News Summary
Seven high schools in Iowa have suspended or canceled their football seasons due to low participation rates and safety issues among players. Schools like Lone Tree and Rockford canceled their seasons before playing any games, while others paused their activities after facing significant challenges, including low roster numbers. This development highlights growing concerns about the sustainability of high school football programs in the state, as schools prioritize the well-being of student-athletes amid declining interest in the sport.
Des Moines, Iowa – The football seasons for seven Iowa high schools have been suspended or canceled this fall due to issues surrounding low participation and safety concerns among student-athletes. The schools affected by these decisions include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail.
Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton made the decision to cancel their seasons prior to playing any games. Siouxland Christian canceled its season after participating in just one game, where the team suffered a heavy loss with a halftime score of 60-0. The defending eight-player champion, Remsen-St. Mary’s, has paused its season along with Highland and Mormon Trail, with indications they may look to resume games later in the fall.
The primary factors leading to these cancellations and pauses are low roster numbers and safety concerns for the student-athletes involved. Siouxland Christian faced particular challenges with only 16 players on its roster, prompting the decision to cancel the season as the safest option for the health and well-being of the athletes. Previously, Siouxland Christian’s football team had poor seasons, finishing with identical records of 1-8 in the past two years.
Remsen-St. Mary’s started the current season with a roster of 17 players, including only three upperclassmen, after losing 10 seniors to graduation. The team encountered additional difficulties with injuries, ultimately resulting in forfeiting two games after losing their initial two matchups. The coach noted that only 11 players were available for the most recent game, further exacerbating the team’s challenges.
Highland’s coach made a significant decision to resign, advocating for season cancellation in light of safety issues, as the team dwindled to just 13 healthy players. Concurrently, an assessment of remaining player numbers is being undertaken for Remsen-St. Mary’s with a target date in mind to possibly resume their season, contingent on having enough players.
Moreover, Des Moines Hoover High School has also announced its intent to not field a football team for the upcoming 2025 season because of low participation rates. To ensure that interested students still have the opportunity to play, they will be allowed to join the football program at Des Moines Roosevelt. The principal of Hoover High highlighted that this decision was rooted in concerns over the safety and overall interest in the program.
Hoover’s football team has struggled significantly in recent seasons, finishing with a record of 0-9 over the last two years, which included losses of large margins on average. In light of this, head coach Theo Evans is transitioning into an assistant role with the coaching staff at Dallas Center-Grimes, signaling further changes within the Hoover football program.
The development of canceling or pausing seasons at these schools illustrates the broader issues currently impacting high school football in Iowa, focusing on the well-being of student-athletes amid declining participation rates and safety considerations. As some schools aim to assess their player numbers in hopes of resuming their seasons, the situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding the sustainability and safety of high school football programs across the state.
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Additional Resources
- KCRG: Iowa High School Football Programs Canceled or Paused
- KCCI: Seven Iowa High Schools Cancel or Pause Varsity Season
- WHO13: Hoover High School Explores New Opportunities
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
- Google Search: Iowa High School Football Participation Levels
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