The Jeannette Midget Athletic Association football program is finding it harder than ever to field a full team, with each age group now limited to roughly six players, far short of the 11 needed for a standard squad.
The decline mirrors broader demographic trends in the borough; census data shows the population has slipped by nearly a thousand residents over the past decade, falling from 9,654 in 2010 to 8,780 in 2020, while enrollment at Jeannette City School District has dropped from over a thousand students in 2020 to just 940 this year.
Long‑time volunteers Dan Cooper, who has served as both president of the association and head coach for about 40 years, and Gabby Clever, the assistant cheer coordinator with roughly 12 years of experience, have watched the numbers dwindle while fielding concerns from parents on social media.
Looking for a Way Forward
Cooper has proposed converting the tackle program to a flag format as a way to broaden appeal and keep the league alive, a move that could also ease safety worries that have been voiced online.
The season’s first camp kicks off on Monday, with the inaugural game scheduled in four weeks, and organizers are preparing contingency plans to merge squads if necessary, ensuring that the children who do show up still get to play.