Basketball remained the most popular sport for girls with 452,929 participants, followed by outdoor track and field (439,200), volleyball (390,034), fast pitch softball (369,094), soccer (321,555), cross country (175,954), tennis (173,753), swimming and diving (147,413), competitive spirit squads (98,570) and golf (64,195).
The participation survey has been compiled since 1971 by the NFHS through numbers it receives from its member associations. The complete 2005-06 Participation Survey is available on the NFHS Web site
Competitive spirit squads gained the most female participants in 2005-06 with 14,154, followed by outdoor track and field with 11,002, indoor track and field with 6,265 and cross country with 5,504.
TEN MOST POPULAR GIRLS PROGRAMS
Schools
1. Basketball 17,275 6. Soccer 9,970
2. Track and Field - Outdoor 15,417 7. Tennis 9,816
3. Softball - Fast Pitch 14,710 8. Golf 8,816
4. Volleyball 14,578 9. Swimming and Diving 6,559
5. Cross Country 12,989 10. Competitive Spirit Squads 3,914
Participants
1. Basketball 452,929 6. Cross Country 175,954
2. Track and Field - Outdoor 439,200 7. Tennis 173,753
3. Volleyball 390,034 8. Swimming and Diving 147,413
4. Softball - Fast Pitch 369,094 9. Competitive Spirit Squads 98,570
5. Soccer 321,555 10. Golf 64,195
