School/Travel Sport
By: Caroline Hemphill
I’ve been playing sports since I was three years old. I grew up at the ball fields and was raised to bleed blue and gold. Playing in the local recreation teams was a huge part of my life; however, as I made my way into middle school, I made the decision to join a club sports team. Club sports have given me everything that I could have possibly asked for.
Last year I was also able to play for my high school for the first time, and it was one of my favorite teams that I’ve ever been on. As an athlete who participates in both athletic spheres, I’m fully aware of the benefits and drawbacks that each have to offer, and have dealt first hand with challenges that participating in both can create.
With that said,club sports and high school athletics need to find a way to work together. Right now, they are working against each other at the expense of the very athletes they work so hard for.
One effect is athletes who are becoming limited in the amount of activities they are able to participate in. Club sports are notorious for the great amount of pressure they place on kids to “specialize” in their sport. When this happens, it causes children to effectively quit all other athletics so that they can focus on their “best” sport. This laser sharp focus on one area tends to lead kids to burn out before they even arrive in high school. According to a poll completed by the National Alliance for Youth Sport, 70 percent of kids in America quit sports by the age of 13 simply because “it's not fun anymore.”
For the kids who don’t burn out playing club, they are often forced to only participate in that one athletic event . If club is in the fall and winter, that student is often unable to play any other school sport during that time because of the huge time commitment both sports would require. Today, three-sport athletes are a rarity, and the well-rounded children every parent strives for are almost impossible to create under these conditions.
Club’s are well known to the community as an “elite” organization. Therefore, to be the best, students feel obligated to participate in club sports.
Because of this, club sports can end up “picking over” high school teams of some of the most talented athletes. Unfortunately, this lowers the level of competition within the school when the so-called “superstars” abandon the school for club sports. As a result, high school sports decrease in their competitiveness, which accelerates the problem because more kids will feel pressured to participate in club sports since high schools are no longer the “elite” location for them.
On the other hand, some athletes choose not to participate in club teams. These athletes often don’t develop to their full potential, especially when they are younger, because the peers and coaches who would normally push them to become even better are no longer playing or coaching at the local level with them. Then, when they get to high school, many are not prepared to play since they haven't developed the crucial skills from teammates and educated coaches.
Another effect club sports have on high school athletics is drawing students away from the opportunity to cheer on their schools in the stands. If you play a club sport, your Friday nights and weekends are usually spent out of town at tournaments and not cheering on your friends. This is extremely unfair for the student athletes who play for the school and are expecting other students to show up for them, as well as the club sport athletes who miss out on all the Friday night fun that comes with high school.
Club sports are by no means the villain of this story. No coach would admit that this is the type of environment they hoped to create by starting travel teams. Travel programs are usually founded on the basis that sports are fun. They allow kids to develop friendships, create healthy competition, and unite children from all across the state, region, and even the country when competing against each other.
High school athletics and club sports need to work together. Club coaches need to let up on the reigns a little and be okay with the fact that they shouldn't be, and are not, the only thing in a student's life. High schools also need to keep developing their programs and competition.
Let’s keep kids in local sports as long as we can and narrow the gap between club and high school. That will allow kids the opportunity to participate in as many activities as their hearts desire.
Last year I was also able to play for my high school for the first time, and it was one of my favorite teams that I’ve ever been on. As an athlete who participates in both athletic spheres, I’m fully aware of the benefits and drawbacks that each have to offer, and have dealt first hand with challenges that participating in both can create.
With that said,club sports and high school athletics need to find a way to work together. Right now, they are working against each other at the expense of the very athletes they work so hard for.
One effect is athletes who are becoming limited in the amount of activities they are able to participate in. Club sports are notorious for the great amount of pressure they place on kids to “specialize” in their sport. When this happens, it causes children to effectively quit all other athletics so that they can focus on their “best” sport. This laser sharp focus on one area tends to lead kids to burn out before they even arrive in high school. According to a poll completed by the National Alliance for Youth Sport, 70 percent of kids in America quit sports by the age of 13 simply because “it's not fun anymore.”
For the kids who don’t burn out playing club, they are often forced to only participate in that one athletic event . If club is in the fall and winter, that student is often unable to play any other school sport during that time because of the huge time commitment both sports would require. Today, three-sport athletes are a rarity, and the well-rounded children every parent strives for are almost impossible to create under these conditions.
Club’s are well known to the community as an “elite” organization. Therefore, to be the best, students feel obligated to participate in club sports.
Because of this, club sports can end up “picking over” high school teams of some of the most talented athletes. Unfortunately, this lowers the level of competition within the school when the so-called “superstars” abandon the school for club sports. As a result, high school sports decrease in their competitiveness, which accelerates the problem because more kids will feel pressured to participate in club sports since high schools are no longer the “elite” location for them.
On the other hand, some athletes choose not to participate in club teams. These athletes often don’t develop to their full potential, especially when they are younger, because the peers and coaches who would normally push them to become even better are no longer playing or coaching at the local level with them. Then, when they get to high school, many are not prepared to play since they haven't developed the crucial skills from teammates and educated coaches.
Another effect club sports have on high school athletics is drawing students away from the opportunity to cheer on their schools in the stands. If you play a club sport, your Friday nights and weekends are usually spent out of town at tournaments and not cheering on your friends. This is extremely unfair for the student athletes who play for the school and are expecting other students to show up for them, as well as the club sport athletes who miss out on all the Friday night fun that comes with high school.
Club sports are by no means the villain of this story. No coach would admit that this is the type of environment they hoped to create by starting travel teams. Travel programs are usually founded on the basis that sports are fun. They allow kids to develop friendships, create healthy competition, and unite children from all across the state, region, and even the country when competing against each other.
High school athletics and club sports need to work together. Club coaches need to let up on the reigns a little and be okay with the fact that they shouldn't be, and are not, the only thing in a student's life. High schools also need to keep developing their programs and competition.
Let’s keep kids in local sports as long as we can and narrow the gap between club and high school. That will allow kids the opportunity to participate in as many activities as their hearts desire.