Are numbers issues threatening more and more Indiana high school football programs?

[Muda69]

I have recently heard that Wabash and now Elwood high schools are struggling to field enough players to effectively even hold practices, let alone field a varsity squad.   Coaches and AD's have had to to put out a pleas to their communities for more youth to consider playing. 

Is this a growing trend in Indiana, are there more schools out there in the same boat as the Apaches and Panthers?   Sounds like recent IHSAA decision not to allow co-op programs is going to ultimately reduce the number of youth playing varsity football.

 

 

[Daniel_Bragg]

It's not just football.  Sheridan struggled to put together a soccer team last year, and it looks like they might not be able field one this year.  To me, it's a generational thing.  With more and more athletes choosing to focus on one sport exclusively, it is becoming harder for, especially small schools, to field teams in every sport.

Between specialization and lack of interest in participating, I don't really know what the answer is.  Outside of allowing co-ops, I'm not sure what the IHSAA can do to solve this unique problem.

To your question about more schools, I'd be shocked if Tri-Central has a full team this year, just based on what happened last season.  Greenwood Christian already backed out of their season, as well.

[1st_and_10]

19 minutes ago, Daniel_Bragg said:

It's not just football.  Sheridan struggled to put together a soccer team last year, and it looks like they might not be able field one this year.  To me, it's a generational thing.  With more and more athletes choosing to focus on one sport exclusively, it is becoming harder for, especially small schools, to field teams in every sport.

Between specialization and lack of interest in participating, I don't really know what the answer is.  Outside of allowing co-ops, I'm not sure what the IHSAA can do to solve this unique problem.

To your question about more schools, I'd be shocked if Tri-Central has a full team this year, just based on what happened last season.  Greenwood Christian already backed out of their season, as well.

Indianasports apparel

 

Honest opinion... Go away from the Limited Contact period and back to a "schedule" for each sports season.  Limited contact periods are also pushing kids to focus on 1 sport.  Large schools (4A-6A) it could work (because pure numbers you are going to have more athletes).. Smaller schools, you need any and all athletes to play multiple.  When they have to choose between basketball camps/tourneys/workouts and football workouts/7 on 7/lineman challenges/etc. (just an example) athletes can only do so much.  Kids also don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports, conditioning/weight lifting) at school all summer either.  

I will say this, our athletic department does a really good job of trying to balance the sports... I.E. there isn't a volleyball workout the same time as girls basketball... But there are a lot of kids that don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports workouts/practices, conditioning/weightlifting) at school all summer either.  

[Muda69]

1 hour ago, Daniel_Bragg said:

Between specialization and lack of interest in participating, I don't really know what the answer is.  Outside of allowing co-ops, I'm not sure what the IHSAA can do to solve this unique problem.

To your question about more schools, I'd be shocked if Tri-Central has a full team this year, just based on what happened last season.  Greenwood Christian already backed out of their season, as well.

A Tri-Central/Tipton or Tri-Central/Taylor co-op makes perfect sense.   That or a consolidation.

 

[Jays]

3 hours ago, 1st_and_10 said:

Honest opinion... Go away from the Limited Contact period and back to a "schedule" for each sports season.  Limited contact periods are also pushing kids to focus on 1 sport.  Large schools (4A-6A) it could work (because pure numbers you are going to have more athletes).. Smaller schools, you need any and all athletes to play multiple.  When they have to choose between basketball camps/tourneys/workouts and football workouts/7 on 7/lineman challenges/etc. (just an example) athletes can only do so much.  Kids also don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports, conditioning/weight lifting) at school all summer either.  

I will say this, our athletic department does a really good job of trying to balance the sports... I.E. there isn't a volleyball workout the same time as girls basketball... But there are a lot of kids that don't want to spend 6 hours (between a couple of sports workouts/practices, conditioning/weightlifting) at school all summer either.  

It works well when the FB and BB coach work together for the summer schedule. Especially at a small school where you need all athletes playing 2-3 sports.  

[Coach Nowlin]

The issue with the Co-op model is it seems as if the combined enrollment would take, so lets say, Tri Central Co-op'd with Tipton:  TC sends maybe 9 total players who want to play, awesome, right, however, that model stated then for enrollment classification purposes, Tipton would have to absorb the ENITRE TC population number, so lets say, Tipton is 475 students (no idea, but I know middle pack 2a).  TC may have 350 students:  Tipton new Classification number would be 825 and now in 3a.   Why would Tipton be willing to have that happened to allow 9 football players to join .    I believe that is why that model way it was proposed, probably led to the fail vote,  zero knowledge of the reason by it was shot down personally, but if I am an ADMIN in those area Principal Meetings where many times these things come up, cannot imagine many of those folks willing to allow that to affect their schools to that degree.    

EASIEST SOLUTION:   Really is from meeting I have attended:  

 

8 MAN FOOTBALL :   It is a VERY good option to keep kids playing, even schools to have JV games go to 8 man instead of cancelling.    

 

 

[Daniel_Bragg]

7 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

The issue with the Co-op model is it seems as if the combined enrollment would take, so lets say, Tri Central Co-op'd with Tipton:  TC sends maybe 9 total players who want to play, awesome, right, however, that model stated then for enrollment classification purposes, Tipton would have to absorb the ENITRE TC population number, so lets say, Tipton is 475 students (no idea, but I know middle pack 2a).  TC may have 350 students:  Tipton new Classification number would be 825 and now in 3a.   Why would Tipton be willing to have that happened to allow 9 football players to join .    I believe that is why that model way it was proposed, probably led to the fail vote,  zero knowledge of the reason by it was shot down personally, but if I am an ADMIN in those area Principal Meetings where many times these things come up, cannot imagine many of those folks willing to allow that to affect their schools to that degree.    

In this case, sure.  However, to shoot down the entire model because of an example like this is shortsighted to me.  Just because Co-ops are possible, doesn't mean your admin has to approve a proposed mix of this very example.  If TC wanted to Co-op with someone, obviously it has to be approved by the other school.  

That being said, I think the model of including all of the enrollment makes sense.  It's the exact same thing that happens to all schools for every sport now.  The class numbers have always caused me to scratch my head.  If Sheridan has 60 kids play football, why does it matter if their student body is 340?  That total number includes girls who will never come out for football.  Don't get me wrong, I much prefer a class system to the alternative, but I still think how the IHSAA goes about it could be improved.

But back on point, co-ops make the most sense to me to allow, and this season has it on full display why.