- Nov 25, 2016
- 1,181
- 2,133
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...20da1aeb507_story.html?utm_term=.717c82cfdc02
The link is to a pretty long article in the Washington Post discussing the potential demise of football.
A few quotes that will serve as a cliff notes version of the story:
"Population shifts, concussions, sport specialization and cost — among the same issues that have caused youth football numbers to plummet around the country in recent years — have led West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North to shutter its varsity football team this season."
"'We’re the leading edge of a much larger iceberg when it comes to what’s coming in youth athletics,' Aderhold said."
"More schools are fielding football teams nationwide, albeit with fewer players, led by surges in such states as Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas, which have added 150 football teams in the past five years. But other regions — namely the Midwest and Northeast — are shedding high school football programs at an alarming rate. Michigan has seen a net loss of 57 teams in the past five years. Missouri has lost 24. Pennsylvania has lost 12. Even Southern California powerhouse Long Beach Poly, which has sent dozens of players to the NFL, gave up its junior varsity squad amid low turnout this summer. California is down 28 high school football teams in the last half decade."
"Centennial High in Ellicott City, Md., from a region that’s a traditional football stronghold, announced in August it would fold its varsity football team, citing a “lack of sufficient players and concern for student safety.”
"Youth levels of football, leagues high schools lean on as feeder systems, saw a nearly 30 percent drop in participation between 2008 and 2013, according to data collected by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association."
"Concerns over football-related head injuries have driven some parents to lead their children away from the sport. Great Recession-era education budget cuts meant New Jersey eliminated a slew of middle school and subvarsity sports. "
"Ivy League schools like seeing team sports experience on applications, coaches tell parents. They point to studies that show a strong link between athletics participation and academic improvement. There is a payoff down the road to playing sports, especially football, they argue."
The link is to a pretty long article in the Washington Post discussing the potential demise of football.
A few quotes that will serve as a cliff notes version of the story:
"Population shifts, concussions, sport specialization and cost — among the same issues that have caused youth football numbers to plummet around the country in recent years — have led West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North to shutter its varsity football team this season."
"'We’re the leading edge of a much larger iceberg when it comes to what’s coming in youth athletics,' Aderhold said."
"More schools are fielding football teams nationwide, albeit with fewer players, led by surges in such states as Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas, which have added 150 football teams in the past five years. But other regions — namely the Midwest and Northeast — are shedding high school football programs at an alarming rate. Michigan has seen a net loss of 57 teams in the past five years. Missouri has lost 24. Pennsylvania has lost 12. Even Southern California powerhouse Long Beach Poly, which has sent dozens of players to the NFL, gave up its junior varsity squad amid low turnout this summer. California is down 28 high school football teams in the last half decade."
"Centennial High in Ellicott City, Md., from a region that’s a traditional football stronghold, announced in August it would fold its varsity football team, citing a “lack of sufficient players and concern for student safety.”
"Youth levels of football, leagues high schools lean on as feeder systems, saw a nearly 30 percent drop in participation between 2008 and 2013, according to data collected by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association."
"Concerns over football-related head injuries have driven some parents to lead their children away from the sport. Great Recession-era education budget cuts meant New Jersey eliminated a slew of middle school and subvarsity sports. "
"Ivy League schools like seeing team sports experience on applications, coaches tell parents. They point to studies that show a strong link between athletics participation and academic improvement. There is a payoff down the road to playing sports, especially football, they argue."
I laugh but there is a lot of truth to this...
