Posted on 02/02/2014 12:45:56 PM PST by PROCON
(CNSNews.com) - The nation’s attention will be riveted tonight on MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. where 92 professional football players--46 per team--will be suited up to play Super Bowl XLVIII.
But for each of those 92 professional football players who have made it to the Super Bowl, there are approximately 11,828 students playing high school football in this country.
In the 2012-2013 school year, 14,048 U.S. high schools fielded teams to play 11-man per side American tackle football.
The 1,088,158 athletes who played on these teams in the 2012-2013 school year made football the No. 1 participation sport in the nation's high schools, according to the most recent data published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
1. Football, 1,088,158 (1,086,627 boys; 1,531 girls)
2. Outdoor Track and Field, 1,053,611 (580,672 boys; 472,939 girls)
3. Basketball, 971,796 (538,676 boys; 433,120 girls)
4. Soccer, 782,514 (410,982 boys; 371,532 girls)
5. Baseball, 476,050 (474,791 boys; 1,259 girls)
6. Volleyball, 470,561 (50,353 boys; 420,208 girls)
7. Cross Country, 463,569 (249,200 boys; 214,369 girls)
8. Fast-Pitch Softball, 363,944 (1,456 boys; 362,488 girls)
9. Tennis, 338,363 (157,247 boys; 181,116 girls)
10. Swimming and Diving, 302,169 (138,177boys; 163,992 girls)
What form...what an arm...what a wuss!
Was surprised to see in WSJ this week that soccer is losing numbers in organized play in US faster than football.
Hockey and lacrosse were the fastest gainers (percentage wise coming from very small number base).
I’m not quite sure which is more disturbing, the 1531 girls playing high school football or the 1456 boys playing high school softball.
At least in Texas, you generally don’t have to try out to get on the football team. I didn’t. What I really wanted to play in high school was baseball. Unfortunately, they had no use for slow pokes.
I expect in the next 5- 10 years, lacrosse will be in top 10. It has exploded in the south in the last couple of years and will continue to grow throughout the country.
How many folks know Jim Brown is in the lacrosse Hall of Fame?
not many. from what I hear, he was better lacrosse player than football.
Chicago has a 16 inch softball league for high school. I would guess (hope), that those are the boys playing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.