In what it calls a “first of its kind” survey of attendance figures for high school sports nationwide, the National Federation of State High School Associations reported last week that more spectators attend high school basketball and football events than attend events in those sports at the professional and college levels combined.

During the 2009-10 school year, approximately 336 million spectators attended high school regular-season and playoff games in boys and girls basketball and football, which is more than 2 ½ times the total for those sports at the professional and college levels.

Attendance at events in the 16 most popular participation sports exceeded 500 million during the 2009-10 school year.  This included approximately 468 million during regular season and 42 million for state association playoff contests.

More details can be found at nfhs.org; but the only point I wish to make now is that – even though battled and bruised by attacks from all sides – school sports remains widely and deeply popular.  It’s an American tradition like nowhere else in the world; and it’s helping to strengthen schools, students and communities of all kinds and in all places.  We chop and change these programs at great peril to the health of our nation.