Amateur Football in 2025: The Tale of Two Realities
In the year 2025, the world of amateur football resembles Charles Dickens’ famous line from “A Tale of Two Cities” more than ever before. From college athletics to high school sports, the landscape is a mix of the best and worst times, leaving stakeholders scrambling for solutions. Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like everyone involved – parents, coaches, athletes, and fans – has a story to tell. Whether you’re looking to write a book, start a podcast, or get involved in court cases that are still up in the air, there’s no shortage of material to work with.
Chaos and confusion seem to be the order of the day, with future Hall of Fame coach Matt Logan of Corona Centennial summing it up as “all crazy.” Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like football isn’t necessarily in a crisis, but more like it’s stuck in a black hole with no clear way out. The rules surrounding name, image, and likeness (NIL) are still up in the air, leading to a situation where college programs are not only paying their own athletes but also high school recruits. Everyone is left trying to adapt on the fly, with parents turning to agents to navigate the ever-changing landscape. Agents are even showing up at high school camps, looking for potential clients. It’s a mad scramble, with the college transfer portal and a similar phenomenon in high school resulting in a staggering 17,000 students switching schools in California alone last year.
The NIL rules are still a work in progress, so it’s a game of rolling your eyes and expecting the unexpected. Some elite high school players are even reclassifying their graduation years to capitalize on money-making opportunities. And if that wasn’t enough, some parents are holding their children back from entering high school to ensure they’re bigger, stronger, and faster when they finally make their debut as a 16-year-old freshman. It’s all legal and somewhat logical, but the changing landscape is fraught with both pros and cons and a fair share of bad actors. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like the focus on scholarships and NIL money might be overshadowing the true essence of sports – the love of the game. Coach Logan echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that sports should be about learning to lead, working as a team, and enjoying the experience, rather than just chasing after scholarships and endorsements.
