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Greensboro, NC - Football could arguably be called America's sports and fans say, what makes it so great are the athletes, touchdowns, interceptions, and tackling.
Growing concerns about concussions on all levels of football has one doctor making on "way out there" proposal.
The doctor thinks tackling is causing major problems even in youth games. His proposal? Ban physical contact for our youngest players.
Dr. Robert Cantu told CNN, "These are sports in which smashing into your opponent isn't just a possibility-it's the object of the game." Dr. Cantu is a neurosurgeon at Emerson college in Massachusetts and the author of a new book, "Concussion and our Kids".
Cantu said he wants to see tackling banned until the age of 14 - but he says 16 or 18 would be even better.
News 2 took his suggestion to the biggest football fans in town, the parents, and asked them what they think.
"It'll make them tough," said Frankie Harrison, football parent,
"Flag is cute when you're little but when you get older the kids are more into the tackling," explained Jennifer Lovelace, football parent.
"You get injured, there are concussions suffered in basketball. Let's do away with all the sports if that's the case," explained Dale Hagwood, football parent.
"It's a sport, the age limits are what it is," said April Jeffries, football parent.
Some parents said their kids started playing tackle football at age seven.
They said they wouldn't be against starting tackle football a little later but say 14 is just too late because kids are taught the fundamentals of how to tackle early on.
They believe learning how to tackle correctly greatly reduces the risk of injury.
"Kids have to learn the proper techniques and fundamentals of football. You learn that at a very early age. A lot of injuries in sports is not just football but in athletics in general is because you're not properly trained," said Hagwood.
"The coaches are training them the correct way on to tackle," said Lovelace. "Not to lead with head, not to lead with their helmet that nothing bothers their neck."
"We always keep good check on them; make sure that they don't overdo it," said Archie Scales, youth football coach,
The experts believe 14 is the magic number because that's when kids have strong enough neck muscles to protect their heads against the blow caused by a tackle.
READ: CNN: WOULD YOUTH FOOTBALL SURVIVE A TACKLING BAN?
WFMY News 2/CNN