article KHSAA Participation Numbers Reach Record Levels in 2017-18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2018

Student-athlete participation in Kentucky High School Athletic Association sports and sport-activities reached record levels in 2017-18 with 106,214 rostered participants across the KHSAA’s 13 sports and five sport-activities. Participation has increased by 6.6% since the 2012-13 season, with an increase of 6,571 rostered participants over the last five years, buoyed by the addition of five sport-activities (Archery, Bass Fishing, Bowling, Competitive Cheer and Dance) and the sport of Field Hockey. KHSAA participation in 2017-18 was also boosted by the continued growth of the Unified Track & Field and Unified Bowling programs.

Despite a drop in 463 rostered participants from 2016-17 to 2017-18, Football remains the most popular sport in the state in terms of participation with 13,304 student-athletes across all levels (33 females) playing for 221 schools. At the varsity-only level, football participation dropped 214 student-athletes between the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Part of the decline in participation numbers can be attributed to a greater push by the Association for accurate roster entry from its member schools.

“Our participation numbers are always based solely on the rosters submitted by the membership,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Last year, our schools reported 13,271 boys playing football (freshmen, JV, varsity) and an additional 33 girls. This is a decrease from the prior year of 13,732 boys and 35 girls from the 2016-17 year. This certainly follows a national trend in this one sport. While our varsity numbers were only down less than one student per team (11,859 total compared to 12,073 the year prior), it is a clear sign that the non-varsity participation continues to decrease.

“This will likely factor into future varsity participation numbers if our schools are unable to reverse this trend. It is certainly disappointing to see this decline in participation, but it is not a problem isolated to Kentucky. While the sport has never been safer, in terms of both rules and equipment, declining school enrollments and other sports with perceived less injury risk offer alternatives that many are choosing. ”

Among the sports with separate teams for each gender (boys and girls), Soccer ranked first in the state with 12,451 total rostered competitors, followed by Basketball (12,374) and Track & Field (12,026). Among boys’ sports, Baseball was second in the state with 7,230 participants, followed by Basketball (7,061), Track and Field (6,633) and Soccer (6,545). On the female side, Volleyball was the most popular sport among girls with 6,221 participants, followed by Softball (5,659), Track & Field (5,393), Basketball (5,313) and Soccer (5,096).

Competitive Cheer was the most popular sport-activity with 5,066 total rostered participants, followed closely by Archery at 4,883. Bowling (1,926) and Bass Fishing (1,452) were third and fourth among sport-activities, with Dance registering 1,240 participants in its first year as a KHSAA-sanctioned offering.

Archery saw the greatest year-over-year growth in terms of increased participants, with 425 more student-athletes in 2017-18 versus 2016-17 (an increase of 9.5 percent). Tennis ranked second with 207 new participants, while Bass Fishing (162) and Bowling (123) each added over 100 new competitors.

Basketball ranked as the most-sponsored sport across Kentucky with 270 schools fielding boys’ teams last year and 268 fielding a girls’ team. Volleyball had the second-highest number of teams with 264, followed by baseball (261), track and field (258) and softball (257).

Subsequent to the release of the NFHS participation data, a transposition error was discovered in the data attributed to Kentucky. The information has been corrected with the NFHS and is reflected in the data available at KHSAA.org (Membership Reports and Data | Kentucky High School Athletic Association).

The numbers reinforce what I see anecdotally at the local levels. Football is becoming an endangered species, while archery continues its meteoric rise. In fact, our coach looks at the elementary school grades and can predict whether its going to be a solid football class or not by the number of archers.

The numbers reinforce what I see anecdotally at the local levels. Football is becoming an endangered species, while archery continues its meteoric rise. In fact, our coach looks at the elementary school grades and can predict whether its going to be a solid football class or not by the number of archers.

"Endangered species" is a bit of a stretch seeing as football is still by far the most popular sport.

"Endangered species" is a bit of a stretch seeing as football is still by far the most popular sport.

Its trending that way. Locally, numbers are way down at the grade school and middle school levels. Its a combination of factors, but kids just aren't wanting to play football anymore.

Kids will start to play other sports as more become available, for sure. It will be a long, LONG time (if ever) before football isn't the most popular sport in terms of participation and watching/attending. It will always be the most popular sport in the USA.

I wouldn't say football is endangered or even threatened, really. With the numbers they give, that only equals about 2-3 players per team in the state. That's not exactly something that I'm willing to panic over.

Although those numbers are obviously weighted towards some programs and not someone like Trinity, that still isn't a number that shows enough of a decline overall for me to be concerned.

I would love to know what the roster totals are for teams since we have gone to 6 classes. Like, what's the average roster size for teams in a certain class over that time span.

Football had 500 less kids.

Thats not much considering if you take about 3 off of each team in KY. A down year for Trinity and St. X can about account for that.

The numbers reinforce what I see anecdotally at the local levels. Football is becoming an endangered species, while archery continues its meteoric rise. In fact, our coach looks at the elementary school grades and can predict whether its going to be a solid football class or not by the number of archers.

From my experience, archery isn’t necessarily pulling kids from other sports. Archery is doing a great job of pulling kids who might not have previously played a sport, especially on the girls side. You don’t need to be big, fast, strong or even athletic. It might be the most inclusive sport offered in high school, which is why it’s popularity is surging. Not to mention it’s just simply fun to shoot stuff. I don’t think football’s small decline is anywhere near related to archery, especially since archery is a winter sport.

From my experience, archery isn’t necessarily pulling kids from other sports. Archery is doing a great job of pulling kids who might not have previously played a sport, especially on the girls side. You don’t need to be big, fast, strong or even athletic. It might be the most inclusive sport offered in high school, which is why it’s popularity is surging. Not to mention it’s just simply fun to shoot stuff. I don’t think football’s small decline is anywhere near related to archery, especially since archery is a winter sport.

I agree. I don't believe football is losing kids to archery. They are in no way similar.

One other thing about these participation numbers. It kinda proves that today’s kids aren’t necessarily lazy, and just sitting around the house playing video games like many believe.

One other thing about these participation numbers. It kinda proves that today’s kids aren’t necessarily lazy, and just sitting around the house playing video games like many believe.

Well I have to respectfully disagree.

Lazy is still there, and may just add in they are too sorry to do anything.

Well I have to respectfully disagree.

 

Lazy is still there, and may just add in they are too sorry to do anything.

There have been lazy people in every single generation. I hate that incorrect line of thinking (this isn't directed at you personally, AA).

I agree. I don't believe football is losing kids to archery. They are in no way similar.

The only competing fall sport would be soccer, correct? And I'm not sure how much soccer is pulling kids from football, overall. The kids I went to high school with who played soccer were VASTLY different than the kids on the football team.

The only competing fall sport would be soccer, correct? And I'm not sure how much soccer is pulling kids from football, overall. The kids I went to high school with who played soccer were VASTLY different than the kids on the football team.

I agree. They aren't pulling from the same pool. Football isn't losing kids to soccer just like soccer isn't losing kids to football.

Well I have to respectfully disagree.

 

Lazy is still there, and may just add in they are too sorry to do anything.

I guess I just don’t understand what you mean by “too sorry to do anything”. Besides the fact that more kids are playing sports than ever, and more are achieving in school at higher levels it’s really hard to argue that kids are “lazy”. These numbers just don’t support that.