Smallest Teams?

[jtdc492]

Wondering who has the least number of kids out for 9-man?

[future star]

dunseith has only about 18 kids.

[ndlionsfan]

I've heard NCB (Leeds/Mwkn) has around 17 out and Maddock only has about 14. In another thread someone said Wilton/Wing had 16 out. This is kind of starting to seem like the norm for many of the 9man teams.

[bballdude101]

wilton/wing now only has i believe 14 or 15, and shiloh only has about the same

[Nodak Guy]

wilton/wing now only has i believe 14 or 15, and shiloh only has about the same

Didn't Shiloh just start their FB program a year or two ago? You would have thought they would have had some type of projection of numbers. Even if it is a private school, they must have some sort of idea as to their future FB numbers. If Wilton/Wing has that small of numbers, how long before they start the 3W's Co-op with Washburn?

[ndlionsfan]

I heard that the three W's talked about a coop before this next 2 yr plan was going to go through, but Washburn was against it because it would have bumped them up to 11man.

[jtdc492]

I heard that the three W's talked about a coop before this next 2 yr plan was going to go through, but Washburn was against it because it would have bumped them up to 11man.

That is true...Pete Moe discussed it with the school board in Washburn, but was decided to hold off for now.
With both schools struggling for numbers something's going to happen this year. That's my prediction.

[old lineman]

If the three W combinme they would have an easier time competeing with the 11 man schools, The 11 man vs 9 man game debate begins. With 11 man it is easier to cover the field than with 4 fewer players in 9 man. They have athletic kids at both schools, but if there is a time you don't numbers can fill holes.

[bballdude101]

its a shame these small towns dying out, wilton who is hurting badly for numbers even got 2 new kids too that are out so i believe there will be a co-op sometime

[ND_Coach]

Strasburg-Zeeland is down to around 15 kids out for FB as well

[GRIDIRON GURU]

I will be the first one to admit that football is a numbers game, the more the better. On the other hand I have seen some 9-man teams go deep into the playoffs with 14-16 kids and I am sure there have been teams with under 20 kids win the state championship a time or two.

Heck I remember some 11-man teams with 16 or so kids make playoff runs.

[bballdude101]

i agree if you have a small group of guys that are hard workers you can go very far, but not having those guys for instance wilton and shiloh who only have about 14 guys they cant even run against a full defense and you cant even see a full defense till a game

[Hinsa]

Are these small rosters because they don't have many boys or because they can't get boys out to play football?

It really takes a mindset from the coach to the kids to parents to the community to get kids out to play football. It has to be an important thing all around to get the numbers you need. It's kinda Catch 22 - you need numbers to have a solid program but you don't get numbers unless you have a solid program that is winning more than losing. Not many like to come out for football knowing you are going to get your face smashed in week in and week out.

[bballdude101]

Are these small rosters because they don't have many boys or because they can't get boys out to play football?

It really takes a mindset from the coach to the kids to parents to the community to get kids out to play football. It has to be an important thing all around to get the numbers you need. It's kinda Catch 22 - you need numbers to have a solid program but you don't get numbers unless you have a solid program that is winning more than losing. Not many like to come out for football knowing you are going to get your face smashed in week in and week out.

this is exactly right!

[GRIDIRON GURU]

Let's face it North Dakota is not Texas where high shcool football rules. You have to win to get kids out and you have to have a coach that the kids respect.

However you do not need to have a full team to practice, if you have low numbers you have to practice smart, you want to keep scrimmages to a minimum, You rep your plays against players at the point of attack and you perfect your techniques with individual drills, and you have coaches and other players run scout squad to show the defense what plays they will be seeing from week to week.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Four Winds with a school population of about 125 have 10 high school kids out for football.

[booyah]

richland has about 20. maybe a couple less.

[old lineman]

Grid iron Guru is correct that you can practice with a small squad, but there is nothing like having the luxury of having your first team run against a good scout squad. The person on the scout squad will learn from playing accross from someone better, the starter will only be pushed as hard as his scout squad will push them. Game type situations and full contact, full speed practice, though that needs to be within limits is thebest learning tool. The demise of football happens when you are only as good as who you practice against.

[Hunterlaf]

parshall has 18 out this year

[freshysoon]

i think that north dakota should have a 6 man football league becasue i serious think more kids would come out for it

[ndlionsfan]

I don't think any more kids would play 6man compared to 9man, but it would be easier for these smaller schools to field teams. Heck, a lot of 9man coops could split up if there was a 6man division and bring some Friday night entertainment back to some towns that haven't had it in awhile.

[homer]

richlanad has 18 or 19 out

[AC-DC]

I don't think any more kids would play 6man compared to 9man, but it would be easier for these smaller schools to field teams. Heck, a lot of 9man coops could split up if there was a 6man division and bring some Friday night entertainment back to some towns that haven't had it in awhile.

You've got a lot of teams that are struggling in 9-man and can't get Co-Ops. These teams are continously at the bottom of the league and provide no competion for the other teams. A 6-man league would help this out. It would probably take a Co-op break-up top to bottom and complete redistribution to make the league respectable.