Update on High School Wrestling Participation

[Jtm]

NFHS released new data a few months ago.  We took another look at wrestling participation focusing on boys.


https://www.levelchanger.com/blog/2019/9/6/wrestling-participation-in-high-school-patient-is-stable

[RYou]

From 1991 through 1997 there was a 14% percent decline in the overall US birth rate.  Those years include your recent grads.  If you compare it to the prior study's decline of 5.4 percent in participation in wrestling on a birthrate basis, participation has actually increased in those early years.

So last year participation numbers inb=ceased.  Note the increase in the birth rate in 2000 and 2001.  Those are your current juniors and seniors  the birth rates in 2003, 2004 and 2005 are even higher so you can epect a similar increase in participation when studied next year.


https://www.infoplease.com/us/births/live-births-and-birth-rates-year

[red viking]

I'm in WI and been officiating since 2003. I sensed a steady but slow decline in participation over the years but it seemed to bottom out last year. I'm definitely under the impression that numbers are up this year; at least where I officiate. The main conference where I officiate has seen a big jump in numbers from last year to this year.

[red viking]

I think the girls participating is really helping, and maybe even getting more boys to go out.