Sources needed for story

[DannyShapiroBE]

If anyone knows of any kids who decided not to play football this season after playing last season, could you please send them my way?

Cell number is (602)-577-1472 and email is [email protected]

Thanks!

[Bigdog]

Really?  Fishing for a story are we?

[L-Train11]

I'm wondering what the motive is behind this?

[DannyShapiroBE]

Participation in high school football is decreasing every year despite overall participation in high school sports continuing to grow.

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[WOSgrad]

20 minutes ago, DannyShapiroBE said:

Participation in high school football is decreasing every year despite overall participation in high school sports continuing to grow.

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Well, now that know the numbers in California, what do the numbers suggest here in Southeast Texas?

[DannyShapiroBE]

25 minutes ago, WOSgrad said:

Well, now that know the numbers in California, what do the numbers suggest here in Southeast Texas?

[DannyShapiroBE]

Messaged WOSgrad about this story. If anyone knows any kids who aren't playing this year, I'd be appreciative if they were sent my way. Thanks. 

[oldman]

Somebody went to their editor and wants to write about this.  From what I can remember... coaches cannot give out contact info of the players...protected information.

 Story you attached is from California.  From what I am seeing in the Southeast Texas area ia the numbers remaining steady or increasing......

[DannyShapiroBE]

4 minutes ago, oldman said:

Somebody went to their editor and wants to write about this.  From what I can remember... coaches cannot give out contact info of the players...protected information.

 Story you attached is from California.  From what I am seeing in the Southeast Texas area ia the numbers remaining steady or increasing......

Right, which is why I'm reaching out in this way. There are national numbers in that story. Southeast Texas does not have any concrete data to back up that claim, however. 

[WOSgrad]

12 minutes ago, oldman said:

Somebody went to their editor and wants to write about this.  From what I can remember... coaches cannot give out contact info of the players...protected information.

 Story you attached is from California.  From what I am seeing in the Southeast Texas area ia the numbers remaining steady or increasing......

While I agree that the timing of Danny's request, given the annual excitement about the return to practice for the 2017, may not have been the greatest in the world, he at least deserves the benefit of the doubt for attempting some research into the issue before taking to print on based on numbers and incidents having nothing to do with the area.  As I told Danny, I don't know, and quite frankly I doubt, that he will get what he is looking for here as most, if not all, who frequent this forum are pretty heavily invested in their school's programs so this is not the place where he is likely to find someone who has decided to leave a football program. 

But I have been wrong before and perhaps he will find someone who can flesh out a potential story of this issue. It is nothing new for a Enterprise sports reporters to seek out folks here who can give an insight to a story idea as Danny's former colleague, David Thompson, fished here on a regular basis.  And there are times that such forays did provide the needed flesh for some of those stories.

I'll be looking to see what you can find, Danny.

 

[DannyShapiroBE]

7 minutes ago, WOSgrad said:

While I agree that the timing of Danny's request, given the annual excitement about the return to practice for the 2017, may not have been the greatest in the world, he at least deserves the benefit of the doubt for attempting some research into the issue before taking to print on based on numbers and incidents having nothing to do with the area.  As I told Danny, I don't know, and quite frankly I doubt, that he will get what he is looking for here as most, if not all, who frequent this forum are pretty heavily invested in their school's programs so this is not the place where he is likely to find someone who has decided to leave a football program. 

But I have been wrong before and perhaps he will find someone who can flesh out a potential story of this issue. It is nothing new for a Enterprise sports reporters to seek out folks here who can give an insight to a story idea as Danny's former colleague, David Thompson, fished here on a regular basis.  And there are times that such forays did provide the needed flesh for some of those stories.

I'll be looking to see what you can find, Danny.

 

Appreciate it...and like I said, my contact info is above if anyone knows of anybody. Thanks.

[raideroldtimer]

5 hours ago, DannyShapiroBE said:

Appreciate it...and like I said, my contact info is above if anyone knows of anybody. Thanks.

If you want my opinion, I think it's because there are so many different sports available as well as different levels like select ball, etc. Kids or their parents are deciding more on specialization which is taking away from participation.

[Hagar]

6 hours ago, raideroldtimer said:

If you want my opinion, I think it's because there are so many different sports available as well as different levels like select ball, etc. Kids or their parents are deciding more on specialization which is taking away from participation.

Agree.  Plus the articles about concussions, primarily in Pro Football, has some parents concerned.  But ironically, I've read the head shots in soccer are even worse, but it's growing like a bad weed.

[Back2swag]

It has to do with concussions, Texas will be the last state to see any difference. 

[NDNTime]

Look, I've never written for a paper or anything, but I've spent a fair amount of my adult life performing research, conducting interviews, and drafting documents related to those two items.  If it were me, I'd start with the broad picture.  Pick out 3 or 4 school from 5A, 4A, and 3A in the area and try and get the HC or AD on the phone to talk about the athletic programs in general.  I'd inquire about participation in each sport, up's, down's, remaining constant, whatever the case may be.  I'd then compare it to what we are seeing on a national level.  Why are we seeing a different trend then what is seen nationally?

I imagine that once the season starts and rosters come out, you will be able to see if there were any underclassmen from last year that aren't on rosters this year.  Maybe you could figure out a way to contact those individuals.  Of course, kids that play at the varsity level tend to stick with it through high school, but you might get lucky.  As mentioned by others on the board, my guess is that a lot of the kids that give up football are steered in a different direction at the freshmen/sophomore level by being one-sport athletes (at least for SETX).

But maybe you'll find those kids that moved on to other things and if so, run the article during the season while everyone is focused on football.   Of course, such an article run during the season might draw the ire of folks on this board (depending on the slant), but hey, it starts a conversation right?

[Knoddy1]

Raideroldtimer is pretty much on target, I remember years ago when youth soccer started up (wasn't in High School yet) it really bit into Little League Baseball, now that it is in HS especially in the spring Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Track, Golf, now fishing, yep specialization is kicking in.

[Clueless]

Most kids are just average to below average football players in high school, which means if they play multiple sports, majority are not getting that much playing time and they become bored with football. They see maybe an opportunity in another sport where they excel at and have a better chance at competing. Result is kids leaving football.

[CardinalBacker]

7 hours ago, TradenupBH said:

Most kids are just average to below average football players in high school, which means if they play multiple sports, majority are not getting that much playing time and they become bored with football. They see maybe an opportunity in another sport where they excel at and have a better chance at competing. Result is kids leaving football.

This is also the era when a lot of kids don't even care enough to go get their drivers license anymore.  I think a lot of kids are more concerned with getting followers on social media than yards or tackles.

 

[bhsfan]

I agree with that last statement my stepson is 21 years old and has no interest in getting his drivers license and I have 2 nephews and 1 niece that are the same way and the ages are 19-22 years old.