KHSAA participation numbers increase in 2013-14

Posted: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 11:20 am

LEXINGTON - Despite the consolidation of three schools prior to the 2013-14 academic year, participation across Kentucky rose by 2.4 percent in 2013-14, with nearly 50,000 student-athletes occupying a total of 78,687 roster spots on KHSAA-sponsored sport and sport-activity teams. Football remains the most popular sport in the state in terms of individual participation, with 13,801 competitors (13 girls) playing for 221 schools – an increase of 486 students over the prior year.

 

The sport-activities of archery, bass fishing and bowling all saw significant growth in 2013-14. In their second years as KHSAA-sponsored activities, archery and bass fishing were added by 30 and 14 additional schools, respectively. Student participation grew by 34.9 percent in Archery, with an increase of 1,051 students bringing the total participation to 3,012 student-athletes. Bass fishing, meanwhile, saw a 78 percent increase in individual participation, as the number of student-athletes rose from 346 in 2012-13 to 616 in 2013-14.

 

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I saw Field Hockey is now sanctioned. My hope is Lacrosse is soon.

I had read an article recently that said Lacrosse in east coast states is growing at the expense of football as risk and perception of risk grows. I wonder what the trend is for participation in football related to the total eligible population?

I had read an article recently that said Lacrosse in east coast states is growing at the expense of football as risk and perception of risk grows. I wonder what the trend is for participation in football related to the total eligible population?

 

Lacrosse is a spring sport in most (if not all) of the eastern states (as it is here in Kentucky for the few schools that participate) so theoretically it shouldn't have any impact on football numbers. In fact, from what I understand, football players make up a decent chunk of lacrosse high school lacrosse teams, so on the surface, I wouldn't say kids are dropping football to play lacrosse. I would say it affects baseball numbers more because the seasons overlap.

 

While injury concerns are legitimate, in reality, football is safer than ever. I believe the biggest cause of any numbers drop is two-fold. One, there are an increasing number of sports and activities that are available for kids to do. The greater the options, the less chance kids choose to play football (and this applies to every sport). Second, is specialization. You hear more and more that kids are giving up sports to specialize in order to bolster their chances of getting a scholly (as misguided as this is for the majority of high school athletes). The advent of fall baseball leagues (which didn't exist 20 years ago) and year round basketball has resulted in many kids either giving up football, or never getting involved in the first place.

I had read an article recently that said Lacrosse in east coast states is growing at the expense of football as risk and perception of risk grows. I wonder what the trend is for participation in football related to the total eligible population?

 

Its growing. The main sport losing out to it is baseball. NJ little league is supposedly 'in crisis' due to the shift.