Moving some discussion to this thread.
B-oldtimer wrote:We have better get used to schools having hard time fielding teams in the near future. The numbers of old where schools of this size can field a team are changing. Parents, kids, and even community at large is changing its attitude on football based on latest findings on injuries suffered from football. The Grand Forks Herald just had article on Larimore with their numbers this year for 9 man football they are down two reserves because of injuries and low participation numbers. They then went on to say that they are to return to 11 man football next year but because of numbers they are going to play 9 man independent schedule for next year. There neighboring school Midway/Minto also opted this year to 6 man football team. I think were just see the beginning of number of schools fighting to keep football viable sport in the future. This is not just happening here in North Dakota its happening all over the nation. I don't know how football is going to change to alleviate these fears but if nothing is done participation number will continue to decline.
Larimore will have low numbers no matter what next year, but having to include Emerado in their 7-10 male enrollment hurts them. Emerado is a K-8 school, but more than half of those kids end up going to GFC. Even if they could exclude Emerado they'd still have 11 man enrollment numbers.
Class B wrote:Perhaps we are destined for a revamped 4 class system. Class A, Class B 11 man, Class B 9 man and 6 man. Class B 11 man would be a consolidated AA and A as we currently know it with the top half of A teams staying 11 and the bottom half going 9 man.
I think there is always going to be 3 classes of 11 man.