We can all agree on one thing numbers are down
Whitewolf - We can all agree on one thing numbers are down - FIGURE IT OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE NUMBERS TO DROP and fix that first. Quit adding older HS kids and 6 year old kids to artificially inflate overall numbers. We are putting expectations on 6 year olds to win a Damn BELT are you kidding me? OK that's right they quit by the time they are 11 -13 years old. Oh could that be one of the reasons HS numbers are dropping - damn straight it is. Put more emphasis on growing our 5th-8th grade group and less emphasis on growing the K-4th grade. It is amazing when I hear a parent say my kid had 100 -120 matches - a 6, 8, 10 year old. Good lord are you nuts? There is only a very very small fraction of any population of kids that will be still doing it in HS - putting on that many miles on their motors - the ones that do make it great - the ones that we let parents run out of the sport shame on you and I.
People are worried about kids missing weight, moving up or down a weight class, fancy singlets, travel, travel, travel, money money money - how about lets teach them fundamental skills, morals, sportsmanship, team work,
small data sample - plus I think the boundaries have changed
whitewolf490 Offline
Junior Member
Registered: 11/21/10
Posts: 29
Loc: Junction City
Year East West Total
2011 406 376 782
2012 424 394 818
2013 454 375 829
2014 400 364 764
2015 370 344 714
2016 350 335 685
2017 301 346 647
2018 343 329 672
Whitewolf - We can all agree on one thing numbers are down - FIGURE IT OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE NUMBERS TO DROP and fix that first. Quit adding older HS kids and 6 year old kids to artificially inflate overall numbers. We are putting expectations on 6 year olds to win a Damn BELT are you kidding me? OK that's right they quit by the time they are 11 -13 years old. Oh could that be one of the reasons HS numbers are dropping - damn straight it is. Put more emphasis on growing our 5th-8th grade group and less emphasis on growing the K-4th grade. It is amazing when I hear a parent say my kid had 100 -120 matches - a 6, 8, 10 year old. Good lord are you nuts? There is only a very very small fraction of any population of kids that will be still doing it in HS - putting on that many miles on their motors - the ones that do make it great - the ones that we let parents run out of the sport shame on you and I.
People are worried about kids missing weight, moving up or down a weight class, fancy singlets, travel, travel, travel, money money money - how about lets teach them fundamental skills, morals, sportsmanship, team work,
whitewolf490 Offline
Junior Member
Registered: 11/21/10
Posts: 29
Loc: Junction City
Year East West Total
2011 406 376 782
2012 424 394 818
2013 454 375 829
2014 400 364 764
2015 370 344 714
2016 350 335 685
2017 301 346 647
2018 343 329 672
I just pulled a few national numbers so there is an APPLE to APPLE
view or comparison.
Even with the increase in girls participants and increase in teams offering wrestling for girls and boys - overall HS wrestling participation is down 20,000 during the period between 2009 and 2017
THAT IS A PROBLEM and it needs to be addressed by national and state leaders in the kids programs, middle school programs and the HS levels and the Colleges and international styles need too be involved as well. The college guys recently have proven folkstyle is not hindering their international performances and success.
2016/17
HS Boys
Teams 10,629
Participants 244,804
HS Girls
Teams 2,091
Participants - 14,587
2009/10
HS Boys -
Team 10,363
Participants - 272,890
HS Girls
Teams - 1009
Participants - 6134
Last edited by smokeycabin; 03/13/18 05:49 PM.
