High School Football Participation Down?

[TexDoc]

I didn't realize this was a problem.  Doesn't seem to be happening in Texas.

http://investmentwatchblog.com/high-school-football-participation-drops-nj-team-disbands/

[UTchad]

I'm only in my second year of officiating. I help officiate on Saturdays in the little league to help me get more snaps.  At our meeting before the season started they said that enrollment was down 500 kids. Really sad

[BrendanP]

I read somewhere that it's been trending downward since 2008. But alas that was before the brain injury crapstorm that's been inflicted on our sport. I think it's mostly to do with these helicopter parents who won't let their kids make their own mistakes, much less play a contact sport.

[bama_stripes]

Youth football numbers are down in my area.  Don't think schools have been affected yet.

[GAHSUMPIRE]

I've heard these stories, but I don't see it. In the youth football association I work with enrollment is up 175 kids. (K-5th grade).

I have not seen any numbers on middle school or high school, but I have not heard anything about it in this area. I suppose it could be happening, but I just don't see the evidence in this area.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Youth football numbers (and especially Pop Warner - we have a few other programs besides) are WAY down. Scholastic numbers are down, too, but it's hit and miss - some programs are up significantly, some have had to scrap a season here or there, and we have a number of merged teams. I think the only program that has gone away permanently in the last decade is the Catholic school that almost closed and let go of their long-time principal (and football coach) at about the same time.

[chriscwilson]

Next year in Michigan, we will have over 70 teams that will be playing 8-man football.  Numbers are down all across our state.

[TampaSteve]

I cant confirm/deny if participation is down in FL, but it's hard to tell as they're opening schools left and right and a school that did have, say, 60 players now has 40...but again, those 20 maybe went to the new school

[wlemonnier]

According to my contacts with USAF... numbers are down for tackle but on the rise for flag & 8-man.  High School in Chicago just announced yesterday they are suspending the program due to numbers & academic eligibility issues.  A 2nd HS suspended their varsity program for a hazing situation... not related to the D3 school in the CCIW.

[yarnnelg]

Youth went down on the Pinellas side after the real estate crash.

Talk to coaches, they know the story.

Largo High, Varsity Squad 65 players.

"Great looking squad coach."
"Thanks, come back in two weeks."
"Why?"
"Report cards come out next week. We'll be down to 45 end of next week."

They had 40 three weeks later.

[Joe Stack]

These numbers don't necessarily take into account population trends as well as people moving to different areas of the country.

There is no shortage of teams in Texas, I can assure you of that.

[ElvisLives]

There is no shortage of teams in Texas, I can assure you of that.

But, sadly, it is that time of year when, due to injures, academic ineligibility, etc., that some teams have to discontinue playing football, or change from 11 player to 6 player football (Morton HS, for example).

Robert