The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) said it is unable to release its annual summary of high school sports participation for the first time in the 50-year history of the survey due to the loss of spring sports. Encouragingly, participation for fall 2019 sports, including football and girls volleyball, were encouraging.
NFHS has collected participation data through its 51 member state associations annually since 1971. COVID-19 shut down high school sports competition since mid-March.
In a statement, NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff noted that the 2018/19 school year showed the first decline in high school sports participation in 29 years. Niehoff wrote, “Despite the first decline last year since 1988, we anticipated a quick turnaround in 2019-20 because of the continued strength of education-based high school athletics programs across the country.”
Indeed, she wrote that the “silver lining to report” was that football participation numbers were headed in a more positive direction last fall. She wrote, “Interest in other fall sports continued to be at a high level, and winter sports were experiencing tremendous success.”
Participation by boys in high school 11-player football in 2019 dropped by only 2,489, its smallest decline in 10 years.
She wrote, “The continued enthusiasm for football has been evident this fall – even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. State associations have worked with government, education and health leaders to do everything possible to offer the sport at some time during the 2020-21 season. Some of the 34 states that are conducting football this fall have started play, and there is a special sense of gratitude on the part of students, coaches, officials and fans for the opportunity. While there may be pauses with some players and teams quarantined, and while 17 other states will not play until later in the school year, the excitement and anticipation of Friday Night Lights continue.”
She also called out the ” tremendous growth” seen in girls volleyball last fall that built on momentum over the last ten years.
Totals on more fall and winter sports from 2019-20 will be formulated in the coming weeks.
Niehoff concluded, “Judging from the early returns, it appears the past year’s participation numbers would have started the NFHS on a new streak of record participation if spring sports had not been canceled. Most likely, next year’s participation survey will be anything but ordinary as well. Vermont is playing 7-on-7 football and outdoor volleyball; football is set for winter or spring in 17 states; volleyball and soccer have been pushed into 2021 in a number of states, and spring sports may not finish until late June or early July in other states.
“Regardless of the challenges in compiling participation statistics in 2020/21, the opportunity and desire to participate in all education-based activities remain.”
Niehoff’s full statement is here.
Photo courtesy Dallas Morning News
