Following the September 25th homecoming game against Greenwich, varsity football ended its 2026 season early because too few players were available to compete safely. The cause was a small overall roster combined with injuries throughout the season. This document explains the factors behind that decision and the paths forward, so families can take part in the conversation with the same information the District has. No decision has been made.
Where we are
Football requires a large number of healthy, trained athletes on the field at once, and there is no margin when numbers fall. Under NYSPHSAA rules, a team must dress at least 16 players to be eligible to play 11-man football. When injuries or attrition push a roster below that line, the season can't continue, however committed the players and coaches are.
This is not a new concern. In fall 2024, the District was already hearing questions from families about scheduling, roster size and options for the program (see "Questions families have asked" below).
Why numbers are down
Enrollment decline. Like many small and rural New York districts, C-A has fewer students than it did a decade ago. Football draws from boys in grades 9–12. A decline of even a few students per grade can be the difference between a viable roster and an unsafe one.
Small rosters and thin depth. A roster that barely clears the minimum has no depth. Players go both ways, injuries are felt immediately, and younger students may be asked to play beyond their physical readiness. This is a safety concern as well as a competitive one. The last five years rosters sizes:
2026: V-20, M-19;
2025: V-20, M-27 ;
2024: V-18, M-31;
2023: V-22, M-29;
2022: V-24, M-30
Lack of a feeder program. There is no Pop Warner or other youth tackle program in our community. Younger athletes who want to play tackle football must travel to Ravena or Cairo.
Wider trends. This is not unique to C-A. In 2026, several Section II programs moved to 8-man, others merged. Changing family views on contact sports, specialization in other activities, and year-round club options also play a role.
Questions families have asked
Why don't we play the schools our other teams face, such as Chatham, Taconic Hills or Watervliet?
Football schedules are set by classification. Schools are grouped into Classes AA, A, B, C and D, and each class plays within that group. Because classes don't all have the same number of teams, crossover games sometimes occur. In Class C, where C-A competes, East and West divisions were created to balance the schedule.
Why did we play Greenwich and can we schedule our own games or go independent?
Section II sets the schedule for all member schools, the schedule is given to us. Going independent would make it very hard to find opponents because the entire section is already scheduled. The only week a school may arrange its own opponent is Week 1.
Could we drop down a classification?
Yes, but doing so means giving up sectional eligibility. The larger concern is competitive: Class D in Section II has several very strong programs. In 2023, C-A played a crossover game against the Class D team with the weakest record in the section and did not fare well. This option needs careful consideration.
Could we have played JV instead of varsity?
There are real obstacles. Many Class C and D schools in our part of the section don't field JV teams, and the JV programs that exist are mostly in the north, which would mean long travel. Playing JV against larger schools has its own difficulties. A JV team would also have pulled many 9th graders off Modified, leaving the Modified program in the same position the varsity team faces now.
Why did the team play a season when numbers were low?
When the coaching staff raised the possibility of forfeiting a game because of low numbers, the Athletic Director met with administration and the Section II coordinator. Three options were identified and reviewed with the head coach, who discussed them with his staff. The staff chose to play.
The options
Each option has tradeoffs, and the District may pursue a combination over time.
1. Continue 11-man and rebuild. Keep the current format and invest in the pipeline: stronger modified programs, earlier outreach, recruiting within the student body, and building a youth tackle pathway so flag players have a way to transition.
Benefits: preserves the traditional program and identity, with no change to schedule, league or classification.
Challenges: depends on numbers we may not have in the near term, with a risk of another cancelled season and ongoing safety concerns with thin rosters. A new feeder program would take years to show results.
2. Move to 8-man. This is a fully sanctioned NYSPHSAA format played on a smaller field, with a lower minimum of 12 dressed players. Section II added several 8-man teams in 2026, including Stillwater, Hudson Falls, Lake George, Broadalbin, Rensselaer, Catskill/Cairo-Durham, Taconic Hills/Hawthorne Valley, Hoosic Valley, and Corinth/Hadley-Luzerne.
Benefits: the lower threshold keeps a team on the field, local players and local identity are preserved, and each athlete gets more playing time and a defined role.
Challenges: it's a different game with more open, higher-scoring play. Schools above a certain BEDS enrollment can be ineligible for the postseason. There are fewer nearby opponents and possibly longer travel, less college recruiting exposure, and modified will still need 11-man.
Challenges: student enthusiasm for 8-man football remains uncertain, alongside misconceptions that it requires less physical effort; in fact, parents frequently inquire whether contact and tackling are still part of the sport.
3. Merge with a neighboring district. Combine athletes from C-A and one or more nearby districts into a single team, as several Section II programs have done. This year's examples include Schalmont/Duanesburg/Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Hudson Falls/Fort Edward.
Benefits: a larger pool and deeper rosters, the ability to sustain 11-man, and shared coaching and costs.
Challenges: it needs a willing partner, Board approvals and Section review. Classification is based on combined enrollment and may move the team up. School will face travel and practice logistics, C-A loses a distinct team identity, and the partner may face the same decline.
4. Drop down to Class D (11-man). Request a lower classification to face programs closer in size.
Benefits: a path to more competitive matchups on paper, while staying in 11-man.
Challenges: forfeits sectional eligibility. Class D has strong programs, and the roster minimum of 16 is unchanged, so it doesn't solve a numbers problem on its own.
At a glance
Option | Minimum to compete | Keeps C-A identity | Needs a partner | Main risk |
Continue 11-man | 16 dressed | Yes | No | Another cancelled season |
8-man | 12 dressed | Yes | No | Format change; postseason eligibility |
Merger | 16 dressed (combined) | Partly | Yes | Travel, classification, partner viability |
Drop to Class D | 16 dressed | Yes | No | Loses sectional eligibility; numbers still short |
What would guide a decision
Student safety first: rosters large enough to avoid overuse and mismatched play.
Equitable access: every student who wants to play has a meaningful opportunity.
Sustainability: a plan that works for the next five to ten years, not just next fall.
Fiscal responsibility: equipment, transportation, coaching and facilities costs.
Community voice: input from players, parents, coaches and alumni.
Next steps
Parent and community forum: 11/3/26
Gather feedback from players, families and coaches
Confirm Section II requirements, timelines and eligibility for each option
Explore interest from neighboring districts
Present a recommendation to the Board of Education: December 2026 BOE meeting
Questions we want to hear from you
How important is it to keep 11-man football, versus keeping a C-A team in any format?
Would you support a merger with a neighboring district, and under what conditions?
What would help get more students into the program at the modified and youth levels?