High school football participation numbers continue to fall

"We have noticed a steady and continued decrease in football participants."

Participation numbers in California for 11-man high school football among boys decreased for the fourth consecutive year, to 91,305, according to data released Thursday by the California Interscholastic Federation.

The latest figures show a 3.16 percent decline from 2018 (94,286) and a 12.14 percent drop from 2011 (103,921).

Football remains the state’s most popular boys sport, with track and field (55,335) second and soccer (54,996) third.

“As in previous years, we have noticed a steady and continued decrease in football participants,” CIF executive director Ron Nocetti said in a statement. “It is imperative that we continue to partner with organizations such as USA Football and their Football Development Model which provides a road map for how we coach, play and learn the game at every level.”

Participation numbers for all sports combined (boys and girls) reached an all-time high for the seventh consecutive year, to 814,004.

There were 354,265 girls who played a sport, up from 349,386 in 2018 and 304,696 in 2011.

“Over the past seven years, the 14% increase in girls participating is especially encouraging,” Nocetti said. “As an organization, we must continue to provide new opportunities for all students at our member schools.”

There was also an increase in girls participating in 11-player football, from 469 in the 2018 data report to 593 in 2019.

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