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Two high schools in Ohio have canceled the 2026 season due to low player turnout
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:12 am
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:12 am
Oberlin and Lockland. Not really an LSU Recruiting topic, but wondering if low numbers are affecting any Louisiana high schools for 2026 football season.
Article on Oberlin:
LINK
Article on Oberlin:
LINK
14
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:17 am to ScotReiver
There are a couple high schools in Baton Rouge that should probably go the route of not competing for district or postseason. They have low turnout issues.
This post was edited on 8/10/26 at 8:17 am
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:24 am to ScotReiver
No surprise. Youth participation has fallen way off.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:38 am to skullhawk
quote:
Youth participation has fallen way off.
Any idea why?
Posted on 8/10/26 at 8:54 am to Smokin Joe Dumas
quote:
Any idea why?
Equipment is very expensive.
More single parent homes.
Concussions.
E-Sports and other video games.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 9:15 am to ScotReiver
Posters in a thread on MSB last week mentioned that Bolton canceled its season, apparently had only 17 players in 2025
Posted on 8/10/26 at 9:22 am to Smokin Joe Dumas
quote:
Any idea why?
My son is on a 7th grade rec team since his middle school only allows 8th graders to play. Between registration, equipment rental, jersey cost, and other fees, the total would be hovering somewhere around $500. Pretty big number for anyone pinching pennies.
That seems to be the biggest issue i see around here. Parents don't want to have to pay that so they don't let the kids play until 8th grade ball ( when the school picks up the tab ) and then of course its their first year playing so they usually are not very good and they get discouraged and stop playing after 1 year.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 9:25 am to ScotReiver
It’s common in Ohio for teams to be short on players. They have went to 7 on 7 leagues in some areas.
Ohio is a powerhouse in certain conferences and divisions, but some of the smaller schools lack participation. Oberlin has sucked in football for as long as I can remember
Ohio is a powerhouse in certain conferences and divisions, but some of the smaller schools lack participation. Oberlin has sucked in football for as long as I can remember
Posted on 8/10/26 at 9:49 am to 0
quote:
My son is on a 7th grade rec team since his middle school only allows 8th graders to play. Between registration, equipment rental, jersey cost, and other fees, the total would be hovering somewhere around $500. Pretty big number for anyone pinching pennies. That seems to be the biggest issue i see around here. Parents don't want to have to pay that so they don't let the kids play until 8th grade ball ( when the school picks up the tab ) and then of course its their first year playing so they usually are not very good and they get discouraged and stop playing after 1 year.
In WV where I live, little league (full contact) starts for 9 year olds. When I was 7, my dad started a flag football league for that age group to get kids introduced w/o all the physicality. It's still good for younger kids today.
All aspects of football from age 7-18 has always been free where I'm from. I can't imagine having to pay anything for it like in baseball
Posted on 8/10/26 at 9:54 am to Donkus
better start supporting soccer or flag football
Posted on 8/10/26 at 10:06 am to Smokin Joe Dumas
quote:
idea why?
Lazy fricking kids….
Would rather play video games…
Uncoachable kids….
Posted on 8/10/26 at 10:18 am to Bacon84
Plain Dealing High School generally has anywhere from 12 to 15 kids play. This has been going on for a few years.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 10:55 am to ScotReiver
Can’t speak for Ohio but there are also different sports (like Rugby or Lacrosse) that are now options for kids looking for a physical sport that’s not football. Those weren’t options for many schools 25 years ago
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:01 am to ScotReiver
Soccer is taking over. Sorry boys
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:05 am to ScotReiver
Low turnout? Hell, I think all the teams in the east bank of Ascension could field 2 teams if they wanted.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:07 am to ScotReiver
Lockland is a tiny school with not much in the way of diversity if you know what I mean.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:26 am to Smokin Joe Dumas
quote:
Any idea why?
Just my opinion of two of the biggest reasons
1. The demand of ADULTS that kids "specialize" in a sport at a young age.
Until about the last 15-20 years kids generally played every sport during that sport's particular season. Now, you have parents and youth coaches demanding that if Braxtyn or Gage wants to make to the big leagues or get that college scholarship, he has to dedicate himself to that sport at 8 years old.
2. The increased rise of overprotective parents
Football is a collision sport. There is going to be pain and injuries. But those who play generally like the physicality. It's why they play. And MANY people who played HS football "survived" enough to be good and successful people in life. However, mom saw a study about concussions and said "no way! Why don't you try soccer instead where you can purposely use your bare head to repeatedly hit a ball traveling 40-50 mph"
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:54 am to Alt26
quote:
1. The demand of ADULTS that kids "specialize" in a sport at a young age.
Until about the last 15-20 years kids generally played every sport during that sport's particular season. Now, you have parents and youth coaches demanding that if Braxtyn or Gage wants to make to the big leagues or get that college scholarship, he has to dedicate himself to that sport at 8 years old.
i mean somewhat but its less coaches demanding it more the game demanding it. Despite what many like to think....basketball and especially baseball at the HS level is totally different than 20-25 years ago, even 25 years ago. the talent level is off the charts and unless you are an freak, if you want to play in college the game demands you play only that sport.
hell even bo jackson has been saying this. Says the game has progressed way too far and except for the 0.5% of athletes(think a jordin griffin) that possess the insane talent but also insane work ethic.....you just end up being mediocre in 2 sports and never reaching your potential in either sport.
also sport seasons overlap a lot now. Football coaches want their kids during he summer. they cant officially make it mandatory but it essentially is and they dont want to hear about summer club baseball. so kids are frequently choosing to play baseball only during the summer
then on top of that basketball season starts early way before football season is over and way after baseball has started and it makes it very hard for the kid playing football to catch up on basketball and almost impossible for them to get on the field in baseball.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:55 am to ScotReiver
Idk how it works now a days but in rural arkansas we had less than 25 players on the football team my Junior and senior year. Everybody just played a lot.
we also only won 2 games in the 3 years I was there
and somehow, someway, we had to play against the Warren 3 and that was just uglier than a meth smile
Chris Gragg
Jarius Wright
Greg Childs
3 small town guys who all played in the NFL, and all from the same year.
I remember one basketball game, our team was actually ROOTING for them because they were doing some of the craziest dunks we'd ever seen in person. 
we also only won 2 games in the 3 years I was there
and somehow, someway, we had to play against the Warren 3 and that was just uglier than a meth smile
Chris Gragg
Jarius Wright
Greg Childs
3 small town guys who all played in the NFL, and all from the same year.
I remember one basketball game, our team was actually ROOTING for them because they were doing some of the craziest dunks we'd ever seen in person.
Posted on 8/10/26 at 11:55 am to Smokin Joe Dumas
The fact that Americans are having less children is having a real impact.
quote:
The state’s public schools lost 60,000 students over the past decade as families moved away, had fewer children or opted for charter schools and homeschooling.
The same trend is playing out nationally, with school closures surging 35% over the past four years, according to federal data.
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