Illinois has one of the highest number of high school athletes in the nation.  The number of participants in high school sports increased for the 25^th consecutive year in 2013-14 with a record total of almost 7.8 million, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations.  Based on figures from the 51 NFHS member state high school associations, which includes the Illinois High School Association, sports participation for the 2013-14 school year reached an all-time high of 7,795,658, an increase of 82,081 from the previous year.  This one-year increase was the highest since 2009-10.  Girls participation increased for the 25^th consecutive year with an additional 44,941 participants from 2012-13 and set an all-time record of 3,267,664.  Boys’ participation eclipsed 4.5 million for the first time at 4,527,994.  The increase in boys’ participation was due in part to the first increase in football numbers in five years.  In addition, another 1,715 girls participated in 11-player football last year, an increase of 184 from the previous year.  Among the top 10 boys’ sports, baseball registered the largest gain with an additional 7,838 participants.  Volleyball gained the most participants among girls’ sports from the previous year.  The top 10 states by participants remained in the same order as last year, with Illinois fourth in the nation with 343,757 athletes.