nndman
Freshmen Member
Posts: 25 
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Post by nndman on Aug 8, 2021 12:02:33 GMT -6
Here in my part of Virginia (smallest classification) turnout is really low. We had only 6 teams in our region play this past spring. One school has already canned its season because of low numbers. Two of the more successful programs have 30 and 22 out. I hear in the situation is about the same in the wester part of the state for the small schools.
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Post by tog on Aug 8, 2021 13:17:41 GMT -6
Here in my part of Virginia (smallest classification) turnout is really low. We had only 6 teams in our region play this past spring. One school has already canned its season because of low numbers. Two of the more successful programs have 30 and 22 out. I hear in the situation is about the same in the wester part of the state for the small schools. sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... |
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Post by blackknight on Aug 8, 2021 14:15:11 GMT -6
Very low. Used to field Varsity, JV, and Frosh teams with about 100+ in the program. Currently 19 10-12 graders on the Varsity and 18 Frosh on the JV's.
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Post by dubber on Aug 8, 2021 16:14:20 GMT -6
Here in my part of Virginia (smallest classification) turnout is really low. We had only 6 teams in our region play this past spring. One school has already canned its season because of low numbers. Two of the more successful programs have 30 and 22 out. I hear in the situation is about the same in the wester part of the state for the small schools. sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... We’ve got great numbers for our size. Games not dying, but how it is played (and more importantly, how you interact with players) is different than even 20 years ago. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2021 16:41:53 GMT -6
sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... We’ve got great numbers for our size. Games not dying, but how it is played (and more importantly, how you interact with players) is different than even 20 years ago. LOL! Different than 20, how about 2 years ago. |
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Post by nicku on Aug 8, 2021 17:54:58 GMT -6
We have just under 50 freshmen. I can't give an exact number off the top of my head, but we have enough for a varsity, one JV, and one freshman team. We're a 5A in North Texas. I know that by no means seems small, but this is the same school I myself played football for, and we ALWAYS had two 9th grade teams and two JV teams, and it was never even a stretch. We can't even find another kid to be the backup QB on the JV.
I just discussed this with another coaching buddy from my last school. Get used to this. We will get to a point where we just have one JV and the varsity. We didn't lose a game until the 4th round of the playoffs last year and we still have these low (for us) numbers. If you are a 5'3" freshmen, are you gonna run flying 60s all summer in 100 degree heat just to play 6 snaps a game on the freshman team? Hell no. Not when you can sit on your rear end all summer and join the e-sports team instead. I don't say that mockingly, just reality.
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Post by nicku on Aug 8, 2021 17:57:36 GMT -6
We’ve got great numbers for our size. Games not dying, but how it is played (and more importantly, how you interact with players) is different than even 20 years ago. LOL! Different than 20, how about 2 years ago. I was rambling to family at a get-together the other day about how different football is now - coaching, injuries, etc. - just from when I played 11 years ago, let alone back when my uncles played. I remember at least every other game seeing a kid wobbling off the field seeing stars...I can't remember that happening more than 3 or 4 times in my 5 years coaching. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2021 18:04:36 GMT -6
LOL! Different than 20, how about 2 years ago. I was rambling to family at a get-together the other day about how different football is now - coaching, injuries, etc. - just from when I played 11 years ago, let alone back when my uncles played. I remember at least every other game seeing a kid wobbling off the field seeing stars...I can't remember that happening more than 3 or 4 times in my 5 years coaching. Wuuhan virus or whatever and what has happened since. Think about what it takes to practice, get kids to come to school, much less practice. Think about how differently lifting is now, then all the other stuff. It is sort amazing. |
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Post by teachcoach on Aug 8, 2021 18:07:12 GMT -6
I am at a large school, 20 years ago we would have 100 freshman, 60 sophomores and 100 varsity.
today probably 40 freshman 35 sophomores 60 varsity (who also play a jv game.). I honestly don't think it changes the talent. Kids are finding other places for interest. We used to play 3 levels of freshman and two of sophomore but I don't see much a lot change of the upper talent. Just making practice a little more challenging to organinze
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Post by newt21 on Aug 8, 2021 18:54:46 GMT -6
Extremely low for us, 7 seniors and around 35 in the program for a 4A school. Granted we’re very low income and we can’t get the freshmen to practice without school in session. We expect another 15 or so once school starts, but time will tell.
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Post by realdawg on Aug 8, 2021 19:23:11 GMT -6
Ours are better than they were in the spring. We are a school
Of about 650 and had 70 on the first day. I can’t keep up
With it exactly Bc we have had 1 or 2 hang it up pretty early and another freshmen or 2 show up. But anyway. Somewhere between 65-70 with 30
Or low 30s on JV. We played JV this spring with 18.
