Can My Child Play?

The Questions We Should Have Asked

By: Marty McNair

Narrated by: Marty McNair

Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

When the University of Maryland football team began preseason conditioning on May 29th, 2018, sophomore offensive lineman Jordan McNair was excited to start practice. Later that day, he collapsed while running sprints. Within three days, he needed an emergency liver transplant. Then, 15 days after that first practice, Jordan McNair died from complications of a heat-related injury.

Jordan’s death not only made headlines, but it questioned the culture behind college football and the safety precautions athletic programs take to protect their players. At the forefront of this movement is Jordan’s mother, Tonya Wilson, and his father Martin McNair. In his debut memoir, Martin details his journey of raising a child in the world of youth sports, and the harrowing trauma he suffered when his son lost his life doing the thing he loved most - playing football.

Can My Child Play? is a heart-wrenching tale of grief, loss and of a father’s determination to protect other young athletes from the preventable injury that took his son’s life.

©2020 Martin McNair (P)2020 Martin McNair

Education is key in preventing heat related injuries.

“Can My Child Play? The Questions We Should Have Asked,” By Marty McNair is a riveting, pensive and an unimaginable story, about a devoted father who thought he had taught his student-athlete; Jordan, everything he needed to know to become a respectful, successful, college student who could take care of himself, under any circumstance. Unfortunately, the unfathomable happened on a hot summer day—during football conditioning, which would prove otherwise, and forever change the lives of the McNair Family.
This book starts off like an autobiography, however, its relevant details pulled me into the pages, feeling every word written, as if though I was present. “Can My Child Play?” turns out to be the beginning of questions, that we as guardians, should ask coaches who are responsible for the care of our young children, and teenage athletes. Such a powerful, thought provoking message that is a must read for anyone who cares about the safety of young athletes and want to protect them from the inscrutable dangers that can be avoided. I highly recommend this book.

Phenomenal

Incredible story of father/son love, in addition tot the resiliency of a dad who experience an unthinkable tragedy. As a father with kids who are involved in sports- this book has forced me to ask critical questions about health and safety. This book is vital for parents. coaches and student athletes.