Northshore to Change Junior High Football Program

Football may look different in the Northshore School District next year. For one, players will be bigger, on average. For another, they’ll be older. Why? Changes in the program eliminate 8th graders in favor of creating a freshman team, according to Christopher Bigelow, director of student services for the district.

The proposal—the district is still working on the details—will have coaches from the feeder high schools go to one designated junior high campus to coach a 9th grade football team. The idea is to ensure athletes coming into high school football are prepared.

“The main concern is the safety of our athletes,” Bigelow wrote in a statement. “Football is a contact sport with a high probability of injuries.  Finding coaches with the necessary football coaching experience to develop new incoming athletes has been an ongoing struggle for the district. When coupled with inexperienced players, and a lack of quality coaching there is liability to the health and well-being of the participating student athletes.”

Basically, the district is moving the football program to the high school level. According to Bigelow, in the last few years the district has seen a growing number of younger athletes and parents preferring the community junior league program to the district’s junior high schools.

“The community league is doing a great job of building an attractive program, growing and teaching proper techniques to young talent,” Bigelow stated.

The risk of serious injury is lessened with all three high schools having quality, devoted medical staff on site during practices and games to deal with the health risks that are associated with playing football, according to Bigelow. Freshmen will gain an additional year of experience in competing at a higher level of competition and receive the proper coaching and training of the correct techniques from an experienced qualified coaching staff, as well as a better understanding of the high school football system, he said.

The changes are expected to take effect in the 2011-2012 school year.