But I’m hearing that most teams around the area are down. And I am constantly working to fill in games for JV for teams that won’t be able
To field one. A near by league of smaller schools voted to play JV grades 7-9 and varsity 10-12 so schools would be able to field JV.
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Post by olliebaba14 on Aug 8, 2021 19:40:14 GMT -6
Turnout is okay. Freshman is about 25 kids JV 30 varsity 45 about 100 in the program
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Post by wolverine55 on Aug 8, 2021 20:15:27 GMT -6
Tomorrow is our first day and honestly we'll have anywhere between 45-60. We're a school of about 550. That may seem a wide range but our incoming freshmen have been all over the place with summer attendance. Also, for whatever reason, we'll have 1-2 kids that haven't missed anything over the summer decide not to play when August hits and then conversely, we'll have a few who attended nothing over the summer decide to play.
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Post by coachd5085 on Aug 8, 2021 20:56:24 GMT -6
Here in my part of Virginia (smallest classification) turnout is really low. We had only 6 teams in our region play this past spring. One school has already canned its season because of low numbers. Two of the more successful programs have 30 and 22 out. I hear in the situation is about the same in the wester part of the state for the small schools. sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... Coach- I can't really get behind that line of thinking. I just disagree with the whole "look how tough we used to be now we are weak" type of comments. As I pointed out in another post, the guys who played in the 30's would probably think that Butkus, Campbell, Lambert, Stabler, Hannah etc were "wimps" and played a sissified brand of ball. I think what we have been seeing is a general decline in team sports overall. As nicku pointed out there are more things to do and the culture surrounding sports is different in America today. It isn't even a toughness issue, just a different culture. It isn't about playing a sport anymore, it is about other things. Maybe its the "next level", maybe it is attention, heck it could even be winning, but the idea of just competiting to compete seems to be dying in team sports. There needs to be some type of reward. Doing all the stuff that is asked of the players just to be a part of the team isn't attractive to most American youth today. I would be interested in how many players from those teams of "yesteryear" actually played. |
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Post by realdawg on Aug 9, 2021 5:23:47 GMT -6
To piggy back of the last thread what we are missing is quality backups. Those are the types of kids we are seeing not play. We got starters. And we got bench warmers. But that kid who couldn’t start but is a quality backup isn’t playing for us. Too much work and sweat to sit on the bench when he could have a job and make his truck payment. Just what we are seeing
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Post by larrymoe on Aug 9, 2021 6:30:03 GMT -6
sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... Coach- I can't really get behind that line of thinking. I just disagree with the whole "look how tough we used to be now we are weak" type of comments. As I pointed out in another post, the guys who played in the 30's would probably think that Butkus, Campbell, Lambert, Stabler, Hannah etc were "wimps" and played a sissified brand of ball. I think what we have been seeing is a general decline in team sports overall. As nicku pointed out there are more things to do and the culture surrounding sports is different in America today. It isn't even a toughness issue, just a different culture. It isn't about playing a sport anymore, it is about other things. Maybe its the "next level", maybe it is attention, heck it could even be winning, but the idea of just competiting to compete seems to be dying in team sports. There needs to be some type of reward. Doing all the stuff that is asked of the players just to be a part of the team isn't attractive to most American youth today. I would be interested in how many players from those teams of "yesteryear" actually played. I mean, we have adult coloring centers for people to be able to deal with living life. College campuses have safe spaces. Employers are putting in pods so you can snuggle your woobie when your job gets too tough. We are softer. |
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Post by coachwoodall on Aug 9, 2021 6:37:58 GMT -6
We're about normal. Running right at 90 for Varsity and 30 for Freshman. Might be a bit light, but with the hybrid/virtual year we had last year we lost a handful of kids.
