How do we keep them in the sport of wrestling longer so they are life long supporters of wrestling?
Estimates by age group that started the Kansas Kids state tournament series through a sub-district - using track wrestling data. High School Numbers were estimated using subs and district numbers. It would be interesting to see what the participation rate in the state tournament series is compared to the number of card holders by age group.
377 - 6 & Under State in Salina (Open Tournament) - Trackwrestling
863 - 8 and under (Using all the Subdistrict numbers - this includes some 6 year olds as well) - Trackwrestling
758 - 10 & Under - Trackwrestling (Using subdistrict numbers)
705 - 12 & Under - Trackwrestling (Using subdistrict numbers)
710 - 14 & Under - Track Wrestling (Using subdistrict numbers) (Includes some high schoolers)
463 - HS division - trackwrestling (Using district and subdistrict numbers) (possibly 15 an older)
In a study of youth participation in sport Seefleldt, Gilliam, Blievernicht and Bruce (1978) reported a progressive decline in participation after age 12 for both males and females, and
the rate of attrition in youth sports has been estimated to be approximately 33% per year (Petlichkoff, 1996; Saap & Haubenstricker, 1978, cited in Burton, 1984).
1) Participation and Attrition of Children in Kids of Steel
http://www.mun.ca/educ/faculty/mwatch/Tim's%20paperParticipation%20and%20attrition%20of%20children%20in%20Kids%20of%20Steel.pdf
2) Examining Adolescent Sport Dropout and Prolonged
Engagement from a Developmental Perspective
http://extranet.nuorisuomi.fi/download/a...perspective.pdf3) Effects of Enhancing Coach-Athlete Relationships on Youth Sport Attrition.
http://web.a.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=08884781&AN=20735197&h=mwP%2f%2bj3TvmvmDLzS9zf1NJdn0VtTXacA2Yktm5nwr2zuycRE612D9MdmqKxKDtBY%2fOnSGwzGe7xTWN6EfNFOJA%3d%3d&crl=c
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to examine the impact of the Coach Effectiveness Training program on athlete attrition. Eight Little League Baseball coaches attended a preseason sport psychology workshop designed to facilitate desirable coach-athlete interactions. A no-treatment control group consisted of 10 coaches. Children who played for both groups of coaches were interviewed before and after the season and were contacted again the following year. At the end of the initial season, children in the experimental group evaluated their coaches, teammates, and the sport of baseball more positively than children who played for the control-group coaches. Player attrition was assessed at the beginning of the next baseball season, with control-group youngsters withdrawing at a significantly higher rate (26%) than those in the experimental group (5% dropout rate). There was no difference in mean team won-lost percentages between dropouts and returning players, which indicates that the attrition was not due to lack of team success.