All across the United States, families are sitting down to decide whether to sign their sons and daughters up for youth football.

These are real decisions that parents must come to as children express their interest in playing. Football is a contact sport, but many news reports paint the game as dangerous even as doctors speak out that the benefits of football and youth sports in general far outweigh the risk of concussion.

More than 30 years ago, Chris Creighton’s mother lifted her personal ban on the sport and let her son play for his high school team. Creighton took immediately to the opportunity, eventually making a career out of it. He is now the head coach at Eastern Michigan University.

Today through the National Football Foundation Website, Creighton released an open letter to all moms, encouraging them to give their children the same opportunity.

Parents are an important voice in the football community. They love their children and place their trust in the coaches who teach them. Through Heads Up Football and partnerships throughout the medical and football community, USA Football works with coaches to earn that trust and set important health and safety standards that all youth and high school programs should follow.