Caitlin Clark effect hasn't reversed the decades-long decline in girls basketball participation

[RandySF]

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Plunging participation in girls basketball led one of Nebraska’s largest high schools to cancel its varsity team for the year.

The decision by Grand Island Senior High School — the state’s third-largest with more than 2,600 students — reflects a national decline in participation in the girls sport, even as the popularity of women’s basketball behind the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has sent record numbers of fans flocking to arenas or tuning in on TV.

Schools across the country have made similar choices, but that hasn’t made the move any easier for those passionate about Grand Island basketball.

“We’ve seen the train coming. I mean we’ve been sitting on the tracks forever. But frankly, people just didn’t want to do the heavy lifting that was required,” said Jeremy Jensen, a former Grand Island mayor and high school soccer coach who wishes more had been done to build a sustainable girls basketball program.





https://apnews.com/article/girls-high-school-basketball-participation-caitlin-clark-a6976a4e8da83067ae564da5cc6a3b5e

[spooky3]

1. What about the time lag? The CC-AR effect took place in 23-24.

It takes years for kids to see something like that and want to follow through. Let’s see participating rates—with good school and parental support—in 10-15 years.

[RandySF]

2. Some more detail.

The problems in Grand Island and elsewhere run much deeper than a losing record.

In some communities it can be hard for girls to find opportunities to compete and learn the game when they are young. Many families can’t afford to invest the thousands of dollars and countless hours required to play club basketball to prepare them to compete in high school, putting them behind in development.

As teams get competitive earlier and earlier, girls might quit the sport if they are cut in grade school.

Families in Grand Island who want their kids to compete at the highest levels of club sports must drive about two hours twice a week to Lincoln or Omaha for practices and again on the weekends for tournaments if they are not traveling farther to other cities.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Girls' B-Ball Is Hot Here

NE Illinois.
I've been subbing in HS & JH for 6 years now.
The girls' game was something my whole time, but I've seen an uptick in both interest & pride the last couple years.
And, in a few towns around here, they have organized school teams for 4th & 5th grade.
So, the players have a couple years under their belt before 6th grade.
The middle school right by my house has about 110 kids per grade. So, call it 55 girls.
The 6th grade team had 26 they out for 12 spots. Don't know about the other 2 grades. I was talking to the 6th grade coach, so that's how I found out.
I see picture of girls' games in the weekly newspapers in the towns around here.
I think that's pretty cool.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. It's also very big

in Tennessee and Virginia. Quite a bit of AAU activity there.