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Number of NFHS Boys and Girls
Tennis Participants
The data in Chart III indicates there were 341,614 participants
in NFHS high school tennis programs during the 2018/2019 academic
year. About 54% were in programs for girls and 46% were in programs
for boys.
During this period, the annualized
rate of growth for total participants was 0.2%. The number of
participants in programs for boys changed by -0.2%, while the
number of participants in programs for girls increased at an
annualized rate of 0.6%.
On average, the number of participants
per program is about 16 for boys and 18 for girls. This number
varies greatly by state and the structure of programs in each
state. For example, Cherry Creek High School in Denver, Colorado
has more than 100 athletes in both the programs for boys and
girls. Smaller schools in the Denver metro area may only have
15 to 25 participants in both categories.
Questions that arise when looking
at Chart III are, "Why are there more participants in programs
for girls?" "Why are the number of participants increasing
for programs for girls but trending downward for programs for
boys?"
Concluding Comments
Tennis will continue to be a popular sport for high school athletes
in the future, despite the nation's declining fertility rate
and the fact that the overall tennis population is stagnant.
The NFHS has a decentralized
structure of governance. This has been both a blessing and a
curse as states have different program structures and rules.
On one hand, state associations can "customize" programs
to meet local needs. On the other hand, it is difficult to standardize
rules or programs that have the potential to benefit the athletes.
Can the various tennis organizations identify ways to further
strengthen high school tennis in all states?
Anecdotal evidence suggests the
value of high school tennis programs is camaraderie; learning
life skills; improving mental, tactical, and physical skills,
and representing their school by playing an individual sport
in a team setting. What distinguishes high school programs from
club and USTA programs? What is the retention rate in high school
programs? Why is participation in high school tennis so much
greater than USTA junior programs, such as Junior Team Tennis?
What efforts are made to keep high school players on the court
after the season ends? How many players continue playing tennis
after graduation? What can the tennis industry learn from high
school tennis?
For over thirty years, the USTA
has provided schools and physical education programs with curriculum,
equipment, and guidelines for stimulating interest in tennis.
Has the USTA's 30+ years of work in this area had a measurable
impact on participation and the quality of coaching in high school
programs? Could the USTA have a greater impact on high school
tennis by providing grants or funding to support the construction
of facilities at secondary schools? Could the USTA have a greater
impact on junior tennis by providing financial support for tennis
programs in elementary and middle schools? Have high school administrators
been given an opportunity to identify factors that would make
tennis more appealing for their athletic programs?
Anyone involved in tennis has
heard horrors stories about the quality of high school tennis
coaching. In fairness to the coaches, the NFHS, PTR, and USPTA
have improved and increased the number of educational opportunities
for high school coaches. As a result, many athletic directors
now have a larger pool of qualified coaches to choose from. In
addition, certified professionals are coaching or assisting many
programs. (Fun fact - there are about 20,000 high school programs
and an equal number of certified professionals. It is theoretically
possible for high school coaches to find certified professionals
to mentor or assist with their programs, if appropriate.) Finally,
coaches in some states have created high school tennis coaching
associations to further strengthen the quality of coaching and
the promotion of the sport. A partial list of associations is
provided at the end of this analysis.
Finally, there are more than
340,000 high school tennis players in the U.S. The TIA has reported
that in 2018 there were 2.40 million junior players ages 6 to
12, 2.24 million players ages 13-to 17, and 17.84 million total
tennis players in the U.S. This means high school tennis players
accounts for about 2% of the total tennis population, 7% of all
junior players, and 15% of the high school age population. Given
the contribution that high school tennis makes to the industry,
these market share numbers seem to be too low. In other words,
the TIA estimates of the size of the junior and adult participation
are most likely overstated.
High school tennis is reminiscent
of the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield - "It don't get
no respect." It deserves greater respect and support from
the industry for its role in getting junior tennis players on
the court. Hats off to the players, coaches, and administrators
who have made high school tennis successful! |
