The Failed Under 12 Youth Football Tackle Ban: The Democrats Evade A Huge Issue

In just over a week, Assembly Bill 734, authored by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), went through one of the craziest short falls and rises in recent legislative history in Sacramento. Built on  the premise of safety, AB 734 would have prohibited youth football players under the age of 12 from playing the tackle version of the sport. However, massive public backlash, including a rare message by Governor Gavin Newsom saying he would not sign a bill months in advance, put the bill as dead on arrival.

“I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer,” said Newsom on Tuesday. “My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”

With virtually now no support, McCarty pulled the bill officially on Thursday.

In a brief statement, the Assemblyman expressed that “We will not take up AB 734, which would have phased out kids 12 years old and younger from playing youth tackle football. I look forward to working with the Governor, on ways to better protect our youngest athletes and keep them safe from repetitive head hits, which can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”

However, the bill, for many, went beyond football and childrens safety, and into areas such as government overreach and the erosion of parental rights. With Democrats not wanting to touch those issues in the 2024 election, AB 734 would have been an always present issue in California, and one in which they could not easily go around.

AB 734 pulled after barely a week in the Assembly

“We had a planning meeting where parents were allowed to come earlier this week,” said Jay Kowalski a youth football coach in the Bay Area to the Globe on Thursday. “Usually only a few come to talk about what the costs are going to be like this year or things like that. You know, this early in the year, football season is still a long way away. We had dozens come, all wanting to talk about this. Some were there on safety, but most seemed to come out and want to vent about how this was just going too far and what we intended to do about it. And look, this is an area that is fairly liberal. If that was the reaction we got here, you can imagine what other areas are like.”

Dana, a Capitol staffer, added, “Oh yeah, it was turning into a huge political headache. The Dems did not need another huge government oversight debate coming up this year, and AB 734 was turning into that. Could you imagine all the parents and football people coming out during the summer and fall to rally against this? Oh, and especially with an overlap between football season and the session?”

“I mean, Newsom blatantly said that parental freedoms would be part of this in his statement. They knew exactly the storm that was coming. Now, this bill could get a soft reboot next year. Non-election year, as well as fresh statistics on injuries to work with. That seems likely. If McCarty wanted this passed, he would have waited, but instead he jumped the gun.”

“I don’t think this was a bill put into place just to make Newsom look good by vetoing it. If you want parental groups to support you and the Athletic vote, there are much easier ways to have it done. And besides, McCarty will always have to carry this around with him.”

For some however, they just see it as a victory.

“This is just another huge potential regulation that we didn’t need,” said Jill Waterston, who helps lead school athletic programs in San Diego, to the Globe. “Newsom isn’t the savior here, he was just reacting to common sense. This is the sort of thing we need to keep our eye on. This could have been one heck of a debate topic this year.”

AB 734 has been officially pulled from the legislative docket this year.