How many players does it take to field a high school football team? That seems to be a question we are running into year in and year out among small Class A high schools. Actually the question should be how many players does it take to safely field a high school football team? From my perspective safety plays a big part in everything we do.

On the job, at school or playing sports the number one priority is safety. Nothing should come before the health and safety of the children. After talking with three different veteran coaches who understand the importance of fielding a team where you can substitute freely and give kids a break when it’s too hot or when they get tired, we came up with a number of 18 players minimum for Class A schools and 30 minimum at the larger schools. Some of our local schools are having (no fault of their own) to try and play competitively against schools with 30-40 kids with a team of 14-15 players and in some cases even less.

Recent injuries which resulted in cancellations, supports the 18 player minimum. It would be a good rule for the WVSSAC to consider. Fielding a football team is great if you have the kids, but doing so with low numbers knowing that there is a substantial risk of injury or even worse, should never happen.

Sports injuries are going to happen! You take that risk when you join a team. You as an athlete work as hard as you can to get in condition to avoid injuries, but even at the highest level of sports they occur. Zero injuries are impossible in sports. Even with the least physical teams like golf or swimming, there are injuries.

As a parent you should look at the numbers before allowing your kids to take the risk of receiving a serious injury they could carry with them the rest of their life. Math teachers will tell you numbers are hard to understand. Many can’t understand how a small number can be greater than a large number. For example four is larger than two, so how can one fourth be smaller than one half. The logic is understandable but in reality when counting players on a team it is always better to have more than less.

Football is a cherished part of many high school students’ teenage years, it’s a beloved American pastime. Throughout the country the average high school football team consists of around 40-50 players. The goal is to provide a safe and enriching experience for student-athletes while promoting the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.

With the physical demands of football, it’s essential for teams to have depth at every position so coaches can rotate players in and out to keep them fresh and avoid injuries. A high school football team should have at least two players capable of playing each position, allowing for substitutions and other adjustments throughout the game. Can you imagine how exhausted these athletes are when they have to play every snap? Let’s do all we can to keep the kids safe.

High school football teams serve as a source of pride and unity for their local communities. Games and events bring people together, with a sense of belonging and school spirit. Players have the opportunity to be role models for their schools, representing their communities both on and off the field. While the number of players may vary based on various factors, the essence of the game remains the same, a group of young athletes coming together to pursue a shared passion and create lasting memories. As you look at high school football, remember that the true spirit of the game lies not only in wins and losses, but also dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship.

This past Friday we only had two local football games with Magnolia traveling to River and Hundred hosting Beallsville. Hundred and Magnolia are still searching for a win.

The Valley vs Clay Battelle game was played on Monday night due to threats being made at high schools around the state. While violence can’t always be predicted it can be prepared for. Hopefully we don’t run into threats the rest of the way and we can get back to school and play ball as usual.

This week we have five of our six area teams in action with Hundred having an open date. Paden City is scheduled to host Montcalm in a Saturday afternoon contest on Alumni weekend starting at 1 pm. Magnolia will travel to Cameron on Friday night, while River will host a strong Barnesville team. After a week off Tyler Consolidated will be back in action with an away contest at Petersburg high school.

Tyler Consolidated and Magnolia both have excellent volleyball teams, an early look at both teams gives us a glimpse of two teams we could see in Charleston this year. Also Tyler’s Amos Kimble and Magnolia’s Landen Davis both have a good shot at leading the pact in the Cross Country state meet in early November.