http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-sondheimer-20180819-story.html
Or is that only in the state of Newer New Mexico?
Or is that only in the state of Newer New Mexico?
Football past its peak?
- Thread starter RedSea_rivals91325
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I think amateur participation will be down but it won't likely affect the top echelon of college and professional sports. There will always be freaks who find the risk is far outweighed by the reward of the NFL, but for random/average athletes there will certainly be a drop in participation. We will also likely see a lot of kids start playing later when their bodies mature, a lot of lineman who have never played start as juniors and seniors because they grow into a lineman. Places like Doane may lose their program in 20 years because of a lack of viable options, and HS may have to consolidate around club teams...but those club teams will be elite and the talent from those will fill the top colleges. Baseball has had depressed participation numbers for a decade at least and the game probably has the most talent in its history, I suppose less time and money wasted on worse talent means the elite talent will be that much more polished. Same thing goes for the basketball. White participation in basketball has dropped over the last 30 years...the game has more talent than ever.
One thing that stuck out to me in the LA Times article was the question of changing demographics. I used to visit my son when he lived in LA, years ago. I had previously, been stationed overseas. In LA I remember, again, feeling a lot of the time like I was in a foreign country.
A lot of the kids there may not have the cultural and/or historical appreciation for football with what most of us here have grown up. Just like the one kid said that he thinks football is boring while he must think soccer is exciting because he was going out for it.
I think it might be exciting and somewhat fun to play, but I remember watching the first women's world cup played in the US with Mia Hamm, I think she spelled it. I watched for 90 minutes to a scoreless tie with very few shots on goal. It was won in a shoot out in overtime by a 1 to nothing score if I remember correctly.
If I had to watch that all day, 3 days a week, I would have to think about slashing my wrists. But, that is what that kid grew up watching and playing just like I did watching and playing football and baseball.
However, I have also "heard' that pewee and HS football numbers may be down, nationally, also. But, then again, the population growth in the US by cultural groups is greater in those descended more from the southern hemisphere and the southern part of the northern hemisphere where American football is not played and soccer is.
Just wondering.
Therefore, one might realistically expect the future interest in American football weaken as time goes on.
A lot of the kids there may not have the cultural and/or historical appreciation for football with what most of us here have grown up. Just like the one kid said that he thinks football is boring while he must think soccer is exciting because he was going out for it.
I think it might be exciting and somewhat fun to play, but I remember watching the first women's world cup played in the US with Mia Hamm, I think she spelled it. I watched for 90 minutes to a scoreless tie with very few shots on goal. It was won in a shoot out in overtime by a 1 to nothing score if I remember correctly.
If I had to watch that all day, 3 days a week, I would have to think about slashing my wrists. But, that is what that kid grew up watching and playing just like I did watching and playing football and baseball.
However, I have also "heard' that pewee and HS football numbers may be down, nationally, also. But, then again, the population growth in the US by cultural groups is greater in those descended more from the southern hemisphere and the southern part of the northern hemisphere where American football is not played and soccer is.
Just wondering.
Therefore, one might realistically expect the future interest in American football weaken as time goes on.
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Dont be naiive....there is a push to get rid of football that is societal and political. Its working, and unfortunately the NFL and high school associations are hurting their own cause by listening to groups who dont want them to succeed. Its like listening to your enemy hoping he will end up liking you. Nope.
call me crazy but its true. I
anyone see that roughing the passer in the nfl game the other day btw??
call me crazy but its true. I
anyone see that roughing the passer in the nfl game the other day btw??
I have only watched a few minutes of NFL preseason FB and it was one penalty after another. I just couldn't do it. They are attempting to change the game for safety concerns. When that doesn't make a difference, what is the next logical step? Elimination or make it flag football.
There are some interesting demographic changes for sure. There are also a bunch of lazy kids out there, now I said it. In the day if we had a big kid who could move we did everything to get him out and teach him. Most of the time it worked out. Those kids don't even care anymore, would rather play video games.
You are correct about nationality shifts as well. When I was a principal/coach we were about 30% Hispanic and now the percent at that school is higher, they can't get the kids to even go out. No soccer to compete, just not football players.
I talk to area coaches weekly and almost all are saying their numbers are down in the middle school and high school. There is a shift going on for sure. There is more than one reason for it though.
There are some interesting demographic changes for sure. There are also a bunch of lazy kids out there, now I said it. In the day if we had a big kid who could move we did everything to get him out and teach him. Most of the time it worked out. Those kids don't even care anymore, would rather play video games.
You are correct about nationality shifts as well. When I was a principal/coach we were about 30% Hispanic and now the percent at that school is higher, they can't get the kids to even go out. No soccer to compete, just not football players.
I talk to area coaches weekly and almost all are saying their numbers are down in the middle school and high school. There is a shift going on for sure. There is more than one reason for it though.
I think even among white people, soccer participation and popularity is going way up while football is going down. This is especially true with younger people. It's getting to the point where it's cooler to be on the soccer team than it is on the football team.
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, you'd always see guys just walking around on campus or whatever with a football in their hand and tossing it around with their buddies. You just don't see that anymore. Now you're more likely to find guys getting together to play a pickup soccer game.
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, you'd always see guys just walking around on campus or whatever with a football in their hand and tossing it around with their buddies. You just don't see that anymore. Now you're more likely to find guys getting together to play a pickup soccer game.
I was talking to my son about this today. His school has 700 kids but only a fraction participate in sports. This is a suburban school and most kids come from well enough off families. The bottom line is too many kids are not seeing the point in being active and the video gaming culture is growing in popularity (something I personally hate). I don't see any big shift from one sport to another at his school and others like it, but a shift away from sports entirely. One small benefit may be that it will be easier for kids to get scholarships, particularly in smaller sports.
Agreed. Not a fan of the video gaming culture. It's OK to a certain extent, but kids these days avoid the outdoors, face-to-face competition, and instead grow into internet tough guys with thin skin who just hide behind their technology. Get off my lawn...no really...get off my lawn.
Oh man, remember the Pokemon Go craze? Essentially a video game that got people outside. That was a strange few weeks/months (can't remember how long it lasted / still going maybe?).
This was a locally written story in Los Angeles. It's such a small sample size. I lived in California, and to be quite honest, there are so many other things to do out there and so many freaking people that there are other things to do that watch or invest time in football. You also have to remember that southern California is slowly starting to be taken over by Latino, Hispanic and an Asian influx of immigrants. Add that all up and you get more interest in soccer. Think about it--do you see Mexico or Japan or China or Spain getting super into American football? No way jose!
Yes, science and politics and the magnified posters online are cause for concern, and the concussion worries, but it will take a really long time to bring the game down. There is still too much money in it. Step foot in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio and this isn't even a big story.
Yes, science and politics and the magnified posters online are cause for concern, and the concussion worries, but it will take a really long time to bring the game down. There is still too much money in it. Step foot in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio and this isn't even a big story.
I read a story that like 10 years ago, 22 of the top 100 rated shows on TV were NFL games...last year it was like 78/100, football is going to be just fine.
This is what happens when you import the labor market.. they bring their culture with them and is quickly reflected in society.
I just read about some HS programs in VA that had to drop varsity football this year due to low participation. Even schools that are traditionally strong in football up there are seeing a decrease of about 20% in the number of kids participating in football.