PREP VOICES : Club Sports Provide Polish, but at What Cost?

Club programs give young athletes opportunities to play such sports as soccer, softball, swimming and volleyball year-round. They help provide the skills and polish necessary to compete at the high school, college and national levels.

Clubs can often provide better facilities, stronger competition, more personal attention and professional expertise in a particular sport.

But at what cost?

Club sports can be a lucrative business. It has been estimated that expenses for club volleyball players can be as much as $2,000 per year, with club softball players and swimmers spending nearly $1,000. And though club coaches say offers of college scholarships are more likely to come to their charges, not even the most prestigious clubs can make any guarantees.

If an athlete wants to specialize in a sport--a conclusion reached on his or her own or by a club coach demanding commitment--what’s the harm?

Many, including high school coaches, believe the harm comes when athletes 13 to 18 years old are skipping softball or track seasons because they are concentrating on club soccer. They feel club sports rob the child of varied experiences that playing multiple sports offers. But make no mistake, high school coaches have something at stake, too--they feel they are being robbed of athletes.

Whose interests are really at stake?

PRO: LARRY DRALUCK, Southern California Blues Club Soccer Coach

Club Teams Offer More to Athletes

Q: Should playing club sports take priority over playing high school sports?

The current controversy over whether club athletic programs should take priority over high school programs comes down to the sport in question and the individual athlete’s goals and aspirations. Having coached at both levels as well as the collegiate, I maintain that if an athlete desires to become the best he or she can become at a particular sport, club programs have tremendous advantages over high school.

High school athletics do have their place. When it comes to high profile sports such as football, baseball and basketball, a strong case can be made to suggest the high school programs should take priority in the development of an athlete for the next level.

There is also a tremendous amount of recognition, self esteem, as well as redeeming social value to be gained from participating in high school sports. The same can be said, however, of participating in a club program.

In all other areas, however, I would give the advantage to the club programs. While the top athletes possess inherent talent, the foundation of skills for future development is laid at the club level when the players begin at 8 or 9 years old. It is the clubs that provide quality players for high school programs.

Overall, competition is better at the club level. Club teams play many more games over an extended season against quality teams and finish off with a competition for a national championship. High school has fewer games in a much shorter season often times against teams of lower quality. Again, the reasons people participate can be entirely different with high school having a much more social element and participants who often are less competitive.

Depending on the sport in question and the goal of the athlete, the decision can be made about which environment should be given priority. If someone is participating in sports and recreational or social aspects are their primary motivation for participating, by all means high school sports should be given priority. If, however, one desires to develop to the best of their ability in a sport, they should give the priority to their club sport.

It is not by chance that colleges prefer to evaluate student athletes at the club level under the most competitive circumstances. You need only ask the quality high school athlete where they feel they were developed--the majority will credit their club.