HS sports participation down 4 the 1st time in 30 yrs

Cobra Mgr · 08-28-2019, 07:44 AM

Fueled by fewer playing football. Of the 43,000+ decline in athletes, almost 31,000 is in football alone.

Buster Cherry · 08-28-2019, 10:34 AM

The kids are too busy with their I-phones to care about sports anymore.

BaseballMan · 08-28-2019, 05:45 PM

You could also look at it another way.
How many players does the NFL need?
There should still be plenty of players and maybe the talent might go up but who knows.
If kids are more interested in other occupations i dont have a problem with it. Its their life.
But the ones that are watching iphones instead of paying attention in class or dont have a million dollar sports contract may not be able to own an iphone in the future. Especially with Apple charging $1,000 for a monitor stand.

Hrycaj · 08-28-2019, 10:33 PM

So many factors at play here. In no particular order:
1. More options for young people today.
2. Young kids having to watch younger siblings while parent/s work.
3. Health concerns
4. The simple fact that low income families have been priced out of athletics. Just look at equipment fees alone and compare it to your own childhood.
5. Participation fees. Once again, compare. Every sport has become "specialized" with so called elite teams that are not in fact special or elite, but sure charge like they are. It is all travel/high stakes tournament type atmospheres.
I know there are more. I'm no expert, but these are things I have seen and heard. It really is a bummer. Athletics can teach young people so much about character, teamwork, adversity, goal setting and the list goes on.

Boomcoach · 08-29-2019, 07:53 AM

I think the fact that high school sports is not even the preferred choice for a number of athletes now. AAU is a priority over HS in basketball. Travel leagues are dominating baseball.

vrobx1 · 08-29-2019, 03:50 PM

Good possibility many parents are pulling their sons away from football do to all the new information coming out on concussions, CTE and the like.

Cobra Mgr · 08-30-2019, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrobx1

Good possibility many parents are pulling their sons away from football do to all the new information coming out on concussions, CTE and the like.

I'm positive that is the reason. My old HS isn't fielding a team this year. Didn't have enough to go out for the team.

RchW · 08-30-2019, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vrobx1

Good possibility many parents are pulling their sons away from football do to all the new information coming out on concussions, CTE and the like.

Completely agree. With the current information available why would anyone encourage their child to submit to head trauma when there are other choices to be made.

Boomcoach · 08-31-2019, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Completely agree. With the current information available why would anyone encourage their child to submit to head trauma when there are other choices to be made.

Football is also unique in that once you get past whatever level you reach, be it junior high, high school or college you are essentially done playing football.

Basketball, soccer, softball (not quite baseball, but similar), volleyball all have local leagues that you can play well into your 40s, even in a small town. Football, outside of occasional two hand touch games a family reunions, isn't played much in any organized amateur manner, after schooling is over.

08-28-2019, 07:44 AM	#1
Cobra Mgr Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Parts unknown Posts: 6,369	HS sports participation down 4 the 1st time in 30 yrs Fueled by fewer playing football. Of the 43,000+ decline in athletes, almost 31,000 is in football alone. __________________ If a man is guilty 4 what goes on inside of his mind, then let me get the electric chair 4 all my future crimes. - Prince Batdance June 7, 1958 - Apr 21, 2016

08-28-2019, 10:33 PM	#4
Hrycaj All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,361	So many factors at play here. In no particular order: 1. More options for young people today. 2. Young kids having to watch younger siblings while parent/s work. 3. Health concerns 4. The simple fact that low income families have been priced out of athletics. Just look at equipment fees alone and compare it to your own childhood. 5. Participation fees. Once again, compare. Every sport has become "specialized" with so called elite teams that are not in fact special or elite, but sure charge like they are. It is all travel/high stakes tournament type atmospheres. I know there are more. I'm no expert, but these are things I have seen and heard. It really is a bummer. Athletics can teach young people so much about character, teamwork, adversity, goal setting and the list goes on. __________________ Click on my signature to read about the great game of baseball in Normington.

08-29-2019, 07:53 AM	#5
Boomcoach All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 805	I think the fact that high school sports is not even the preferred choice for a number of athletes now. AAU is a priority over HS in basketball. Travel leagues are dominating baseball. __________________ Boomcoach Let's Go Crew

08-28-2019, 10:34 AM	#2
Buster Cherry Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2019 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 297	The kids are too busy with their I-phones to care about sports anymore.

08-28-2019, 05:45 PM	#3
BaseballMan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,266	You could also look at it another way. How many players does the NFL need? There should still be plenty of players and maybe the talent might go up but who knows. If kids are more interested in other occupations i dont have a problem with it. Its their life. But the ones that are watching iphones instead of paying attention in class or dont have a million dollar sports contract may not be able to own an iphone in the future. Especially with Apple charging $1,000 for a monitor stand.

08-29-2019, 03:50 PM	#6
vrobx1 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 3,428	Good possibility many parents are pulling their sons away from football do to all the new information coming out on concussions, CTE and the like.