Out of Football?

United States
September 15, 2009 6:43am CST
My oldest son has been interested in nothing but sports his entire life, and any coach he's ever had has said he could go professional in any sport he chooses, he has the talent. His father was a professional baseball player...though not a great one, but my son has sports in his blood!! This year he finally started playing football, which is currently his dream, he wants to play for the NY Giants. I'm not trying to squash his dreams or anything, I'm hoping his athletics will at least get him into college and then he could choose a career in sports, even as a trainer or coash, or a school gym teacher even, if the professional thing doesn't pan out. Well, yesterday my son slammed his hand in a locker. I had to take him to the doctor and he ended up needing 3 stitches on his middle finger. None of his fingers are broken, it's just the cut on that one finger. It's between the 2 knuckles, not on the knuckle. So the doctor who put the stitches in his finger tells me I'll have to keep him out of sports and gym for 3 weeks!! Well the football season is only 7 weeks long, so if he has to sit out for 3 weeks, he might as well just pull out of the whole season. He will have missed too many practices to be able to play anyways!! I was thinking about it all night. I mean we're talking about a stinking cut on his finger!! He didn't break any bones, it's not a huge, gigantic cut, it's just a tiny little cut on his finger that needed 3 stitches!! Would you keep your kid out of sports for 3 weeks for a cut on his finger? Especially considering the child's dream is to be an athlete? Not me! I told him he can play football, but just to be careful of that hand. I told him if he popped a stitch I'd have no choice but to take him out, so he'd better be careful. What would you have done?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Sep 09
I probably would have done the same thing as you. I would have asked for one of the finger splints to help him keep it protected better. As long as he is careful then he should be okay.
• United States
15 Sep 09
I was thinking of that finger splint.. I know they sell them in stores but I'm flat broke right now, and I wasn't about to ask this doctor for one because he was adament (probably spelled that wrong) about my son not playing. I explained it all to him, about how my son wants to do this professionally, and how important it is that he not even miss a practice. The doc just said "Even if he was on the Bills he'd be out for 3 weeks!" I was thinking "Yeah right!! Those guys play with broken fingers, broken toes, broken ribs!! It takes a lot to stop a professional from playing!" I highly doubt a couple stitches in a finger would stop anyone from playing.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Sep 09
You are right,I have heard of some playing still even though they were hurt. Maybe the doctor doesn't like football?
• United States
15 Sep 09
Well he said no sports and no gym, which I guess is great for a typical child, most kids would love to avoid gym, but not mine! My son was literally in tears when the doctor said this!! As soon as the doc left the room I said "There's no way you're gonna miss football cuz of a stinking cut on your finger!!"
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
15 Sep 09
lET HIM PLAY OF COURSE!
• United States
15 Sep 09
As it turns out, the school will not allow him to play with stitches, he attempted that today. I can't believe everyone is making such a huge fuss over something so tiny and stupid!!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
16 Sep 09
OMG They think that you may sue them if it got worse. It does seem very silly to make such a fuss over a little cut
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
15 Sep 09
Aw, that sucks. I would have done the same thing you have done. Worst that would happen if he popped the stitches would be a scar right? I think you are right, it isn't like he broke a bone or anything like that. It wouldn't be life threatening for him to play sports. I think it is awesome he is so good at sports and I hope he makes it far. Send me some signed stuff before he makes it to the Giants team!
• United States
15 Sep 09
He runs the chance of the wound not healing right, and possibly being infected, but other than that, I think the only serious problem is scarring, and I mean it's just his finger!! This child has loads of scars and he doesn't really care too much about any of them, he wears them proudly like battle wounds. As far as not healing right, I doubt that, it's not that serious of a cut. So the infection would be my greatest worry, but any cut can get infected, regardless of how big or deep, or where it's located. So I see no reason not to let him play.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Sep 09
That seems excessive for just a cut....I would let him play too..especially when so much is riding on his preformances.....toward his future. I think even putting a finger cot over the finger would prevent the stitches from coming out...at least it would hold everything together.
• United States
16 Sep 09
Those were my thoughts too, but apparently the school has a strict policy about playing when you have stitches, so he has to sit out of football until his finger is healed, although he still has to attend practices. Makes no sense to me.