by Rilynn Minarcik (Posted on November 3, 2026 @ 12:12 p.m.)

Football and volleyball are among the most popular sports at Alamo Heights Junior School, according to a poll of 576 students conducted by Mule Time Media on Oct. 8.

Students in grades 6–8 were asked which sport they like best. Football received 22.2% of responses, followed by soccer at 19.3% and volleyball at 18.6%.

Olivia Tacker, head girls athletics coach, has observed similar trends in participation. Coach Tacker, who has coached at Alamo Heights for 10 years, said volleyball consistently attracts the most girls at tryouts.

“We usually have 100 girls try out for volleyball, and that drops to around 80 for basketball, and then soccer is around that number too, like 80,” Coach Tacker said.

Coach Tacker explained why volleyball has become so popular among girls. She identified three main factors: club sports popularity, reduced physical contact, and accessibility for athletes at different skill levels.

“I think one, right now, it is just the popular sport when it comes to club sports,” Coach Tacker said. “Two, it is a sport that is not contact like you would have in basketball or soccer. And then three, it is a sport like I said you could pick up later in life and still have pretty good success.”

Coach Tacker has noticed shifts in sports popularity over time. She said volleyball has gained popularity among girls, while basketball and cross country have seen less interest.

Coach Tacker said generational preferences have contributed to these changes.

“I think it has changed over time because I think the game is evolving and changing and also what you guys as a generation, your outlook towards things is changing,” Coach Tacker said. “So it used to be that if you played a contact sport and you got up and down the court, that was cool.”

Coach Bond, head boys athletics coach, reported similar participation numbers for boys’ sports. Coach Bond, who has coached football for approximately 35 years, said football and basketball consistently draw the largest number of participants.

“Football and basketball bring out around 75 to 80 kids on average each year,” Coach Bond said. “Soccer is also a big one—I don’t think soccer gets 75 to 80 to try out, but 50 coming out, maybe 60.”

Coach Bond explained that accessibility plays a major role in which sports attract the most students. He said sports that are easier to practice at home tend to be more popular.

“I think most kids play football in the front yard or basketball on the driveway,” Coach Bond said. “I think it’s easier to throw the football or shoot baskets than it is to grab a set of golf clubs and go to the golf range.”

However, Coach Bond emphasized that accessibility alone does not determine whether students stay involved in a sport. He said prior experience and enjoyment are critical factors.

Media exposure also plays a significant role in shaping student interest, according to Coach Bond. He said professional and college sports on television generate excitement that leads students to try those sports themselves.

“I think what they watch on TV—one of the most popular sports in the USA is NFL football, college football—so I think that watching that on TV every Saturday and Sunday builds some excitement about it,” Coach Bond said.

Coach Bond also noted that soccer’s popularity has increased in recent years, partly due to international events like the World Cup.

“Soccer has been more popular since the World Cup,” Coach Bond said. “I mean, I even watch the World Cup these days and I’ve never been a huge soccer player. I’ve never really coached it or anything like that. I think soccer has probably become one of the most popular sports in the USA where 10 or 15 years ago it probably wasn’t.”

Both coaches agreed that prior experience and enjoyment ultimately determine whether students choose to participate in a sport.

Coach Tacker said the physical demands of a sport also influence student decisions.

“One is how hard it is, endurance-wise, if it is a sport where you have to play both sides of the ball like in basketball or soccer,” Coach Tacker said. “Also the popularity of the sport by your generation.”

Coach Bond said students are more likely to try out for sports they already know and enjoy.

“I think it’s their basic knowledge of the sport and how much fun they have had playing the sport before,” Coach Bond said. “If kids have fun playing the sport, they want to play it, they want to try to play it, they enjoy playing it.”

Coach Bond added that year-round sports programs now allow students to develop skills and maintain interest in their chosen sports.

“There are so many programs now where you can play sports year-round,” Coach Bond said. “Like football, you can almost play year-round. You know, basketball too—you can play those competitively.”