It doesn't take a majority to create issues, you know that.

 

Of course. I just don't think we need to make a mountain out of a mole hill. There's always going to be a percentage of those folks, and unfortunately there's nothing we can do about that.

Of course. I just don't think we need to make a mountain out of a mole hill. There's always going to be a percentage of those folks, and unfortunately there's nothing we can do about that.

 

I think the major issue is the lower youth levels. The numbers are small to start off right out of the gate. Where in the past they were (in some cases) double what they are now. When does that catch up at the HS level. There is always attrition over time, but if your starting point is low, that doesn't bode well for the situation.

I think the major issue is the lower youth levels. The numbers are small to start off right out of the gate. Where in the past they were (in some cases) double what they are now. When does that catch up at the HS level. There is always attrition over time, but if your starting point is low, that doesn't bode well for the situation.

 

I think the biggest issue with youth programs is when the people in charge want to just have the good players/good teams, and don't focus much on growth. Too many people use it as an ego boost and almost an attempt to find the next superstar.

 

And I'm not sure if it's a growing percentage or not.

And I’ve seen MS school teams that couldn’t field a 7th grade team that now field 7th grade teams. While I do believe that growth for football will be difficult if not impossible, it’s a long way from facing a serious decline, as long as the coaches and other powers that be continue to evolve and continue to address safety concerns.

 

It's a lot closer than you think. Youth football participation numbers have been steadily on the decline for the past several years. Granted, some of those kids may indeed begin playing ball at the high school level.....but the vast majority will not. Baseball, at one time was this country's favorite pastime. Then football come on like a freight train. But, erosion starts at the youth level. It happened in baseball....and it's happening in football.

It's a lot closer than you think. Youth football participation numbers have been steadily on the decline for the past several years. Granted, some of those kids may indeed begin playing ball at the high school level.....but the vast majority will not. Baseball, at one time was this country's favorite pastime. Then football come on like a freight train. But, erosion starts at the youth level. It happened in baseball....and it's happening in football.

 

Baseball became its own worst enemy with the evolution of travel ball, which led to the decline of local, community based baseball teams. The dynamics are a little different concerning youth football, with safety (and the perception of it being unsafe) being the biggest threat. As long as those issues continue to be addressed, football will continue to survive...perhaps not at the levels it had a decade ago, but at least at a rate that’s sustainable in most areas.

Someone in the Corbin School System told me that the boys had a participation percentage of over 40% and the girls over 30% in the KHSAA sports, which seems pretty good to me.

 

I believe kids are a lot less active in non-organized type sports and activities, but organized sports seems to still be rolling along ok.