Report Shows Continuing Drop in High School Football Players

[lindysalsagal]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2726124-report-shows-continuing-drop-in-high-school-football-players?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool

The number of high school football players dropped by 25,901 participants in 2016-17, according to a report by National Federation of State High School Associations.

Football still had the highest number of overall participants, however, with 1,086,748 in total last season. An additional 61 schools added football to their athletic offerings in 2016-17 as well.

"While we are concerned when any sport experiences a decline in participation, the numbers do not substantiate that schools are dropping the sport of football," NFHS executive director Bob Gardner said. "The NFHS and its member state high school associations have worked hard to reduce the risk of injury in high school football, and we are pleased at the continued strength of the sport across the country."

I have been saying for years that tackle football should be changed to flag. The brutality is criminal, and children succumb to pressure from family and community. But I'm always told that it's a sacred American right. So is suicide, but it's not rewarded by cheers from the stands. And scholarships.

[bearsfootball516]

1. As long as

High school football programs are making tens of thousands, college programs are making tens of millions and NFL teams are raking in billions, football will be here.

[underpants]

2. Heard this a few days ago - my take

I guess the implication here is based on threat of injury and "millenials" but I think it has some other factors. First, a lot of parents and students are focusing more on academics. This could be because they see greater opportunities for college assistance or because them become wise to the scam of chasing athletic scholarships. Second, other sports have increased involvement. It's pretty clear Carter/Reagan isn't going to get much playing time let alone recruited in football or basketball so they chase after soccer and when that fails lacrosse. Sorry lacrosse world but it's the truth. Track of course offers another chase with minimal risk of injury. Lastly, a lot of kids aren't willing or see it as a waste of time to be on the football team and never get to play. This happened a lot at my high school. Why go through all the tough part with no gratification? Yes sports do teach great lessons about teamwork and hardwork and finding your role but most teens don't understand that. If it hadn't been for the fact that I could kick a football (and the guy in front of me got hurt) I could have seen myself quitting too.

[mikehiggins]

3. waterboy

Smaller and chubbier than my peers I still wound up on the team, as the waterboy. Even then I sort of felt something was out of whack with team sports and quit after one season (got a junior letter, though)
Lots of drinking and a good deal of meds were part of the team scene and the "adults" seemed unable to see it. So it goes...

[brewens]

4. I was a great high school football player. I played three years on a pretty good varsity team.

Usually only one sophomore made the cut. I did and they wouldn't have had me on the team if I wasn't going to play a lot. That made me a pretty good college prospect from the start.

I had both knee and shoulder injuries and a couple of concussions along the way. I was pretty much beat up and didn't want to play college ball all that much, and I never did quite grow to the size needed to look like a good offensive line prospect for a big school.

I had my left knee replaced at 45, and the shoulder I injured is getting close to needing work.

I think what they are finding about concussions now is worse than they ever let us know. I doubt the majority of high school players ever endure the pounding that leads to permanent problems, but we don't really know.

I never thought I'd be saying it, but I wouldn't recommend playing.

[lindysalsagal]

5. One of the best DU replies, ever. Thank you, and I hope you can handle the physical repurcussions.

If the army uses flag football, they have good reason, and it should be good enough for civilians.

[jmowreader]

9. The Army uses flag football because all you need is a football

[lindysalsagal]

10. Exactly. At the very least, tackling should be reserved for the pros.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. A buddy of mine is currently dealing with post concussion syndrome.

He recently fell and hit his head so he is dealing with that. But the doctors say they think he has some significant older damage. He played high school and college football.

He is donating his brain for study when the time comes.

I played high school football for 4 years. I really don't ever think I had my bell rung and I started all 4 years.

I may have been more banged up in Judo. A hard fall can rattle the brain.

Scary stuff. I had a few friends in high school whose parents wouldn't allow them to play football. I thought they were being over protective. Maybe their parents were on to something...

We used to joke about the disclaimer/warning on the helmets: "do not use this helmet to ram, butt or spear an opposing player blah blah bla..."

[Iggo]

6. "...the numbers do not substantiate that schools are dropping the sport of football..."

Yet.

[msongs]

7. You've got to be a football hero to get along with the beautiful girls" - Olive Oyl

everybody sing along...

[NNadir]

11. My town repeatedly voted to reject a football team. The pro-football minority claimed that...

..."Pop Warner" football would support our team "tax free" and overrode the voters with the collusion of the school board, which featured a number of jock types and established a high school team.

Ultimately we ended up paying taxes on this dangerous brain bashing sport, and our team, much to my disgust, won a state championship. Some asshole wrote a letter to the paper, praising the football championship and stating he would "accept the apology" of those of us who voted against his damned brain bashing sport.

The asshole was so brain dead, that he thought we voted against having a football team because we were worried the team wouldn't win. I assure you that the putative "winning" was actually "losing" big time.

Neither of my sons played football, both have proved to be outstanding students, the oldest in college and the youngest, on scholarship, starting at a very fine materials science engineering school this fall, where he was admitted with sophomore standing.

Responsible high schools need to drop this sport entirely. It's not safe, and obviously since an orange paranoid intellectually weakling now resides in our White House, we certainly don't need more brain dead people in this country. We obviously have enough.

[rurallib]

12. Grandson is seven. Based on his current size

and his heritage my guess is when he hits high school, he will be a specimen causing football coaches tongues to salivate.

Both his parents say there is no way they will allow him to play football because of the brain injury possibility. Grandma and grandpa approve of this decision whole heartedly.

He is also very smart. Mom and Dad feel his best chance of supporting himself is with his brains not his athletic skill.