Just curious if this is going on all over the state. Several schools cancelling JV schedules and even a few cancelling freshman numbers as well because of lack of numbers. Is this going on elsewhere in the state?? Is it other sports? Is it video games? What is causing this to happen? Just curious for other thoughts..

Edited September 3, 200917 yr by Birdsfan

Garrard County is dressing 50 kids this season. I'm not sure our numbers have ever been that good.

I have noticed many teams not having the numbers over the last 10 years that they used to have. To me, it's not a real new thing, this year. My school has sustained their numbers about the same as it always is. Now we have a few smaller classes every once in a while, but we have over 20 players from each class from 8th grade down to 3rd grade, that is about normal. Raceland Freshman class has always had lower numbers all the way though school, they normally have around 12 players, that is what that class has always had.

 

Some other schools in the are used to dress 60-80 players, but they have not for some time now.

 

My answer to your question is: teenagers have more options now then they used to, baseball, basketball, and football can now be year around sports. Many want to excel in one particular sport, and they know they can get better if they work year around. AAU has taken some kids that would have played two or three sports and allowed them to focus on basketball year around. Baseball now has Spring Baseball, Summer Baseball, and Fall Baseball to allow players to work on their game year around. Football has Strength and Conditioning year around to prepare players for the season. Players can now specialize without having to have lapses in time. They can focus on getting better year around.

 

There are also more things for them to do, Tennis Teams, Golf Teams, and Clubs. The three major sports have more competition for kids time then they used to. I would say some used to play a particular sport because that was the only thing to do at that particular time of year. That is not the case anymore.

 

Now, some have quit playing a particular sport because of the work involved. High School Sports are now more like what College Sports used to be, say 10 years ago. They run more complicated offenses and defenses, the competition is now stronger, faster, and bigger, so to play on that level you have to put in a lot of work, weight lifting, conditioning, spring practice, summer camps, 7 on 7, and multiple practices and film study. It is just more involved that it use to be, and it has to be to keep up with the competition.

Boyle's numbers are at their highest at 103 total players.

Lynn Camp has between 35 and 40 kids. We have never had this many go to summer camp and stay with us.

Corbin's numbers are up, 20+ freshman and 60+ total. They usually lose several though between their freshman and junior years

Well that sucks apparently it is only on our side of the state. Maybe it is my officiating!!! lol

I have noticed many teams not having the numbers over the last 10 years that they used to have. To me, it's not a real new thing, this year. My school has sustained their numbers about the same as it always is. Now we have a few smaller classes every once in a while, but we have over 20 players from each class from 8th grade down to 3rd grade, that is about normal. Raceland Freshman class has always had lower numbers all the way though school, they normally have around 12 players, that is what that class has always had.

 

Some other schools in the are used to dress 60-80 players, but they have not for some time now.

 

My answer to your question is: teenagers have more options now then they used to, baseball, basketball, and football can now be year around sports. Many want to excel in one particular sport, and they know they can get better if they work year around. AAU has taken some kids that would have played two or three sports and allowed them to focus on basketball year around. Baseball now has Spring Baseball, Summer Baseball, and Fall Baseball to allow players to work on their game year around. Football has Strength and Conditioning year around to prepare players for the season. Players can now specialize without having to have lapses in time. They can focus on getting better year around.

 

There are also more things for them to do, Tennis Teams, Golf Teams, and Clubs. The three major sports have more competition for kids time then they used to. I would say some used to play a particular sport because that was the only thing to do at that particular time of year. That is not the case anymore.

 

Now, some have quit playing a particular sport because of the work involved. High School Sports are now more like what College Sports used to be, say 10 years ago. They run more complicated offenses and defenses, the competition is now stronger, faster, and bigger, so to play on that level you have to put in a lot of work, weight lifting, conditioning, spring practice, summer camps, 7 on 7, and multiple practices and film study. It is just more involved that it use to be, and it has to be to keep up with the competition.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head, Ram.

One of the big knocks on the Duffys was the number of kids in their program. When Henderson hired Clevenger everyone thought it would improve the numbers. In his 3rd year it has not. In order to window dress the sides lines during games they started letting freshman dress for the varsity games so they could brag about having 80 kids. When in reality 40 are freshman and 40 are varsity. The same numbers the Duffys had.

South Laurel and North Laurel's numbers are down this year. However, ...

 

NORTH LAUREL

9 years ago when Duncum took over NL, they had 19 players. When he left, there were about 50. Abbott, although he had 4 straight sub . 500 seasons, managed to get the numbers up to around 70. This year, NL dropped to around 50+, but I think the past 4 sub .500 seasons impacted that plus a new coach who honestly has worked the kids tails off. If they keep winning, I expect those numbers will pick back up the next few seasons. Another factor that has helped NL is the middle school program which is excellent for the area, and turns out good numbers year in and year out.

 

SOUTH LAUREL

SL had record numbers under Irwin. He kept around 80 kids per year during his last few years at SL. But there were winning. SL has dropped to around 50 kids the past few years, but the sub .500 seasons impacted that. I think it will take Coach Welch a few seasons to pick those numbers back up. He has also worked the kids at SL very hard, but if they get back to their winning ways, the way they were under Irwin, the will pick those numbers back up again.

I have noticed many teams not having the numbers over the last 10 years that they used to have. To me, it's not a real new thing, this year. My school has sustained their numbers about the same as it always is. Now we have a few smaller classes every once in a while, but we have over 20 players from each class from 8th grade down to 3rd grade, that is about normal. Raceland Freshman class has always had lower numbers all the way though school, they normally have around 12 players, that is what that class has always had.

 

Some other schools in the are used to dress 60-80 players, but they have not for some time now.

 

My answer to your question is: teenagers have more options now then they used to, baseball, basketball, and football can now be year around sports. Many want to excel in one particular sport, and they know they can get better if they work year around. AAU has taken some kids that would have played two or three sports and allowed them to focus on basketball year around. Baseball now has Spring Baseball, Summer Baseball, and Fall Baseball to allow players to work on their game year around. Football has Strength and Conditioning year around to prepare players for the season. Players can now specialize without having to have lapses in time. They can focus on getting better year around.

There are also more things for them to do, Tennis Teams, Golf Teams, and Clubs. The three major sports have more competition for kids time then they used to. I would say some used to play a particular sport because that was the only thing to do at that particular time of year. That is not the case anymore.

 

Now, some have quit playing a particular sport because of the work involved. High School Sports are now more like what College Sports used to be, say 10 years ago. They run more complicated offenses and defenses, the competition is now stronger, faster, and bigger, so to play on that level you have to put in a lot of work, weight lifting, conditioning, spring practice, summer camps, 7 on 7, and multiple practices and film study. It is just more involved that it use to be, and it has to be to keep up with the competition.

 

 

Bam!

Somerset has about 55 kids this season which is the most we've had in a long, long time. That is between 20-25% of the male student body which is outstanding since we also have a soccer team.

Mason County has around thirty freshman players.

One of the big knocks on the Duffys was the number of kids in their program. When Henderson hired Clevenger everyone thought it would improve the numbers. In his 3rd year it has not. In order to window dress the sides lines during games they started letting freshman dress for the varsity games so they could brag about having 80 kids. When in reality 40 are freshman and 40 are varsity. The same numbers the Duffys had.

 

Who has bragged...everytime I have heard him ask he always tells how many players 10-12 and then how many freshman. Just because he tries to get Freshman involved and excited about Friday nights doesn't mean he is window dressing.