i think we are just sharing similar thoughts with different examples.
Yes, some coach telling a player to go headhunting has always happened, but its is not why injuries are up across all high school sports.
Academies are starting to create a significant layer between HS and college. There is not a "need to win" there. The mentality is to move them to the next level. What that looks like is up to you. We have 2 hockey institutions here in Minnesota. Neither are "win above all costs" programs. They develop their players, who turn into pros. They garner revenue from their popularity. Winning, however, matters little. Most hockey academies dont even keep league standings.
Football is generating similar systems out east and in the west. And they are realizing they will have to play each other for competition. With so little options, who wins matters little. Kids from all over will flock there.
I can continue, but again, it's way off topic. The injuries issue with HS athletes is a lack of proper training. Go to any HS or academy in America and try and coach any sport and the first thing (after your background check passes) you will is take several courses on training players mentally and physically to avoid injury. Concussions, muscle strains and joint sprains, heart concerns, exhaustion, nutrition, bullying, sexual assault, etc. etc. Its a lot to process just as a coach.
If you want to think its a meat grinder, then go ahead. Im sure HS football still holds onto that in some parts of the country. But the highest levels of development at these ages are way past "win for the program, win for the coach."
The players are the equity. They are the asset. You cant thrive as an organization or league if you chew through your players. your time with them is short. You get more from them if they move on to healthy college and pro careers than if they win a U16 DA game in St. Louis or an AAU showcase in Quebec. If you get the best 20-100 kids at any sport in one of 5 regions playing in the same place, the scouts will be there. Who wins is immaterial. Anb there are no borders anymore. Number of high school aged kids developing as soccer, hockey, baseball, volleyball players in foreign countries is amazing.
Its the rest of HS sports where the lack of preparedness and poor approach to management by under-qualified coaches are causing issues. I have seen it working in both environments in soccer, and have watched many of my friends kids go through it with hockey.