could break Americas favorite sport.

[Annalee Schnebele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very readable book about concussions and football (meaning that I read it in one sitting on a snow day). I learned a lot about concussions and football. I think you can sell this to students looking for a sports book, but it might be a difficult sell for those very reluctant readers who are looking for a football book because most of the book is really more about the brain and concussions.

Recommended for upper elementary and middle school students who are interested in the brain, football, or concussions.

[Carie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in America. Players undoubtedly take many risks when they take the field. And while most remain largely unharmed, many are permanently scarred. Best part of this book: the individual stories of boys/men who loved the sport and lost their lives. Least favorite part: the details regarding brain research about concussions. I'm afraid my middle schoolers will get bogged down in the details, but perhaps they will do what I did and skim those parts.

[Penny Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the timely topic of brain injuries and football, assisted by a eye-catching book design filled with color photos and sidebars. The narrative begins with players killed during turn of the century college football games, and ends with high school players killed from the same thing - brain injuries received during football tackling. Filled with facts, not just emotions, this makes a clear case for change in football at all levels.

[LG]

Kevin Turner: "If I felt a little woozy or got a little blurry-eyed sometimes, I really wouldn't say anything about it. If I wasn't knocked out, I probably didn't say anything. The competitor in me wanted to go back out there. They wanted me out there."

How long are we going to come up with excuses for football?

[Dest · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm looking for great nonfiction to book talk to upper elementary kids, and I don't think this is going to work for me. I was liking it and then it suddenly took on an uncritical reverential football-worshiping voice. Up until then, it was an eye-opening account of the many young men who died playing football in the late 19th and early 20th century. Suddenly, the book flashes forward to the present day and football teams become perfect units dedicated to nothing but winning and they are heroes to the cheerleaders who form human tunnels for them to run through. Gag me.

I want to give this three stars because there's really good stuff here, but I just can't because of that big biased swerve in the middle of the book. Not to rant, but this is what's wrong with a lot of nonfiction for young people. They don't need or want to be condescended to as readers. Authors, please stick to reportage and analysis and leave out the hyperbolic fluff.

Nevertheless, I recommend this (with reservations). It's sure to catch the interest of reluctant readers and the info within is important.