News Summary

This fall, seven high schools in Iowa have either canceled or paused their varsity football seasons due to low participation rates and safety concerns. Schools such as Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton made early cancellations, while others like Remsen-St. Mary’s and Highland are hoping to resume their seasons later. The decisions reflect broader trends affecting high school athletics, emphasizing the need for schools to prioritize student-athletes’ health and safety as participation numbers decline across the state.

Seven Iowa High School Football Teams Cancel or Pause Seasons Due to Low Participation and Safety Concerns

In Iowa, the varsity football seasons for seven high schools have been either canceled or paused this fall, reflecting a concerning trend of low participation rates and player safety concerns. The schools affected include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail.

Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton made the decision to cancel their seasons before any games were played. Siouxland Christian had a brief season, participating in only one game, where they trailed significantly at halftime, prompting them to cancel their season immediately following that game. The remaining schools, including Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland, and Mormon Trail, have decided to pause their seasons, with hopes of potentially resuming later in the fall as player numbers stabilize.

The cancellation and pauses have been predominantly attributed to low participation numbers and specific health and safety concerns. For instance, Siouxland Christian’s football team had minimal participation, with only 16 players on their roster. The decision to cancel was seen as a proactive measure to protect student-athletes’ health and well-being. In previous seasons, Siouxland Christian struggled, recording a 1-8 record in each of the past two years before cancellation.

Remsen-St. Mary’s, the 2024 eight-player champion, entered the current season with only 17 players, including just three upperclassmen. Having graduated 10 seniors from the prior year, the team faced injuries that led to the forfeiture of two games after losing their first two matchups. Their coach highlighted the alarming situation, noting that the number of players available for a recent game had dwindled to just 11.

In another notable case, Highland’s head coach resigned amid safety concerns, as his team had fallen to only 13 healthy players. There are ongoing efforts to reassess player numbers for Remsen-St. Mary’s, with a potential target for resuming play by a set date, should sufficient players return or new participants join.

The situation is not limited to just these schools. Des Moines Hoover High School announced it will not field a football team for the upcoming 2025 season due to low participation and similar safety concerns. The students from Des Moines Hoover will have the option to join the Des Moines Roosevelt football program instead. This decision comes in light of Hoover’s struggles over recent seasons, culminating in a winless 0-9 record and an average significant loss margin during the last two years.

The challenges faced by these football programs are indicative of a larger trend impacting high school athletics across Iowa and the nation. As such decisions to cancel or pause seasons continue, schools are being urged to evaluate their sports programs not only for participation but also for the overall safety and well-being of their student-athletes.

As this situation unfolds, the affected schools, their administrations, and local communities are tasked with navigating these changes while prioritizing the health and safety of students amidst deeper discussions about the future of high school athletics in Iowa.

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Additional Resources

• KCRG: Iowa High School Football Programs Canceled or Paused
• KCCI: Seven Iowa High Schools Cancel or Pause Varsity Season
• WHO13: Hoover High School Explores New Opportunities
• Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
• Google Search: Iowa High School Football Participation Levels

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