Hip-drop tackle

I was 12 years old, playing in a local youth football game when I witnessed something that would forever change the way I thought about the sport. It was a hip-drop tackle, and it left a lasting impression on me.
The game was tied, and it was the fourth quarter. The opposing team was driving down the field, and they were looking to score the winning touchdown. I was playing defense, and I was responsible for covering the wide receiver.
The quarterback threw the ball, and the wide receiver caught it right in front of me. I knew I had to make the tackle, so I lowered my shoulder and went in for the hit.
But the wide receiver was too big for me. He pushed me aside like I was a rag doll. I fell to the ground, and he ran past me for the touchdown.
I was devastated. I had let my team down, and we had lost the game. But as I lay there on the ground, I couldn't help but think about the tackle that had just happened.
It was a hip-drop tackle. The wide receiver had used his weight and momentum to drive me to the ground. It was a perfectly legal tackle, but it was also incredibly dangerous.
I had never seen a hip-drop tackle before, and I was shocked by how much force it generated. I realized that this tackle could easily have caused a serious injury.
I got up and walked off the field, feeling defeated. But I also felt angry. I was angry that the wide receiver had used such a dangerous tackle. I was angry that the referees had allowed it. And I was angry that I hadn't been able to stop it.
From that day on, I vowed to never use a hip-drop tackle. I also vowed to do everything I could to stop other players from using it.
I know that hip-drop tackles are legal, but I believe that they are too dangerous. They have no place in football.
I urge all football players to avoid using hip-drop tackles. They are not worth the risk of injury. There are other, safer ways to make a tackle.
If you see a player using a hip-drop tackle, please report it to the referees. We need to do everything we can to stop this dangerous practice.
Football is a great game, but it can also be dangerous. We need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to keep our players safe.