HS football question

[Cobra Mgr]

Just wanted to ask you guys, in your areas, region, states, whatever...have you noticed more schools cancelling their football season? Largely due to low participation?

[canaveral]

In Florida? Hardly. It's a major event. Teams even spend big bucks to travel out of state to play name teams. One local central FL team today is headed to Charleston SC and another to Corinth MS.

[Rain King]

I have not seen this, but it does seem like fewer schools play full Freshman and/or JV type schedules due to low numbers. So, they might combine those and just play one Freshman/Sophomore game for example.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by canaveral

In Florida? Hardly. It's a major event. Teams even spend big bucks to travel out of state to play name teams. One local central FL team today is headed to Charleston SC and another to Corinth MS.

Same here in Shreveport Louisiana. Not going to happen. Sept. 6-8 Shreveport is sponsoring Battle on the Border. 10 teams, 2 local Shreveport high school: Byrd and Evangel Christian Academy. West Monroe High School-West Monroe Louisiana. John Curtis Christian School, River Ridge Louisiana. Bentonville High School, Bentonville Arkanasas. Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Dallas Texas. Bishop Lynch High School, Dallas Texas. Booker T Washington High School, Tulsa Oklahoma. Horn Lake High School, Horn Lake Mississippi. McGill Toolen High School, Mobile Alabama. North Little Rock High School, North Little Rock Arkansas.

[Cobra Mgr]

In North Carolina, there have been a few schools who cancelled the season. And I just read an article about a school in Cali did so after the 18 had dwindled to 13 when they lost the 1st 2 120-0.

[Airdrop01]

Not yet, but I can see it coming. Grade schools are canceling CYO football or having trouble filling rosters. I don’t blame parents. If your kid has any brains at all, in my opinion you’re crazy to have him get his joints jacked up and brains beaten in...for what? If he’s not a genius, then be my guest. I’m not against football. I’m just not letting my kids do it. Everyone can decide for themselves.

Baseball...tennis....basketball....shooting...swim ming....volleyball....those I’m fine with...

Football and gymnastics are and were in the past out for my kids as options. So was hockey.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Airdrop01

Not yet, but I can see it coming. Grade schools are canceling CYO football or having trouble filling rosters. I don’t blame parents. If your kid has any brains at all, in my opinion you’re crazy to have him get his joints jacked up and brains beaten in...for what? If he’s not a genius, then be my guest. I’m not against football. I’m just not letting my kids do it. Everyone can decide for themselves.

Baseball...tennis....basketball....shooting...swim ming....volleyball....those I’m fine with...

Football and gymnastics are and were in the past out for my kids as options. So was hockey.

I think, from what we know at this moment, tackle football probably shouldn't start until college at the earliest. The cumulative affect plus developing brains makes it potentially too damaging. You could eventually see helmets fazed out of the game.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I think, from what we know at this moment, tackle football probably shouldn't start until college at the earliest. The cumulative affect plus developing brains makes it potentially too damaging. You could eventually see helmets fazed out of the game.

Also keep in mind that organized tackle football at a young age is much safer than when the kids play without pads in sandlot tackle. Parents forget when they were young.

I remember at the age of 14-15 asking my parents to buy me a scooter. I liked it because it was motorized and I didn't have to pedal. They thought it was more dangerous because it was motorized and denied me. They had no idea how much more danger I was in riding my 12 speed. I found high school football to be mild compared to when I was playing tackle against 20-27 year olds on any random field. That's where you take your worst hits.

[rudel.dietrich]

It is not even an issue here but no way I would let my children play American football.

My son is showing an interest in European football and both of my children are already playing hockey but here in Switzerland they are not allowed to body check in youth leagues until the age of 12.

There is a risk with any sport. But football seems just too excessive.
My daughter has already told me multiple times when she gets older she wants to take up amateur boxing and that worries me as a parent.
Even with the modern amateur system or points over knockdowns and headgear you still take repeated blows to the head.

I guess we will cross that bridge when he get to it and if she still wants to when she is old enough we will just watch her like a hawk for any signs.

[rudel.dietrich]

And there is growing concern in European football that heading a football may also lead to mild head trauma and possible CTE.
From my research and my companies research it seems to concern how you are trained to head the ball and also the type of ball used.
Some of the modern balls are 'softer' and have a bit more give than balls from the past but youth leagues often use what they have or what they can get in mass for cheap.

[Reed]

I have read that participation rate is down about 4% over the past 10 years. Part of the problem including the injury risk is that some kids now specialize in 1 sport year round such as basketball (school team, going to clinics, AAU teams, and I know some parents high personal coaches during the “off” season). Also there are more sports such as soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse. I read that at one school more kids went out for soccer than football.

[psd]

Some high schools are considering dropping it, mainly for health concerns. And it's not a HS but Uconn football is in serious trouble, that much I know. I owned season tickets for 10 years before health issues forced me to stop attending. Average attendance was 40,000 easy like clockwork. Now they are at half that. Season tickets are down over 40%. Only 9,500 sold so far this year. Not looking good.

[Lafayette53]

There was an article about it's decline in Southern California suburbs recently. I can tell you it is an issue at my alma mater though they are a long way from dropping it.

[Postman]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

And there is growing concern in European football that heading a football may also lead to mild head trauma and possible CTE.
From my research and my companies research it seems to concern how you are trained to head the ball and also the type of ball used.
Some of the modern balls are 'softer' and have a bit more give than balls from the past but youth leagues often use what they have or what they can get in mass for cheap.

It doesn't seem to be heading that causes a problem. Rather, skull to skull contact when going up for a contested header is the real issue.

[Postman]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

My son is showing an interest in European football and both of my children are already playing hockey but here in Switzerland they are not allowed to body check in youth leagues until the age of 12.

Hockey also has a problem with concussions. The difference is that Canadians are more than willing to take the risk. There's just not that much else to do in the winter up there.

[Cobra Mgr]

From 10 seasons ago, participation is down 6.5%. Or 72000 fewer kids.