Iowa, September 19, 2025
News Summary
Seven high schools in Iowa have decided to cancel or pause their varsity football seasons due to low player participation numbers and safety concerns. Schools like Lone Tree and Siouxland Christian faced severe challenges in fielding teams, leading to their cancellations. Other schools, such as Remsen-St. Mary’s and Highland, have paused their seasons and are assessing player availability before potentially resuming. This situation highlights a national trend concerning declining enrollment and safety issues in high school sports.
Seven Iowa high schools have canceled or paused their varsity football seasons this fall due to low participation numbers and safety concerns. The affected schools include Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland (Riverside), and Mormon Trail.
Lone Tree, Rockford, and Dunkerton made the decision to cancel their seasons before any games commenced. Siouxland Christian, having only managed to field 16 players, canceled its season after playing just one game, which saw them trailing 60-0 at halftime. Meanwhile, the previous year’s eight-player champion, Remsen-St. Mary’s, has paused its season alongside Highland and Mormon Trail, though there are plans to potentially resume games later in the fall.
The primary factors leading to these decisions are low team participation and growing concerns about player safety. With Siouxland Christian’s dwindling roster, the school’s administration concluded that canceling was the most prudent choice to ensure the health and well-being of its student-athletes. Prior to this cancellation, the team recorded a disappointing 1-8 in each of the last two seasons.
At Remsen-St. Mary’s, the season has been fraught with difficulties. Entering this season with only 17 players, including just three upperclassmen, they experienced injuries that forced them to forfeit two games after losing their first two matchups. Their coach pointed out that they only had 11 players available for their last game. The team’s situation is similar to Highland, where the coach resigned to advocate for season cancellation due to safety issues, as the team was left with only 13 healthy players.
Efforts are underway to assess the current remnant player numbers at Remsen-St. Mary’s, with hopes to potentially resume games by a predetermined date. Additionally, Des Moines Hoover High School has announced that it will not field a football team for the upcoming 2025 season due to similar low participation. Students from Des Moines Hoover will be permitted to join the football program at Des Moines Roosevelt High School. The principal of Hoover noted that the decision was driven mainly by safety and interest concerns within the football program, which has struggled significantly in recent seasons, completing both of the last two with a winless record of 0-9 and suffering a substantial loss margin each game.
In light of these developments, head coach Theo Evans at Des Moines Hoover is transitioning roles, moving to an assistant position with the Dallas Center-Grimes coaching staff.
Background Context
The challenges faced by these Iowa high schools highlight a broader trend seen nationwide, where many high school sports programs are grappling with declining enrollment and increasing concerns about player safety. Addressing these issues involves not just the schools, but also parents, the community, and governing bodies that set policies and guidelines for student-athlete participation.
Future Prospects
If the assessment of player numbers at paused teams yields positive results, there remains a chance for some schools to resume play later in the fall, allowing for some competitive action as stakeholders work on stabilizing their football programs for future seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What schools have paused or canceled their football seasons? Seven schools, including Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland, and Mormon Trail, have paused or canceled their seasons.
- What are the main reasons for these cancellations? The primary reasons cited are low participation numbers and safety concerns for the student-athletes.
- Are there any plans for the paused teams to resume their seasons? Yes, there are discussions to assess player numbers, particularly at Remsen-St. Mary’s, with hopes to resume games later in the fall.
- How many players did Siouxland Christian have? Siouxland Christian had only 16 players, which led to the cancellation of their season after one game.
- Will Hoover High School have a football team next season? No, Hoover will not field a football team for the 2025 season, and students can join the Des Moines Roosevelt football program.
Key Features Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Canceled Schools | Lone Tree, Rockford, Dunkerton, Siouxland Christian, Remsen-St. Mary’s, Highland, Mormon Trail |
| Main Reasons | Low participation numbers, safety concerns |
| Siouxland Christian Players | 16 players on roster |
| Remsen-St. Mary’s Players | 17 players on roster |
| Hoover High School Status | No football team for 2025; students can join Roosevelt |
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Additional Resources
- KCRG: Iowa High School Football Programs Canceled or Paused
- KCCI: Seven Iowa High Schools Cancel or Pause Varsity Season
- WHO13: Hoover High School Explores New Opportunities
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
- Google Search: Iowa High School Football Participation Levels
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