www.cifstate.org

State Media
Release

State CIF Office 1320 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 140, Alameda, CA94502
Phone: 510-521-4447������ Fax: 510-521-4449

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Contact:Emmy Zack, Director of Communications

Date:Thursday, June 30, 2005���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� [email protected]

 

2005 CIF PARTICIPATION SURVEY SHOWS INCREASE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

ALAMEDA � The number of boys and girls participating in high school athletics in California has increased by nearly 25,000 athletes, according to the 2005 CIF Sports Participation Survey. The survey, conducted by the CIF and completed by member schools, is part of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) nationwide survey that measures the number of students competing in sports across the country.

Despite the state�s ongoing budget crisis, the survey shows a total of 676,968 high school student-athletes are participating in sports, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2003, the last time the CIF conducted such a survey. Single-gender numbers for both boys and girls are also at all-time highs after increases of 4.3% and 3.0%, respectively, from two years ago. There are 398,684 boys participating in sports, an increase of 16,576 from two years ago. Meanwhile, an additional 8,059 girls have become active, bringing the total to 278,284.

�I am encouraged by the overall increases in participation as compared to our 2003 survey. These increases are a direct reflection of the extent to which school boards, administrators, parents and students value the benefits of educational athletics,� said Marie M. Ishida, CIF Executive Director. �Now, more than ever, we must continue to promote the values and life skills that can be learned through participation in high school sports.

�As we review these statewide participation numbers, we must recognize and applaud our local school board and school site leadership. During these challenging fiscal times, so many of our member schools and school districts continue to maintain and, indeed, grow athletic opportunities for our students.�

Based on number of participants, football remains the most popular sport for boys with 99,079 players, a 3.7% increase since the last survey in 2003. With more than 3,500 athletes (8.9%) from two years ago, and a current participation total of 45,038, track and field moves from fourth place to second among boys. Basketball (42,061) remained in third place. Among the top 10 sports by participation, swimming/diving enjoyed the highest percentage increase at 11.7%, followed closely by cross country at 11.3%.

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2004-05 CIF Participation Survey
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Soccer, which picked up more than 2,000 players (5.8%) since 2003, retains its position as the most popular sport for girls with 37,424 participants. Track and field (36,113) remains in second place while volleyball (34,015) jumps into third place. Among the top 10 sports by participation, cross country saw the largest increase by percentage among girls at 9.3%. Golf (7.7%) and water polo (7.5%) also enjoyed significant percentage increases.

A list of participation by sport follows. Only CIF-approved sports are listed individually.

2004-05 PARTICIPATION CHART

SPORT

BOYS

1998

BOYS
2001

BOYS
2003

BOYS
2005

GIRLS
1998

GIRLS
2001

GIRLS
2003

GIRLS
2005

Badminton

3,387

3,572

3,627

3,521

4,462

4,722

4,929

4,500

Baseball

40,102

42,942

41,392

40,676

412*

826*

662*

417*

Basketball

39,846

42,267

41,784

42,061

30,979

33,831

33,912

33,596

Cross Country

18,668

19,593

 

20,465

22,782

14,245

16,060

 

16,618

18,159

Field Hockey

12

36

 

36

52

2,111

2,629

 

2,170

2,952

Football 11-player

91,301

97,236

 

95,504

99,079

200

313*

236*

253*

Football 8-player

1,280

1,263

 

1,129

1,623

0

0

 

0

1*

Football 9-player

190

246

 

251

166

0

0

 

0

0

Football 6-player

9

82

 

96

47

1*

55*

 

3*

30*

Golf

10,783

11,990

11,764

11,459

1,447

4,588

5,547

5,972

Gymnastics

12

19

91

3

1,230

1,260

859

896

Lacrosse

 

 

2,240

3,608

 

 

1,834

2,286

Skiing

390

582

414

617

243

389

222

432

Soccer

35,537

38,053

38,501

39,453

30,222

34,663

35,380

37,424

Softball

580

1,129

963

456

28,979

31,992

30,118

30,055

Swimming and Diving

14,687

15,685

 

15,731

17,579

25,157

24,596

 

23,255

24,508

Tennis

15,380

15,804

16,716

17,238

17,383

18,812

19,496

19,847

Track and Field

39,262

40,843

 

41,349

45,038

29,682

33,153

 

34,378

36,113

Volleyball

11,660

13,326

12,156

13,133

30,879

34,194

32,756

34,015

Water Polo

10,725

11,411

11,500

12,570

9,487*

12,257*

12,185*

13,099*

Wrestling

23,163

24,326

22,007

23,318

494*

752*

957*

1,230*

Other

 

 

1,103

1,663

 

 

726

756

Total

356,974

**386,248

**382,108

**398,684

227,613

**271,214

**270,225

**278,284

*Whenever a school provides only a team for boys in a particular sport, girls are permitted to qualify for the �student� team (s). **Note: As part of the National Federation survey, the CIF measures participation in all sports and activities. The above list does not comprise all sports/activities sponsored by schools and required in the NFHS survey.

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2004-05 CIF Participation Survey
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2004-05 CIF MOST POPULAR SPORTS

 

BOYS

����������������������������������������� Sport��������������������������������� Participants���������������� % Increase (since 2003)

1.      Football (11-player)���������� 99,079������������������������ 3.7������

2.      Track & Field������������������� 45,038������������������������ 8.9

3.      Basketball������������������������� 42,061������������������������ 0.7

4.      Baseball���������������������������� 40,676������������������������ -1.7

5.      Soccer������������������������������� 39,453������������������������ 2.5

6.      Wrestling�������������������������� 23,318������������������������ 6.0

7.      Cross Country������������������� 22,782 ����������������������� 11.3

8.      Swimming/Diving������������� 17,579������������������������ 11.7

9.      Tennis������������������������������� 17,238������������������������ 3.1

10.  Volleyball������������������������� 13,133������������������������ 8.0

 

GIRLS

����������� ����������������������������� Sport��������������������������������� Participants���������������� % Increase (since 2003)

1.      Soccer������������������������������� 37,424������������������������ 5.8

2.      Track & Field������������������� 36,113������������������������ 5.0

3.      Volleyball������������������������� 34,015������������������������ 3.8

4.      Basketball������������������������� 33,596������������������������ -0.9

5.      Softball����������������������������� 30,055������������������������ -0.2

6.      Swimming/Diving������������� 24,508������������������������ 5.4

7.      Tennis������������������������������� 19,847������������������������ 1.8

8.      Cross Country������������������� 18,159������������������������ 9.3

9.      Water Polo������������������������ 13,099������������������������ 7.5

10.    Golf���������������������������������� 5,972�������������������������� 7.7