[FBALL]

8th grade has 30 kids or close to it
7th grade has over 25
6th grade has 30 kids.

Since the change of JFL to the current settings with grade ball playing outside the league against other schools we have WON 1 state championship 2005, RUNNER-UP in 2006.
..........2000....2001..2002..2003....2004...2005...2006...2007....over all....win %
Russell...... 8-4 ......7-5 ......11-3.. ..10-3....... 13-1.. ...14-1... ..13-2......11-2........... 87-21....... 80.5%

As you can see after the change, the school record has improved...
Now granted less kids are playing football, but you have to look at these issues:
1. Fall baseball
2. Fall Soccer
3. Fall Travel basketball
4. XBOX360
5. Kids just dont want to play outside anymore. The current kids want to text, email and stay online playing games instead of doing it themselves.

Now if you are saying they dont get enough chances or playing time, at the younger levels. Have the parents STOP complining about playing games during the week and help find a way to get more field time. You will only get as good as the best player, so why be a big fish in a little pond....
NEXT...-

If you look at the winning percentages again: It would seem that we are doing better than most after changing the way our feeder system works.
1. Danville- 84%
2. Male-83%
3.Beechwood- 81.6%
4. NCC- 80.7%
5. RUSSELL- 80.5%
Hard to argue with the results and numbers post change of the feeder program. If anything it seems to be helping the HIGH SCHOOL program.

One last thing:
As most of us on here are either current players or parents of current players, we can agree. .............NOT ALL KIDS WHO PLAY FOOTBALL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL PLAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL......
That is a nice way of saying that as parents we all think our kid is the best and should be playing more, but when they get the opportunity to perform on the field.. well thats the FINAL result. If you only get to play 15 dows a game, you better do something..... if you dont stand out or do your job someone else will..... I have played in the OLD JFL system and it worked THEN. Other than ASHLAND around here we are the only school that still plays INTRA-LEAGUE.. If you see Ashland Football it has been in a decline in the recent past.. is it becasue they went to INTRA-LEAGUE play?????
You tell me...

This is just an opinion and not directed toward anyone.... Not even to FBALL> I still ove ya......

These stats are meaningless. Russell has been consistantly good because for a school its size it has always had very high numbers of kids playing football. It adds depth.

The current format is just now showing its effects. Like I said. look at the current sophmore and freshman classes.

There are alot of kids out right now. That will change though. Weed out to early and you might just throw away a flower.

Ashland just went back to that system because of the very reasons we are discussing. They just made the change last year I believe to get the numbers back up.

Every kid will not keep playing. That is a fact. Every kid is not a super star that is also a fact. The point of this is that the feeder system should be used to develope as many kids AS POSSIBLE. Not just for some adults to have bragging rights over neighboring communities. Right now the developement is not happening, too many kids standing around watching instead of playing, be it practice or a game, and it will effect the Highschool program in years to come. It needs to be a developemental yet still competitive league.