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Post by coachwoodall on Aug 9, 2021 7:02:04 GMT -6
I pulled up the equipment list
23 seniors
33 juniors
30 sophomores
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Post by tog on Aug 9, 2021 7:58:51 GMT -6
Coach- I can't really get behind that line of thinking. I just disagree with the whole "look how tough we used to be now we are weak" type of comments. As I pointed out in another post, the guys who played in the 30's would probably think that Butkus, Campbell, Lambert, Stabler, Hannah etc were "wimps" and played a sissified brand of ball. I think what we have been seeing is a general decline in team sports overall. As nicku pointed out there are more things to do and the culture surrounding sports is different in America today. It isn't even a toughness issue, just a different culture. It isn't about playing a sport anymore, it is about other things. Maybe its the "next level", maybe it is attention, heck it could even be winning, but the idea of just competiting to compete seems to be dying in team sports. There needs to be some type of reward. Doing all the stuff that is asked of the players just to be a part of the team isn't attractive to most American youth today. I would be interested in how many players from those teams of "yesteryear" actually played. I mean, we have adult coloring centers for people to be able to deal with living life. College campuses have safe spaces. Employers are putting in pods so you can snuggle your woobie when your job gets too tough. We are softer. this the whole culture has been destroyed |
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Post by wingtol on Aug 9, 2021 8:01:36 GMT -6
Here in my part of Virginia (smallest classification) turnout is really low. We had only 6 teams in our region play this past spring. One school has already canned its season because of low numbers. Two of the more successful programs have 30 and 22 out. I hear in the situation is about the same in the wester part of the state for the small schools. sadly it is a dying game too physical for mommies too manly for snowflakes the nwo infiltration has killed this country from within by killing football prove me wrong..... We are a small school in Western PA and are struggling to hit 30 this year. There are many factors including a decline in population in our area, the school offering football soccer band cross country and golf all in the fall at a school that graduated like 60 kids last year. What we seem to be missing is that middle group of kids who are the backbone of your team, the back-ups and scout kids who want to be part of something. Our kids are still pretty tough and work hard I feel we have become a society of instant gratification and kids aren't willing to work their way up. I'm not playing, I'm out!!! That's the mentality that is hurting places. I also think the game has been under attack in the media and that doesn't help. Let's not even start on the "You'll get a full ride if you play this sport year round and nothing else" travel and club aspect of other sports. I really feel that football is going to become a big school sport and many of the smaller classes will struggle to find teams. Small school ball which I think is the heart and soul of the game will become a thing of the past soon with just the giant schools playing. |
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Post by newhope on Aug 9, 2021 9:47:46 GMT -6
It varies...some schools are in much better shape than in the spring. Some are about the same. I haven't heard of anyone worse than in the spring. The one thing I have heard is that many schools in our area are having trouble with freshman numbers--there was no middle school football in the spring due to covid.
We are about the same as spring, but down overall from previous years. The freshman thing is hurting us a lot. Normally, we have those kids identified. No list of rising freshmen players this year since no middle school football. The other issue hitting us is that the district has largely cut our overall freshman class by about half for four straight years. It is finally taking its toll on us.
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Post by blb on Aug 9, 2021 10:05:00 GMT -6
Former player of mine is HC at school with enrollment of 324.
He has 18 out 9-12.
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Post by mrjvi on Aug 9, 2021 10:06:22 GMT -6
We are actually going to be worse than spring. I'll be lucky to get 25 on varsity. What Realdawg and Wingtol have mentioned about quality backups is exactly our problem. We may have 12-14 real players then an embarrassing drop off.
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Post by 33coach on Aug 9, 2021 10:30:11 GMT -6
our program is bigger then ever...hell even our youth program doubled..
the game isn't dieing, just needs to be taught different.
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Post by coachks on Aug 9, 2021 10:55:00 GMT -6
To piggy back of the last thread what we are missing is quality backups. Those are the types of kids we are seeing not play. We got starters. And we got bench warmers. But that kid who couldn’t start but is a quality backup isn’t playing for us. Too much work and sweat to sit on the bench when he could have a job and make his truck payment. Just what we are seeing The big difference to me is that they have more opportunities in other sports than before. AAU basketball, Travel Soccer, Fall Ball and Lacrosse all provide fall options for kids. I teach in a big suburb with some money- the kids have choices besides backup and scout team. Can’t really say I blame them either. We ask more from them in the spring and summer - and if you are not going to get playing time, but you will in Lax or Fall Ball… it really ain’t a difficult choice. I graduated in 2005. We had three 7 on 7 dates - all on a Monday morning , a 3 day minicamp and then one week of conditioning. Weight room was open every morning and evening for an hour and they expected you to make 3 days a week. Right now we are Monday-Thursday for 3 hours in the evenings. Totally different commitment level. When I played, you weren’t really expected to be there in the summer before your varsity seasons. Now we want rising freshman involved. It’s a tough ask to give up 4 summers to maybe play some special teams as a senior. |
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Post by s73 on Aug 9, 2021 11:38:22 GMT -6
We are a school of 900 with a 40% ish latino population that has a strong soccer culture so those kids are tough to come by. Basically we draw from about 600 ish I would say consistently.
We're at about 55 kids as of today. 27 Varsity / 28 JV. '
Out frosh numbers are killing us. Lowest total I've ever seen (9) right now. Gotten the word out as best I can with social media, school website, word of mouth, emailing incoming frosh parents, flyer at the MS, etc,
Lost 2 kids who would've been key contributors this year. The one kid basically said after just coming off of spring ball he wants a break from football until next season. Other kid is his buddy and a follower.
Can't really blame them I guess. Other issue is low income kids needing / wanting to work.
Having said all of that, 10 years ago we were consistently in the 90 ish range.
Talked with lots of guys around the area with similar sized schools and all but one said they were down and the one who wasn't down said he's about the same over the past 2-3 years.
