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Topic: Decline in participation

Topic: Decline in participation

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Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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Decline in participation

Posted: 11/10/2019 4:05:35 PM

I know we touched on this earlier in the season but this article in today's NY Times has lots of good information, graphs, and statistics.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/08/sports/fal...

Campus Flow
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 8:45:20 AM

Who is this going to impact? The number of 4 star athletes goes from 500 to 400 per year. That means the lower tier P5 programs who are banking on a few 4 star athletes by default are going to get less and far even further behind the Clemson's and Alabama's. That drops the number of 3/2 star guys from 5000 to 4000. That could hallow out MAC/CUSA like the MWC is where a few programs are on a different talent level than the others.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
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cbus cat fan
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 9:38:50 AM

Perhaps in 2030 and beyond we get to a point that only elite high school athletes play football. The average Joe's of the world might not ever play at that point, too many reason not to play. I remember talking a couple of years ago to a guy I grew up with who was big, not the most athletic guy but big. He had a decent high school career. He told me leaving 8th grade (in the late 1970s) to play high school football he was scared to death, but he was even more scared not to play, considering the abuse he would take. He said football helped him become a tougher person in life. He believes the lessons it taught him helped him get through some very tough obstacles thrown his way later in life.

So many athletic looking neighborhood boys tell me and my kids that they have no desire to play football because it does look hard and rough. They also have no aspirations beyond high school for playing sports. I am not faulting any of their judgement and decisions. They are probably a lot more realistic than I was at their age. Honestly, when I was 12 (late 1970s)I think the majority of my friends and I thought we would play some sport at the college level, none of us did. As silly as that may sound, I believe dreaming about that stuff when you are 12 or in your early teens is healthy. The lessons learned (the good, the bad and the ugly) of playing team sports helped me and my friends to understand people and the tough road that sometimes you must travel when you become an adult. We live in different times now, not saying that is bad or good, just different times.

Last Edited: 11/12/2019 9:41:38 AM by cbus cat fan

rpbobcat
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Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 10:30:29 AM

cbus cat fan wrote:

I played soccer and wrestled in high school in the early 1970's.

I liked soccer,and loved wrestling.

I never considered participating in either sport in college,because I didn't think I was good enough.

I got asked to try out for O.U.'s men's soccer team when the coach saw me kicking against a wall.

Wasn't a star,but I made the team.

When I transferred to F.D.U.,I saw a friend of mine from high school who was on their wrestling team.

I had him ask their coach if I could work out with the team to stay in shape.

After a few practices the coach invited me to join the team.
Ended up starting for 2 seasons.

I agree 100% with the lessons learned in sports carrying over in your life.

As I've also posted ,thanks to soccer and wrestling I have a very bad knee and a shoulder that,after being separated my senior year in college, can predict the weather.

But,as I've also posted,if I had the chance to go back and do everything again,I would.

It is a different world.
My nephew tried out for H.S. football.
Big kid,but LAZY.
He quit because it was too hard having to practice in the late Summer heat.

Same thing,a lot of the H.S. wrestling teams have trouble getting kids,
especially for the upper weights.

Why ?

Too hard,including controlling their weight.

They'd rather hang out in the weight room or throw a shot during indoor track.
One kid even said "at least the track team has girls".

mf279801
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Newark, DE
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 10:39:04 AM

That (the demographics of track participation vs. wrestling) seems like a perfectly rational thing for a high school student to consider when it comes to extra curriculars

Ohio69
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 11:49:02 AM

27% drop in football participation in Ohio. Woah.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

OUcats82
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Member Since: 1/9/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,827

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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 2:09:45 PM

mf279801 wrote:

That (the demographics of track participation vs. wrestling) seems like a perfectly rational thing for a high school student to consider when it comes to extra curriculars

Starve yourself to get the chance to roll around on the mat with sweaty dudes or watch (at least some of them) attractive, fit girls run around in short shorts. Hmmm..

Ohio-The State University

Valley Cat
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Member Since: 12/28/2004
Location: Jackson Twp., OH
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 2:13:29 PM

Even with the decline expect Ohio to expand the playoffs once again to 12 teams per region and make these kids play a possible 16 games to win a State Title. Money makes you do crazy things.

mf279801
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Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Newark, DE
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 2:17:56 PM

OUcats82 wrote:

mf279801 wrote:

That (the demographics of track participation vs. wrestling) seems like a perfectly rational thing for a high school student to consider when it comes to extra curriculars

Starve yourself to get the chance to roll around on the mat with sweaty dudes or watch (at least some of them) attractive, fit girls run around in short shorts. Hmmm..

I mean, i ran cross country and track for 6 years (i was terrible, but that�s neither here nor there). Seems like a pretty easy choice to me

BillyTheCat
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Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 9,478

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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 2:28:27 PM

Valley Cat wrote:

Even with the decline expect Ohio to expand the playoffs once again to 12 teams per region and make these kids play a possible 16 games to win a State Title. Money makes you do crazy things.

Well, actually you are uninformed on this. Yes there is a movement for an expansion to 12 teams, however, that movement has come from the Ohio Football Coaches Association and NOT the OHSAA, if this passes it will because the coaches and the Principals want it, not because the OHSAA wants more money. Coaches Associations drive this type of stuff. Wether this passes? Not sure yet, but I do know a few who have a vote on this issue, and I�m not sure it will pass.

Last Edited: 11/12/2019 2:40:23 PM by BillyTheCat

BillyTheCat
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RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 2:41:30 PM

Interesting, if you go to the roster of the Maiden High School that is featured in the article there at 40 kids listed on the roster.

AlumDadDad
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Member Since: 10/18/2015
Post Count: 523

Status: Offline

RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/12/2019 3:17:08 PM

OUcats82 wrote:

mf279801 wrote:

That (the demographics of track participation vs. wrestling) seems like a perfectly rational thing for a high school student to consider when it comes to extra curriculars

Starve yourself to get the chance to roll around on the mat with sweaty dudes or watch (at least some of them) attractive, fit girls run around in short shorts. Hmmm..

Your logic is unassailable.

rpbobcat
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Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
Post Count: 3,504

Status: Offline

RE: Decline in participation

Posted: 11/13/2019 7:34:02 AM

Last night I attended an award ceremony for a local PAL Soccer League.

The Chief of Police MC'd it.

After the ceremony they had a little reception.

The Chief said his 2 sons play football for one of the top public high school programs in N.J.

He was talking about the article in last Sunday's NYT ,and the problems his kids' school is having with participation in football.

Its not that a lot kids don't come out each year.

The problem is "retention",especially Freshman.

Most towns in this area don't offer youth football.
So,these kids have no exposure to organized football,until they get on the field as freshman.

The Chief was saying a lot of kids think you just put on the pads and play.
Conditioning ? Dirty word.

He was also saying that dedication, discipline, as well as a work ethic, are really lacking in lot of the kids that come out for the team.

He said they lose number of kids after just 1-2 practices.

Last Edited: 11/13/2019 7:35:56 AM by rpbobcat

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