Just how big is HS football?

[Britrock]

OK, being from England, I have no idea how big High School football is in the States, so I've got a few questions:

Is there any recruiting going on (or do kids pick certain HS's because of football)?

How big are the crowds?

How much money do you get to spend from the school?

How much sponsorship is there, if any?

Do you all have brilliant facilities on the school site or close by (pitch, bleachers, changing rooms, training ground etc etc)?

Do you have (or can you get a hold of easily) all the equipment you want/need?


I'm just interested to compare it to the university league over here, to see if there are any similarities (no point comparing it to the almost professional setup of NCAA).

[senatorblutarsky]

OK, well, I'll try to help out... Keep in mind a lot of this depends on what state someone is in, what size school, how important it is locally, etc. For example, we have a great situation for a small school. We play some schools that have horrible facilities (ex: the film "tower" is scaffolding or an old school bus next to the field, where we have a 5 room heated press box, with 2 film towers on top)

Is there any recruiting going on (or do kids pick certain HS's because of football)? Here (Nebraska) recruiting is not leagl, though there have been accusations (mostly at the private schools). With open enrollment, some students do opt for another school because of sports. I'm sure there is some discussion about coming over to a school... most likely done by parents/boosters and not coaches.

How big are the crowds? For us, we generally get 800-2000. The town itself is about 1000...so it is pretty good usually.

How much money do you get to spend from the school?
We raise some of our own... we get $3100, raise another $3000-4000 and get some in donations. (I project 25 on the 9-12 roster next year)

How much sponsorship is there, if any? Quite a bit for us, most busineses in town help in some way. We have also received help on large items (scoreboards, etc.) from Pepsi.

Do you all have brilliant facilities on the school site or close by (pitch, bleachers, changing rooms, training ground etc etc)? We have a very nice field- no "locker room" area there now. The school is 6 blocks from the field. At halftime, we meet in the endzones.

Do you have (or can you get a hold of easily) all the equipment you want/need? Unless it is unnecessary, we can usually get what we need. For example, we needed a new press box 2 years ago... we raised the money in 4 months.

[toprowguy]

How important is high school football??

[airman]

lets just say owners of shops and stores close early so they can get to the game on friday night.

you could rob the bank, as every one is at the game.

not that big schools do not have town spirit. it just seems different, espically in the midwest were I am from. small towns, there is usually nothing to do, so most of the h.s. kids are at the games, with there painted faces and school colors on. the games are big, especially against the next town over which is usually your rival.
some schools even have trophy games like the little brown jug, where you play for the jug and you get to keep it at your school for a whole year. it is a since of pride and you get to one up the other team.

there is nothing better then walking out on to the field on a friday night in early fall. it is still sort of warm out, but you can see the wet due on the grass, maybe some steam rising from the turf.

the smell of popcorn, hotdogs is in the air. the band is getting ready, the stands are filling up.
people walk by saying good luck coach. you are nervous inside, but those nerves will go away once the ball is kicked off.

you head to the locker room, one last prep session with your players. you talk to them about what needs to be done.
you are at home so are your in your locker room, painted school colors, weight room next door. kids put in there game uniforms.

you gather round, one last round of instruction before you run out the locker room doors and onto the field. the band will be playing, fans will be cheering.

oh is it so addicting. I am not sure you can understand it, unless you come over and experience it.

best week is always homecoming week.


our locker room and weight room are right next to the football field. the field is on site.

[saintrad]

hmmm.,... we are the 6th largest HS in New Mexico, town population of 22000, plus another 250000 on the reservation.

Avergage home attendance for a 4-6 team: 8000

[brophy]

In America, High School football is the last true legitimate Male Rite of Passage for a teenage boy.