The National Federation of State High School Associations released its Participation Survey for the 2009-10 school year.
Participation in high school sports reached a record number of 7,628,377 studen athletes. The number is based on figures from the 50 state high school athletic and activity associations, plus the District of Columbia, that are members of the NFHS.
More than half (55.1%) of the nation's high school students participate in high school athletics.
"It is a significant achievement for our member state associations that in these difficult economic times, student participation increased for the 21stt consecutive year," NFHS Executive Director Bob Gardner stated in a press release. "This reinforces the values that high school sports provide as part of the education of our students. The NFHS actively promotes participation in, and support for, the programs throughout the nation."
Illinois had 344,257 high school student-athletes last school year, which is fourth-highest in the nation following Texas (780,721), California (771,465) and New York (379,677).
Over one million athletes participated in 11-man football (1,109,278), the leading sport for male participation. Track and field was the girls' most participated sport (469,177).
Basketball remains the sport with the most number of schools offering. There are 17,969 boys basketball teams in the nation, and 17,711 girls basketball teams in the nation.
-Cody
