The NCAA News - News and Features

September 22, 1997

High-school sports post eighth straight increase in participation

For the eighth consecutive year, participation in high-school athletics programs has increased.

The National Federation of State High-School Associations reported that participation in high-school athletics during 1996-97 was 6,195,247, which was an increase of 175,358 from the 1995-96 figures. The 1996-97 figure is the second-highest mark in the 27 years that the survey has been conducted, topped only by the "baby boom" figure of 6,450,482 in 1977-78.

The 1996-97 survey indicated another record participation for girls, with 2,472,043 participating -- an increase of 104,107 from the previous year. It was the ninth consecutive record-setting year for girls' high-school participation.

Boys' participation also increased, rising to 3,706,225. It was the fifth consecutive increase in boys' participation.

The federation has compiled the survey since 1971 based on figures from its 51 member state associations. With the exception of a slight decrease from 1987-88 to 1988-89, participation has risen each year since 1983-84.

Women's soccer -- the fastest-growing sport at the collegiate level -- has registered the largest gain in girls' athletics programs, growing by 17,349 participants. It ranks fifth among girls' athletics programs with 226,636 participants.

Besides soccer, three other girls' sports gained more than 10,000 participants in 1995-96: volleyball (up 13,481), swimming and diving (12,526), and indoor track and field (11,980).

In addition to gaining the most participants, girls' soccer also had the biggest increase in sponsorship, with 445 schools adding the sport. Other notable sponsorship increases for girls' sports included indoor track (up 444), softball (443), golf (351), swimming and diving (322), and volleyball (317).

Soccer also registered the biggest gain in participants among boys, rising by 12,859. The biggest increase in sponsorship among boys' sports was for indoor track and field, which was sponsored by 419 more schools.

Basketball remains the most popular girls' high-school sport with 447,687 participants and 16,325 sponsoring schools. Football is most popular with boys, with 957,507 participants. Basketball is the most-sponsored boys' sport, with 16,704 schools.

Top boys programs

1. Basketball -- 16,704

2. Outdoor track -- 14,238

3. Baseball -- 14,212

4. Football -- 13,119

5. Golf -- 11,573

6. Cross country -- 11,485

7. Tennis -- 9,322

8. Wrestling -- 8,738

9. Soccer -- 8,432

10. Swimming and diving -- 5,028

Participants

1. Football -- 957,507

2. Basketball -- 544,025

3. Outdoor track -- 457,937

4. Baseball -- 444,248

5. Soccer -- 296,587

6. Wrestling -- 227,596

7. Cross country -- 174,599

8. Golf -- 150,578

9. Tennis -- 136,451

10. Swimming and diving -- 93,523

Top girls programs

Schools

1. Basketball -- 16,325

2. Outdoor track -- 14,185

3. Volleyball -- 12,986

4. Fast-pitch softball -- 11,895

5. Cross country -- 10,934

6. Tennis -- 9,228

7. Soccer -- 6,971

8. Golf -- 5,820

9. Swimming and diving -- 5,270

10. Indoor track -- 2,214

Participants

1. Basketball -- 447,687

2. Outdoor track -- 385,605

3. Volleyball -- 370,957

4. Fast-pitch softball -- 313,607

5. Soccer -- 226,636

6. Tennis -- 150,346

7. Cross country -- 145,624

8. Swimming and diving -- 123,886

9. Field hockey -- 56,502

10. Indoor track -- 49,365

Total participation since 1982

Year -- Boys -- Girls

1982-83 -- 3,355,558 -- 1,779,972

1983-84 -- 3,303,599 -- 1,747,346

1984-85 -- 3,354,284 -- 1,757,884

1985-86 -- 3,344,275 -- 1,807,121

1986-87 -- 3,364,082 -- 1,836,356

1987-88 -- 3,425,777 -- 1,849,684

1988-89 -- 3,416,844 -- 1,839,352

1989-90 -- 3,398,192 -- 1,858,659

1990-91 -- 3,406,355 -- 1,892,316

1991-92 -- 3,429,853 -- 1,940,801

1992-93 -- 3,416,289 -- 1,997,489

1993-94 -- 3,472,967 -- 2,130,315

1994-95 -- 3,536,359 -- 2,240,461

1995-96 -- 3,634,052 -- 2,367,936

1996-97 -- 3,706,225 -- 2,472,043