[FBALL]

Yeah I think the lower numbers is the penalty you pay for having combined teams, compared to when there used to be 4 JFL teams. I remember having almost 50 players on my freshman team. That was basically everyone in my grade.

However, combining the teams earlier has its benefits, such as players get into their positions earlier and learn those positions @ a younger age. Where used to you might have 7 or 8 backs in a class from JFL, but realistically 4 of them might see time. So those other players have to learn new positions and it sets them back a year imo.

I think you hit the nail on the head in this one.

It has dropped the numbers. One of the things I think that has kept Russell as a traditional power is those numbers. For a school Russell's size they have usually had more quality players and more depth than most schools their size. This was a direct result of alot of kids getting alot of playing time in JFL.

Right now not as many kids are playing and it is begining to be felt at the high school level. The JFL needs reevaluate what it is there for and go back to four teams with more players learning and being developed. They may not all be starters or even play much but it does provide alot of depth for special teams and backups later on down the road.