Participation in High School Sports Increases Again; Confirms NFHS Commitment to Stronger Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bruce Howard or John Gillis

Full Report(PDF)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 18, 2006) - For the 17th consecutive year, the number of student participants in high school athletics increased in 2005-06, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Announcement of the increase comes as the NFHS, the national leadership organization for high school athletics and fine arts activity programs, launches new initiatives toward becoming a more proactive force for the future of high school activity programs nationwide.

Based on figures from the 50 state high school athletic/activity associations, plus the District of Columbia, that are members of the NFHS, participation for the 2005-06 school year rose by 141,195 students to 7,159,904, according to the 2005-06 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS. Through the survey, it was also determined that 53.5 percent of students enrolled in high schools participate in athletics.

"We're thrilled with this year's survey results," said NFHS Executive Director Robert F. Kanaby. "The results show that even more students are participating in high school sports, which will have positive effects on their long-term personal success. The results support the NFHS 2005-2008 Strategic Plan, in which the organization committed to providing stronger leadership and support for high school athletics and fine arts activities."

For years, the NFHS has been the source of official playing rules, training programs for coaches and officials, and coordination and communications among individual state high school associations. In addition to these foundational roles, Kanaby said the NFHS will be working to gain awareness and support from state and local governments, media, corporate partners, and especially students and their parents.

"It is unfortunate that, in some cases, financial support for high school athletics and activities has been declining," Kanaby said. "Students want these programs. This latest survey shows a continuing trend toward more participation, and that's good for students and their communities. We can demonstrate that participation in athletics and activities helps students succeed in life."

In addition to the overall numbers, the girls participation total of 2,953,355 set an all-time record. The boys total also increased, reaching 4,206,549, the highest participation in the past 28 years. This year's boys participation figure is second only to the record 4,367,442 in 1977-78.

Competitive spirit squads gained the most female participants in 2005-06 with 14,154, followed by outdoor track and field with 11,002, indoor track and field with 6,265 and cross country with 5,504.

Eleven-player football gained the most participants among boys sports in 2005-06 with 26,281, followed by outdoor track and field with 17,282, baseball with 10,954 and wrestling with 8,525.

Basketball remained the most popular sport for girls with 452,929 participants, followed by outdoor track and field (439,200), volleyball (390,034), fast pitch softball (369,094), soccer (321,555), cross country (175,954), tennis (173,753), swimming and diving (147,413), competitive spirit squads (98,570) and golf (64,195).

In boys sports, 11-player football once again topped the list with 1,071,775 participants, followed by basketball (546,335), outdoor track and field (533,985), baseball (470,671), soccer (358,935), wrestling (251,534), cross country (208,303), golf (161,284), tennis (153,006) and swimming and diving (107,468).

Texas held its title as having the most sports participants with 742,341, followed by California (678,019), New York (350,349), Illinois (323,703), Michigan (321,250), Ohio (316,529), Pennsylvania (267,147), New Jersey (243,260), Florida (214,023) and Minnesota (213,476).

The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations. The complete 2005-06 Participation Survey is available on the NFHS Web site .

New Brand Marketing Effort to Support Additional Participation Growth

The NFHS is developing a stronger, more relevant brand identity with a new graphic look and a new communications tagline: "Take Part. Get Set For Life.Ô" This identity will be integrated into a series of initiatives to demonstrate the link between student participation and life success, to establish new directions for gaining financial support, to improve the actual participation experience for students, and to respond publicly to critical issues such as steroid abuse.

Schools

1. Basketball 17,535

2. Track and Field - Outdoor 15,497

3. Baseball 15,290

4. Football - 11-player 13,727

5. Golf 13,267

6. Cross Country 13,110

7. Soccer 10,580

8. Wrestling 9,744

9. Tennis 9,706

10. Swimming and Diving 6,224

1. Football - 11-player 1,071,775

2. Basketball 546,335

3. Track and Field - Outdoor 533,985

4. Baseball 470,671

5. Soccer 358,935

6. Wrestling 251,534

7. Cross Country 208,303

8. Golf 161,284

9. Tennis 153,006

10. Swimming and Diving 107,468

TEN MOST POPULAR GIRLS PROGRAMS

Schools

1. Basketball 17,275

2. Track and Field - Outdoor 15,417

3. Softball - Fast Pitch 14,710

4. Volleyball 14,578

5. Cross Country 12,989

6. Soccer 9,970

7. Tennis 9,816

8. Golf 8,816

9. Swimming and Diving 6,559

Participants

1. Basketball 452,929

2. Track and Field - Outdoor 439,200

3. Volleyball 390,034

4. Softball - Fast Pitch 369,094

5. Soccer 321,555

6. Cross Country 175,954

7. Tennis 173,753

8. Swimming and Diving 147,413

9. Competitive Spirit Squads 98,570

10. Golf 64,195

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 18,500 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities.

Amanda Personett, a fall semester intern in the NFHS Publications/Communications Department and a senior at Franklin (Indiana) College, contributed to this article.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard or John Gillis, 317-972-6900

National Federation of State High School Associations

PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

bhoward@nfhs.org or jgillis@nfhs.org