Around New England

Eight-Man High School Football Teams?

January 16, 2019

Twenty of the 78 high schools in Maine that play football may go to eight-man teams, under a proposal by the football committee of the Maine Principals’ Association.

“The eight-player format seeks to address reduced participation levels, related player safety concerns and competitive imbalance among many of the state’s 78 high school football programs,” reports the Bangor Daily News.

In recent years, some schools in Maine have been fielding teams of 27 players or less. The dearth of players reflects not just enrollments in the schools, but also a lack of interest among boys in playing football.