Downhill slope remains slippery in terms of girls' basketball participation in Iowa
by Jeff Linder, Cedar Rapids Gazette

Player interest was low, and coaching prospects were slim.

A difficult decision -- a temporary shutdown of the girls' basketball program -- was confirmed late last fall at Central City High School, when a meeting was called to gauge interest among potential players.

Three showed up.

And with that, Central City became one of six schools in Iowa without a varsity girls basketball team this winter, and one of two (Rockford is the other) without the sport in any capacity.

The other four -- Sibley-Ocheydan, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, West Sioux and Charles City -- are playing a non-varsity schedule this winter.

Sibley-Ocheydan is only two years removed from reaching the Class 2A state semifinals. Charles City has roughly 250 girls in grades 9-12.

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It would be an exaggeration to say girls' basketball is dying.

However, it's undeniable that the sport is bleeding.

"It's concerning," said Williamsburg Coach Stephanie Dacey, who -- as Stephanie Rich -- was Miss Iowa Basketball 2001 at Washington (Iowa).

The sport that put Iowa on the map during its six-on-six heyday, girls' basketball has suffered a steady decline for three decades.

Once the undisputed sport of choice among Iowa girls, basketball now ranks No. 4 in participation behind volleyball, track & field and softball.

The 2007-08 school year was the final year that girls' basketball participation in Iowa was above 10,000 (it was 10,031).

In 2023-24, the figure was 6,179, a 16-year drop of 38.4 percent.

In November, The Gazette ran an informal social-media survey, asking schools for a first-day-of-practice number of girls' basketball participants.

The 132 responses reflected more than one-third of the state's schools. The results:

- Eight schools (6.1 percent) had more than 30 girls show up on the first day.

- 19 schools (14.4 percent) reported a number in the high-20s (25-29).

- 28 schools (21.2 percent) reported a number in the low 20s (20-24)

- 50 schools (37.9 percent) reported a number in the high teens (15-19)

- 32 schools (24.2 percent) reported a number in the low teens (10-14)

- And five schools (3.8 percent) reported a number of nine or fewer

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Girls' basketball has traditionally been an uphill climb at Central City. The Wildcats did reach double-digit wins three straight years in a run that ended in 2021-22.

The school is fighting an enrollment challenge, superintendent Leisa Breitfelder said.

"From 2020 to 2024, we're down 70 kids (grades K-12) that live in the district," Breitfelder said. "Counting open-enrollment, we're down 84."

"There are no housing developments, no growth. We need young families. Changing the culture here is a priority."

Along with a shortage of kids is a shortage of coaching prospects. Central City hasn't had an "in-house" coach, one that also teaches in the district, in more than a decade.

Central City lies geographically between two Tri-Rivers Conference rival school districts that have enjoyed massive girls' basketball success.

Springville, a school with similar enrollment to the southeast, has captured four Class 1A state championships since 2008.

North Linn, to the northwest, appears to be on its way to a 15th consecutive season of 20-plus wins. Two of those seasons ended in state titles.

Meanwhile, down the road, 13 miles to the west, Center Point-Urbana has 28 girls out this winter.

"It just depends on the class," CPU coach Philip Klett said. "We have a big senior class. That class started with 12 (as freshmen), and we still have eight, and two of them don't play much.

"Usually, if you don't play, you don't want to stick around, but these kids have stuck around. This is a unique group of kids. Really good kids."

Of the three Central City girls that came to that fateful meeting last fall, only one was interested in playing for another school in a cooperative situation, Breitfelder said.

* * * * *

Basketball's downward trend isn't unique to Iowa.

According to a recent story by the Associated Press, participation in girls high school basketball has dropped nearly 20 percent nationwide in the last 20 years, and the sport has fallen from being the most popular among girls to No. 4 behind volleyball, soccer and track, all of which have seen double-digit surges in participation.

So girls are still playing sports. They're playing sports other than basketball.

The trend isn't just among girls, either.

In the same span -- from 2007-08 to 2023-24 -- in which Iowa girls participation has dropped 38.4 percent, it's down 23.3 percent (13,083 to 10,037) among Iowa boys.

* * * * *

So, why the decline?

"I'm not sure there's any one reason," said Gary Ross, assistant director at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. "I think there are various reasons."

Within basketball circles, club volleyball is a popular scapegoat -- warranted or not -- with its competing winter schedule. A newly sanctioned winter sport, girls wrestling has exploded in popularity.

Dacey said, "I don't think it's fair to just blame club volleyball. Maybe basketball is hurting basketball, too."

"At young ages, you don't see a lot of town ball teams anymore. So there's a big talent gap. If you're not playing in third or fourth grade, you're way behind."

"And you can't hide on the basketball court."

Many of the top female athletes in Eastern Iowa still play basketball and volleyball. That includes Libby Fandel of Cedar Rapids Xavier, Chloe Meester and Sydney Huber of Mount Vernon, Jayden Kuper of Monticello, Brooke Krogmann of West Delaware and Averie Lower of Clear Creek Amana.

"In basketball, a lot of girls don't want to put in the work," said Kuper, who will play basketball at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. "You're running up and down, non-stop. If you want to be a good shooter, you've got to shoot."

"Plus, volleyball is a two-month season, and basketball is four months."

University of Iowa coach Jan Jensen expanded on that: "Basketball is hard. You run a lot, it's physical and it's a long season."

* * * * *

Coaches and administrators agree, one of the most critical barometers to a successful girls' basketball program comes long before high school.

"There have to be the beginnings of a relationship between the head coach and the younger kids, and it can't just be summer camps," Ross said. "The coach and the high school kids have to be connected with the younger kids."

Klett added, "Sometimes, a lot depends on who the youth coach is."

Dacey pointed out that the recreation center at Williamsburg has installed kid-friendly 8-foot rims.

"So we'll lower the rims, use smaller balls and let the music play," she said.

It's the formidable youth -- the elementary and middle-school players mesmerized by Caitlin Clark, Audi Crooks and others -- who might ignite a rebound in participation.

"I'm hopeful," Ross said.

If the so-called "Clark effect" takes hold, it won't be immediate.

"It's going to come from the first-, second-, third-, fourth-, fifth-graders," Jensen said. "It's about fundamentals....dribbling, pivoting, lowering the hoop so they can shoot the right way."

* * * * *

Sports, they say, are cyclical. And while six schools are taking a varsity hiatus this winter, Ross pointed out two schools -- Twin Cedars and River Valley -- are back this season after taking last year off.

Plus, "I think at a skill level, the top level is as good as it's ever been," he said.

As for Central City.....

Breitfelder said that 12 girls played 7th and 8th grade ball this season, and we're hoping to have a JV team next year. We have open-gym opportunities for all of our students."

Who's Participating in What?
Iowa high school participation numbers for 2023-24 in girls' sports

1. Volleyball (11,532)
2. Track & Field (10,053)
3. Softball (7,500)
4. Basketball (6,179)
5. Soccer (5,246)
6. Cross Country (4,141)
7. Tennis (3,478)
8. Golf (3,072)
9. Wrestling (2,935)
10. Swimming & Diving (1,461)
11. Bowling (1,218)
12. Football (67)