From youth football to the professional NFL ranks, football safety has become the paramount concern for every league across the United States. With the help of a lot of data and comprehensive overhauls to how the game is taught from a young age, the sport is becoming faster, smoother and an all-around better game to play. Here are five facts to help you feel comfortable making the decision to let your child play football.

PARTICIPATION REMAINS STRONG

In 2018, football (11-player) is ranked the most popular program for high school boys in the United States, ahead of outdoor track and field by more than 400,000 participants. The number of male participants dropped to around one million, whereas the number of female participants increased by around 7.5 percent to 2,404.

THE GIRLS ARE THRIVING!

Female participation in high school football has increased by 192 percent over the last decade.

SAFETY IS CHANGING THE GAME