Sports
Five Massachusetts high school football programs forfeit games as player numbers shrink
Millis/Norfolk, Lexington, Saugus, Quabbin Regional and Manchester Essex have been affected by recent football cancellations tied to small rosters and player-safety concerns. Statewide participation among boys has fallen 18% in a decade, even as Watertown has opened its season 6-0.
Five Massachusetts high school football programs have forfeited games in recent weeks as dwindling rosters and concerns about player safety make it harder to field teams, raising questions about the sport’s future across the state.
Millis/Norfolk, Lexington, Saugus, Quabbin Regional and Manchester Essex are among the schools affected. Some programs hope their cancellations will last only a week or two and that they can return once enough players are healthy to compete safely.
The National Federation of State High School Associations’ latest participation survey shows the number of boys playing high school football in Massachusetts has declined 18% over the past decade.
Matt Noonan, a Massachusetts sports commentator with Noontime Media, said the recent forfeitures reflect a longer-running trend. He pointed to concern about injuries, including concussions, as well as students choosing other sports. The loss of some freshman, junior varsity and middle school programs may also leave fewer players prepared to join varsity teams, he said.
Noonan urged coaches at programs with stable rosters to pay attention to the challenges facing nearby schools, saying the decline can affect teams only a few towns away.
Watertown High School offers a contrasting picture. The Raiders began the season 6-0, one of the program’s strongest starts in recent years. Third-year coach Joey Carroll credited the players’ offseason work and a committed senior group, while noting that participation losses affect even successful teams. The statewide decline represents roughly eight to 10 players Watertown would welcome, he said.
Carroll said Watertown has emphasized player health through safer tackling instruction, recovery and nutrition, and by reducing physical demands as the season progresses. Players wear Guardian Caps at practice, he said.
The program also encourages athletes to play more than one sport. Carroll estimates that 96% of Watertown’s football players participate in at least one other sport, and about 85% compete in three sports.
Carroll said he hopes improved attention to concussion risks and continued support for multi-sport athletes can help bring more students into football. For schools dealing with thin rosters now, the immediate challenge is having enough healthy players to finish the season safely.