Student participation in high school athletics continues to grow.
by Sam Stavish
photo by Kevin Fleming
High School students love to play their sports. Football had the biggest turnout once again, but you may be surprised to see what sports have the largest student athlete participation. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the number of students participating in High School athletics increased last season for the 19th consecutive year.
In a survey of all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, the amount of kids participating in 2007-2008 sports was at an all-time high of 7,429,381. When broken down by gender, 3,057,266 girls and 4,372,115 boys participated in sports this past year. Both of these numbers shattered the previous participation records, while 54.8 percent of all students in High School partake in athletics.
Here is a list of the top ten sports for boys and girls nationwide:
| Boys Participation | Girls Participation | ||
| Sport | Participants | Sport | Participants |
| Football | 1,108,286 | Basketball | 449,450 |
|
Basketball |
552,935 | Track and Field | 447,520 |
| Track And Field | 548,821 | Volleyball | 397,968 |
| Baseball | 478,029 | Softball | 371,293 |
| Soccer | 383,561 | Soccer | 346,545 |
| Wrestling | 259,688 | Cross Country | 190,349 |
| Cross Country | 221,109 | Tennis | 172,455 |
| Golf | 159,958 | Swimming and Diving | 147,197 |
| Tennis | 156,285 | Spirit Squads | 111,307 |
| Swimming and Diving | 111,896 | Golf | 69,243 |
At TJ, athletics plays an important role in school spirit. Every year, there are a total of 677 student athletes out of a recent total of 1158 students. This averages to around 58% of students turning out for sports throughout the year. Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for TJ, Lani Nobles, said, “Athletics are awesome. Athletics are a primary draw for students who come to TJ. TJ provides an excellent environment for students to compete.”
Football is the most popular sport of all seasons, with a total of 120 participants every year, pulling in around 10% of all the students. Junior football player Justin Hoffman says, "I love sports because it is important as it promotes individuality and the building of team character.” When broken down by season, fall has the biggest turnout with 273 athletes, offering many sports early in the year including football, boys’ tennis, softball, boys’ soccer, golf, gymnastics, and cross-country.
Boys’ soccer coach and AP Government Teacher Jon Poole stated, “Sports means developing deeper, more meaningful relations with the students.”
The winter season has a total of 172 athletes, with boys’ and girls’ basketball bringing in most of the participation. Senior Sabrina Harris, a track and basketball player, said, “I love basketball and connecting with people, developing character and teamwork skills.” Also offered in the winter season is girls’ swimming and wrestling.
Sports are an important part of school pride at TJ, as well. Calculus teacher and Diving Coach Aimee Witulski agreed, saying, “It means a lot to me that I can help build school spirit and pride outside of the classroom.”
When the chilly days of winter have passed, the outdoor sports can begin once again. Track, girls’ tennis, baseball, girls’ golf, lacrosse, and boys’ swimming all bring in a total of 232 student athletes. Rachel Wilson, a junior tennis player says, “I just love working with a team and having fun.”
The survey has been conducted by the NFHS since 1971, and experts predict that the total number of student athletes will continue to grow.
For more info and complete survey results visit http://www.nfhs.org.
