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20 ATHLETIC FIELDS STUDY <br />City of Elk River, Minnesota <br />FOOTBALL <br />FINDINGS <br />Tackle football has seen a reduction in the number of kids playing the game, <br />in large part due to information that emerged in the mid to late 2010s about <br />head injuries. What is unclear at this point is whether the trend will continue <br />to move downward, or if participation rates have now been set at a lower, <br />new normal. For the time being, it appears that numbers have stabilized in <br />Elk River. Eff orts have been made to make the game safer in the rules and <br />offi ciating, with the introduction of improving helmet technology, and the <br />invention of new forms of the game such as tacklebar. There has also been <br />rapid growth in the number of kids playing fl ag football. <br />That being said, tackle football remains the most popular high school sport <br />far outpacing soccer, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse for boys sports. At the <br />youth level there are still 3 participants for every 2 lacrosse players. <br />While participation rates for tackle football are down nationally, increases in <br />fl ag football will somewhat off set the drop in tackle. Elk River has historically <br />been strong in football and the ability of high school program to remain <br />strong will to some degree depend on the popularity of the sport at a youth <br />level. <br />As discussed above, fl ag football has been expanding, much more than <br />outpacing the rate at which tackle football has lost participants. The <br />association has been active since 2019 and that rapid growth has occurred, <br />even in spite of the pandemic. In 2022, the association had already reached <br />320 players which is the maximum number of players the association can <br />have. This is based on a 32 team cap with 10 players per team. <br />Unlike many other sports, football has not shifted as much into the “year <br />round” model. Some off season training and camps occur, but football remains <br />a primarily fall sport. <br />22800 <br />23000 <br />23200 <br />23400 <br />23600 <br />23800 <br />24000 <br />2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears <br />MN BOYS FOOTBALL <br />PARTICIPATION <br />Boys Participation Linear (Boys Participation) <br />900000 <br />950000 <br />1000000 <br />1050000 <br />1100000 <br />1150000 <br />2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019# of ParticipantsYears <br />NATIONAL BOYS FOOTBALL <br />PARTICIPATION <br />Total Linear (Total) <br />STATE AND NATIONAL HIGH <br />SCHOOL PARTICIPATION RATES <br />ELK RIVER YOUTH ASSOCIATION <br />PARTICIPATION RATES <br />0 <br />50 <br />100 <br />150 <br />200 <br />250 <br />300 <br />350 <br />400 <br />2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 <br />Tackle Football Participation <br />Reported Projected (by Assn) <br />0 <br />50 <br />100 <br />150 <br />200 <br />250 <br />300 <br />350 <br />2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 <br />Flag Football Participation <br />Capped ParƟ cipaƟ on <br />No 2020 <br />Season <br />(COVID) <br />No 2020 <br />Season <br />(COVID)(COVID)