California Governor Gavin Newsom said he plans to veto a bill that would ban children 12 years old and under from participating in youth tackle football.
In a statement to The Hill, Newsom said that while he’s concerned about “the health and safety” of young athletes he also feels a ban isn’t the answer.
“My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children,” he said.
Assembly Bill 734, which would take effect next year if passed, would start the ban with children six years old and under. In 2027, the ban would go up for those under the age of 10, and in 2029, the ban would be for those under the age of 12.
The bill was authored by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty.
Dr. D. Pulane Lucas supports the bill. Her son, Stanley Wilson Jr., played in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. After Wilson Jr.’s death at a Los Angeles County mental health facility in 2023, his family told ABC 7 they discovered Wilson Jr. suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a “brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries” and often occurs in contact sports or military combat.
“So we are not saying no tackle football for youth,” she told KNX News’ Jon Baird. “We're saying reduce the years that children play tackle football that for children under 12, that they should play flag football”
Meanwhile, some people feel the bill is government overreach. Steve Famiano, the lead representative for the coalition Save Youth Football, told KNX News’ Jon Baird the safety issue was addressed in the California Youth Football Act.
“We just want to focus on keeping youth football a viable sport for children, whose parents want them to play it or allow them to play it and let's do what we can to continue keeping it as safe as possible,” he said.
The California Youth Football Act requires a “youth tackle football league to establish youth tackle football participant divisions that are organized by relative age or weight or by both age and weight, and to retain information for the tracking of youth sports injuries, as specified.”
Gov. Newsom signed the bill into law in July 2019.
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