Football Participation Fell 21% From 2008-13; Rugby, Lacrosse Up
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Participation in tackle football fell 21.1 percent from 2008-2013, while rugby and lacrosse experienced the biggest gains, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Participation in rugby grew 81 percent during that time, while lacrosse saw a 65.9 percent boost, according to the Silver Spring, Maryland-based organization’s U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report. Baseball participation fell 14.5 percent, and basketball dropped 9.3 percent.