It’s backyard football.
That’s the claim that many make when trying to downplay the sport of 6-man football. But for communities in states like Nebraska and Texas, 6-man football is more than just a backyard game. It’s an exciting event that brings all those in their small community together, while instilling the values of teamwork and community in the players.
Currently, there is a drastic number of high school football programs in the state of South Dakota that struggle to even put together a team large enough to field 9-man teams. Here is a tweet by Matt Kerney of Fox Sports Rapid City that shows just how few some of these programs have:
Those numbers are too low to field a team comfortable or even realistically. These minuscule numbers show that many schools across the state are a few injuries away from failing to schedule a team, and spending that much time on the field can greatly increase significant injury probability.
So even with these numbers, many ask “why can’t they co-op, similar to Menno/Marion and Scotland, or Tripp-Delmont-Armour and AC/DC?”
Well, there a few schools that are simply too far away from another school for this to be feasible. Bison joined a co-op with Harding County this season, and those 7 freshman have to make the 55 mile trip to practice. Those trips are not sustainable.
So what is the solution? 6-man football.
6-man football currently played in the nearby state of Nebraska, with 35 teams joining the classification this year. It had an interesting start, first as an unsanctioned league that no more than 8-12 teams joined. Now, it has grow exponentially and the state association recognizes the league as Class D6.
South Dakota could have the same start, especially as an unsanctioned league. We have already seen something similar with the All-Nations League, and a 6-man classification could be in the same mold.
I know, 6-man sounds goofy. It sometimes doesn’t even sound like football. But I have been to a 6-man game before, and I will tell you, the players are just as excited, the fans are just as loud, and the game is still hard-hitting good ole’ football. It also allows kids the opportunity to play the sport that we love that normally wouldn’t have the ability.
And isn’t that what high school sports are all about? To embrace around your community, and provide the youth in your community the opportunities that they may have not had?
I think 6-man is coming to South Dakota, and will be beneficial to the communities that embrace it. Now, we just need a few schools to take the brave step towards the sport.