Why is participants in softball dropping?

[SoftballBomb]

Why is participants in softball dropping in the United Starts? I would imagine if the overall participants is dropping at all levels that Recreational girls softball leagues, club ball, high school and travel softball participation is dropping as well.

year - millions

2006 11.28
2007 11.83
2008 12.15
2009 11.16
2010 10.82
2011 9.6
2012 10.47
2013 9.37
2014 9.5
2015 9.57
2016 10.16
2017 9.59
2018 9.69

 

[jt7663]

Hey SoftballBomb - Cmon Man .............. Starting to come off as a Scammer Not sure what your up to other than too much time on your hands.

 

[tourn_director]

I believe the drop is mostly do to the fact that adults are no longer playing slow pitch. I went to Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association meetings in the early 2000s and they were very concerned then by the downward trend in the numbers. What boosted the manufacturers was the rise in girls fast pitch teams/tournaments as well as same for boys baseball. Those teams spend a lot more on bats, gloves, balls, etc than the typical rec team in chasing their scholarship dreams.

Here is the link to an article written in 2011 which gives a pretty good explanation. This article pretty much describes the situation today in Beavercreek where the number of slowpitch teams playing has dropped from 100 in 2004 to about 40 today.

https://www.athleticbusiness.com/Re...ion-decline-challenges-rec-professionals.html

 

[SoftballBomb]

Hey SoftballBomb - Cmon Man .............. Starting to come off as a Scammer Not sure what your up to other than too much time on your hands.

Hey if you replied to this post the master plan is working. We believe participation of softball dropping is very important and was wonder why it’s happening.

 

[PaulP]

I don’t have any stats, but the popularity of volleyball is a factor. Volleyball (and basketball) is easier to play year-round, but the biggest reason is that volleyball is more organized and every team/organization follows the same rules.

 

[HITTER23]

Softball was dropped from the Olympics after 2008, popularity numbers started going down right away. There was female sports role models they could emulate and strive to be, girls all wanted to wear Jennie Finches no. 27. Now, they have no one like that to look up to.

 

[DanMaz]

Why is participants in softball dropping in the United Starts? I would imagine if the overall participants is dropping at all levels that Recreational girls softball leagues, club ball, high school and travel softball participation is dropping as well.

year - millions

2006 11.28
2007 11.83
2008 12.15
2009 11.16
2010 10.82
2011 9.6
2012 10.47
2013 9.37
2014 9.5
2015 9.57
2016 10.16
2017 9.59
2018 9.69

are these numbers straight fastptich numbers or.... slow pitch.. co -ed, rec ball all included? i bet it is not straight fastptich players. I dont believe fastpitch participation has dropped that much over the last few years. in fact since i have been involved i think it has grown more than the opposite. Where do these numbers come from?

 

[SoftballBomb]

Participants in fast-pitch softball in the United States from 2011 to 2018.

year - millions
2018 2.3
2017 2.31
2016 2.47
2015 2.46
2014 2.42
2013 2.5
2012 2.62
2011 2.4

 

[DanMaz]

thats more like it... pretty level stats. but where are these stats coming from? It looks to me like an online survey.... not sure who they surveyed but i guess its close to actual.

www.statista.com must be where your getting your info. ?