CHSAA participation rate up 4.83

CHSAA participation rate up 4.83

Dec. 30, 2000

STAFF REPORT

AURORA — The educational activities participation numbers for 1999-2000 have again provided the Colorado High School Activities Association with a report that contains both good news and not-so-good news, according to information from the CHSAA.

Commissioner Bob Ottewill noted, however, that the trend found in this year’s report are not too surprising.

Overall, the CHSAA saw its athletic participation rate grow 4.83 percent from 106,404 participants in 1998-99 to 111,756 this past school year. Boys’ athletic participation grew at a rate of 4.92 while the girls’ went up 4.72.

The participation survey is conducted each year in conjunction with the National Federation of State High School Associations’ request for participation information from its members. The CHSAA had a return ratio of approximately 85 percent on the participation survey and then was able to project additional numbers on a class-by-class basis for the individual sports and activities.

Additionally, the association established a baseline for the number of schools in each class to create the most accurate view of the participation numbers.

The 111,756 number reflects those students participating in each activity. The three-sport athlete would be counted three times in this number.

Football remains the most popular boys sport with 16,473 participants, followed in order by basketball 8,289, baseball 8,036, track 7,884 and soccer 5,542. Soccer barely moved into the no. 5 spot for the first time, supplanting wrestling (5,538).

In girls’ sports, volleyball held on to its top ranking with 8,707 participants while basketball (7,255) stayed second. Track was next at 6,182, soccer 5,624, and softball 3,948.

The CHSAA saw its greatest growth in ice hockey (which is not played in Southwestern Colorado) with an increase of 14.2 percent. Lacrosse (also not played around here) was up 13.31, track 9.09, football 8.95, and soccer 8.59 on the boys’ side of the ledger. The greatest increases in girls’ sports were in field hockey (also not played around here) 21.29, soccer 14.33, lacrosse 12.03, non-competitive spirit 10.33, and competitive spirit 9.67.

Of great concern each year are the activities that lose participation. Those activity that saw a large decline in numbers was boys swimming, down 7.31 percent. Boys tennis was down 5.18, girls gymnastics (not contested in this parts) 3.36, and girls cross-country 2.13. The reasons for the decline in those sports are varied, but also include the statistical adjustment from year to year.

In athletics overall, the CHSAA shows a participation rate of 55.2 percent of those enrolled in school. That number is significantly higher than the national average of just more than 48 percent. It is also a bit higher than 1999-98 of 54.5 and off from the high of 58.5 in 1990-91.

The number of schools sponsoring activities has stayed relatively constant through the years, mirroring the growth in certain sports and the overall growth in population of the state. Sports like softball, girls golf, lacrosse and field hockey continue to grow. Other sports such as boys swimming and girls gymnastics continue to struggle to maintain their numbers.

In the three non-athletic activities sponsored by the CHSAA — music, speech and student council — the largest activity was in music with 41,640 participants with 19,904 instrumentalists and 21,736 vocalists. There were 8,698 in student council and 4,789 in speech.

The combined numbers — all athletics and non-athletic participants — create an 82.4 participation rate for the 1999-2000 school year. That was almost identical to 1998-99.

"Our participation rate is solid. But, considering the value of participation to the student, we should not be satisfied until every student is involved in some kind of activity," Ottewill commented.

There were 103,033 males and 99,380 females enrolled in member schools. Of those, 55,303 males participated in activities giving them a 53.7 rate. A total of 55,949 girls participated or a rate of 54.3.