I personally think it is kind of a dying sport sort of. What I mean by that is yes, other things to do. Also other EASIER things to do. But...I don't put all that blame on the kids. Look at what we're asking kids to do nowadays. When I was in HS (80's) we lifted 3 x a week in the summer. That was it. Came to about 3 hours a week. Did it in the mornings M / W / F.
Off season we played other sports. Now we have lifting in the off season, summer camps and 7 on 7. You'll keep the die hards, but lose the fence riders. That's what's happening. I think HS FB coaches by and large are just as big of culprits IMO.
If everyone would scale back some so you don't have to do all the crazy amount of stuff just to keep it it might revive itself some. But that ain't happening. In the meantime I guess we'll do the best we personally can.
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Post by wingtol on Aug 9, 2021 12:19:44 GMT -6
We are actually going to be worse than spring. I'll be lucky to get 25 on varsity. What Realdawg and Wingtol have mentioned about quality backups is exactly our problem. We may have 12-14 real players then an embarrassing drop off. "We go from the A's to the Z's real quick!!!" |
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Post by wingtol on Aug 9, 2021 12:42:31 GMT -6
our program is bigger then ever...hell even our youth program doubled.. the game isn't dieing, just needs to be taught different. How big is your school? I don't think the game will die, it's just changing where it will be able to be played. We have a lot of hockey in our city, big facility with two rinks just opened and we are like 2 hours from Canadian border so there are a lot of hockey people around. I say that because people say this myth about the Canadian farm boys playing on frozen rinks and making it to the NHL is dead. The amount of money it takes to play hockey now is absurd! Equipment, ice time, team fees, skating coaching, shooting coach, travel, etc.... They say if Wayne Gretzky was a kid in this era with the same family background he came from he probably never would have made it because thy couldn't afford it! Now I don't think money will kill football in a direct way but with in a decade it's going to be a big school sport. Most small schools are in areas where people struggle because there is a smaller population and lack of jobs. Kids are forced to do more to help or do not have the support at home that pushes them to play. And people have said it's a hard game, it is. With so much other things going on now and the time commitment it takes to play now I can see why the marginal kids are like "ehhhhh f' this" leaving just your truly dedicated players and then not much else behind them. That's the big issue it's not your true number, it's how many you can put on the field and not close your eyes or pray for their safety!!! Maybe I'm rambling but as someone who has coached in smaller school for quite awhile now there is no doubt the game is in trouble at small schools, we just had two traditional powers have to co-op a week ago to survive. Now lets add in how hard it is to get coaches any more...hey man want to coach? Okay here do this 6 hour course on coaching theory, another on concussions, cardiac, and covid, alos get these clearances for 100.00, and we need 50 bucks for a polo cause the school doesn't pay for that. Oh and you can split a 1000.00 JV check..... If anyone made it this far sorry for the rant but small school football is in trouble. |
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Post by 33coach on Aug 9, 2021 13:15:12 GMT -6
our program is bigger then ever...hell even our youth program doubled.. the game isn't dieing, just needs to be taught different. How big is your school? I don't think the game will die, it's just changing where it will be able to be played. We have a lot of hockey in our city, big facility with two rinks just opened and we are like 2 hours from Canadian border so there are a lot of hockey people around. I say that because people say this myth about the Canadian farm boys playing on frozen rinks and making it to the NHL is dead. The amount of money it takes to play hockey now is absurd! Equipment, ice time, team fees, skating coaching, shooting coach, travel, etc.... They say if Wayne Gretzky was a kid in this era with the same family background he came from he probably never would have made it because thy couldn't afford it! Now I don't think money will kill football in a direct way but with in a decade it's going to be a big school sport. Most small schools are in areas where people struggle because there is a smaller population and lack of jobs. Kids are forced to do more to help or do not have the support at home that pushes them to play. And people have said it's a hard game, it is. With so much other things going on now and the time commitment it takes to play now I can see why the marginal kids are like "ehhhhh f' this" leaving just your truly dedicated players and then not much else behind them. That's the big issue it's not your true number, it's how many you can put on the field and not close your eyes or pray for their safety!!! Maybe I'm rambling but as someone who has coached in smaller school for quite awhile now there is no doubt the game is in trouble at small schools, we just had two traditional powers have to co-op a week ago to survive. Now lets add in how hard it is to get coaches any more...hey man want to coach? Okay here do this 6 hour course on coaching theory, another on concussions, cardiac, and covid, alos get these clearances for 100.00, and we need 50 bucks for a polo cause the school doesn't pay for that. Oh and you can split a 1000.00 JV check..... If anyone made it this far sorry for the rant but small school football is in trouble. we are ~350 pop and have 70 in the football program. youth program has about 50 in it from 6th - 8th grade. the game has to be taught, and thought different. |
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Post by blb on Aug 9, 2021 13:26:16 GMT -6
the game has to be taught, and thought different. Explain, please. |
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