WACO -
A Texas lawmaker wants to reduce the amount of contact in high school and middle school football.
State Rep. Eddie Lucio III introduced a bill to legislation that would limit high school and middle school football teams to have contact in practice only one day a week.
"By diminishing the ability to have contact, we inhibit to learn proper techniques. Do I believe that we can eliminate the contact days? Yes, but to limit it to one is almost extreme," said Johanna Denson, Waco ISD Athletic Director.
A two-year study published by Purdue University found concussions are caused by multiple hits over time and not just from one hit to the head.
The study influenced Lucio to file the new bill.
Dr. Corbett Boone of Southwest Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics found it surprising this wasn't introduced sooner.
"I'd be a lot more schocked that it hasn't headed down that direction already," said Boone.
Half of Boone's practice fills up during football season.
Many schools in Central Texas are already starting to have contact once a week.
"A lot of schools that we cover already continue to do one day a week of full contact," said Boone.
Boone, along with Denson can both agree in this situation that learning proper techniques is key.
"The best thing that there has been is more education, more equipment and the hitting style," said Boone.
Lucio is planning to meet with football coaches to discuss further details of the bill.
