On October 18, 2015 the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a much-awaited Policy Statement on Tackling in Youth Football, joining those calling for limits in the number of contact practices, but declining to make a clear recommendation in favor of delaying the age at which tackling is introduced. The AAP likewise refused to support those calling for an outright ban on tackling in football for athletes below age 18, unwilling to recommend at this time such a fundamental change in the way the game is played.