Hi all, I'm from California and I wondered what's the most popular sport amongst high school students here? Do we have a unique sport culture compared to other states?
The most popular sport can vary by region within the state, so it might be helpful to look at some statewide data for perspective. In California, the two most popular high school sports, based on participation counts, are typically football for boys and soccer for girls.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, in recent years a large number of California high school boys participate in football, while girls tend to gravitate toward soccer. However, over the last decade, participation in football has been slightly decreasing, presumably due to increased awareness and concern over player safety and concussions, while soccer's popularity continues to grow.
As for whether California has a unique sports culture compared to other states, the answer is somewhat yes. The state's significant size and diverse geography contribute to a diverse array of sports being popular at the high school level. For example, surfing and beach volleyball are more popular in coastal regions of California compared to other landlocked states. Mountain sports like skiing and snowboarding might also find a bit more popularity in certain regions of the state with access to snow-capped mountains.
All in all, the specific popularity would depend on the specific region in California, but generally speaking, football for boys and soccer for girls tend to draw the highest participation.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.