(6-19-26) This week Caravel Academy (Delaware) has officially suspended its varsity football program for the 2026 season, citing severe safety and health concerns due to a critically low roster size. This comes just one year after the six-time state champions were forced to move up to Delaware’s largest classification, Class 3A.

The Buccaneers dominated Class 2A before being moved up by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA). Despite finishing with a respectable 6-4 record last season in 3A and reaching the state quarterfinals, the team struggled with maintaining enough players.

A combination of factors, including graduation, player transfers, and an overall small school enrollment, led to the difficult decision. Head of School Dr. Jerry Lamey explained that because football is highly demanding and requires roster depth for safe practices and proper player rotation, fielding a varsity squad this fall is not viable.

The program’s suspension impacts several moving parts across the state:

Future Outlook: Instead of shutting down football completely, the school will field a Junior Varsity (JV) schedule this fall in an attempt to rebuild numbers and position the program for long-term success.

The 2026 Schedule: The Buccaneers had nine scheduled opponents that will now have to find new opponents to fill their open dates.

Player Options: Under DIAA rules, current Caravel players will be permitted penalty-free transfers if they wish to play varsity football at a different school for the fall.

Caravel Academy Announces Suspension of Varsity Football for the 2026 Season, June 2026

After careful consideration and extensive evaluation of our football program, Caravel Academy has made the difficult decision not to field a varsity football team for the 2026 season.

This decision was not made lightly. Due to a combination of factors, including a low projected roster size, the graduation of a significant number of student-athletes, and the loss of players through transfers, we have determined that we cannot safely and responsibly sustain a varsity football program this fall.

The health and safety of our student-athletes remain our highest priority. Football is a physically demanding sport that requires adequate roster depth to ensure safe practice environments, proper player rotation, and competitive game participation. At this time, we do not believe we can provide those conditions at the varsity level.

While this announcement is disappointing for our players, families, alumni, and supporters, we believe it is the responsible decision for the long-term health of the program. Caravel Academy remains committed to evaluating opportunities to rebuild and strengthen our football program for the future.

We are proud of the rich tradition and history of Caravel football and deeply appreciate the dedication of our players, coaches, parents, alumni, and fans. Their commitment has helped build a program that has represented Caravel Academy with pride for many years.

In the coming months, we will continue to assess the future of football at Caravel Academy and explore avenues for growth and sustainability. Our goal is to position the program for long-term success while maintaining our commitment to student safety and educational excellence.

We thank our school community for its understanding and continued support.

Dr. Jerry Lamey, Head of School, Caravel Academy

How the DIAA Success Factor Formula Works

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) uses a “success factor” and competitive balance model to classify high school football teams, relying heavily on recent historical performance and program growth rather than just student enrollment. [1,

The DIAA football classification system includes the following components:

  • Three Classifications: Football is divided into three tiers (Class 1A, Class 2A, and Class 3A), with Class 1A generally serving as a developmental division for struggling programs.
  • Success Factor Evaluation: Divisional placement is determined using weighted feedback from the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association (DIFCA).
  • Core Metrics Evaluated: The reclassification committee analyzes school enrollment numbers, roster data, four-year winning percentages against classification opponents, and overall program growth.
  • Upward/Downward Mobility: Teams that dominate their current class are hoisted into more challenging divisions, while struggling programs can drop down to find competitive parity.