![La. HS Sports Participation Rises Despite Recent National Dip](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/07/Eddie-Bonine-twitter-e1469538108294.jpg?w=980&q=75)
La. HS Sports Participation Rises Despite Recent National Dip
For the first time in three decades, participation in high school sports has dropped on the national level. The data comes from a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations. LHSAA President Eddie Bonine says the national trend is not reflected in Louisiana.
“We’ve hovered right around 93,000 students over the course of my tenure here. This year, we are going to be around 96,000, so that is going to be an increase for us,” said Bonine.
The sports that saw the biggest declines were football and basketball.
Among the possible reasons for the decline is the issue of players’ safety, something Bonine says his organization doesn’t take lightly.
“I feel confident with what we’ve got going on right now, not only in football and soccer and other sports where you may see concussions but any of our coaches that are out there in this hot weather we are having,” said Bonine.
The numbers are not a disaster for high school sports as the most recent season had the third-highest number of athletes on record. Bonine believes sportsmanship is a contributing factor that keeps the numbers high locally.
“We’ve taken a hard line on that and will continue to do so, we’re going to work cooperatively with all the school administrations and their resource officers and anybody that is in charge of game management at our venues,” said Bonine.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![FBI Sets Record Straight on Trump Being Hit by Bullet During Assassination Attempt](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2161923127.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![There Are 4 Big Reasons Why Louisiana’s Auto Insurance Rates Are So High](http://townsquare.media/site/182/files/2022/04/attachment-RS47246_GettyImages-480652712-scr1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Forecasters Watching Tropical Disturbance Headed for Gulf of Mexico – Should Louisiana and Texas Be Worried?](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/09/attachment-Hurricane-Nigel.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Fallen Lafayette Police Officer Identified, Remembered as Family Man, Friend, and Protector](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-26T100047.692.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Condolences Pour in for Fallen Lafayette Police Officer Killed in Jeanerette Standoff](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-2024-07-25T202550.435.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nick Saban Calls Former LSU Football Star, Lafayette Native a ‘F-ing Problem’](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-1775238930.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![1 Lafayette Officer Dead, 3 Injured in Hostage Situation in Jeanerette, Louisiana – Suspect Identified](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/03/attachment-Lafayette-Police-Department-Photo-courtesy-of-Lafayette-PD-Facebook.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Unlocking The Secrets Of Crab Shedding: A Cajun Delicacy Revealed](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Softshell-Crabs.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![UPDATE: Sandbags Available Ahead of Potential Flood Event](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2019/07/GettyImages-1022155484-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)