Reporter’s Notebook : Parents Should Beware When Shopping for Good Club Programs

When you aspire to greatness, there are some great risks.

That is the most sound advice that can be given athletes who choose to become specialists, who devote the bulk of their time to one sport in the pursuit of the almighty scholarship.

Club sports provide the teaching that gives many of today’s athletes the edge they need to receive local and national attention. That often leads to college scholarships.

That’s a good thing.

But don’t assume that club sports are a cure-all for a family’s financial strain once a child leaves high school.

There are some things parents should know--and do--before committing their children to a club program. Remember, you’re a shopper.

What should be known:

* Expectations--of practice times, of cost, of the athlete’s role on the team in both best- and worst-case scenarios. Will the athlete start or ride the bench? What will you get in return for your money? Remember, everyone pays the same price to participate.

* Who’s in charge? Don’t find out only the name--anyone can do that--but investigate the coach or director, find out what kind of personality he has, how he deals with problems, his coaching philosophy, what his standards are for dealing with all sorts of moral issues that might be important to the athlete. One of your best resources will be former players. If there has been conflict, don’t take a coach’s word that it was the player’s fault; also, don’t take the player’s word that it was the coach’s fault. It’s best to hear both sides.

* Track record. Find out how many players moving on from the Under 18s are getting scholarships. If there’s a pattern, take note; some clubs produce scholarship winners, some don’t. Coaches will explain the importance of competing in club sports if the athlete really wants a scholarship, and in most instances, that’s true--NCAA restrictions on college coaches watching athletes almost mandate that they make the bulk of their judgments at club events in which many athletes can be reviewed in a competitive environment at one location. Because of limited practice time at the college level, coaches want to recruit the most polished athletes they can find.

Beyond those questions, the athlete and his family must ask themselves some questions. There are many factors to consider:

* What about burnout? It’s a possibility. Said one Pacific 10 coach: “It takes a certain personality going through the year and having all the demands without there being some emotional payment.” Once an athlete commits his time to one sport--and there is no or little emotional or physical break--there is the increased opportunity for mental fatigue, injuries and burnout. Burned-out athletes lose their zeal, and at the collegiate level--with the physical, emotional and intellectual demands of athletics and academics--that takes its toll on the body, on the court and in the classroom.

* Is the specialization worth it? Not only will an athlete be giving up a sport, but might also be giving up drama, music or some other creative/intellectual pursuit. The club athlete can miss out on the varied experiences those programs offer. True excellence in a given field doesn’t come without a cost. How important is being well-rounded?

* How feasible is getting a scholarship? Realize NCAA Division I football programs get 85 scholarships and that no other program gets more than 18 (for ice hockey). Women’s soccer and softball get 11; volleyball gets 12. One estimation by a Pacific 10 coach is that 30% of seniors competing in club volleyball get Division I scholarships, and over 50% get some kind of financial aid from either community colleges, NAIA or Division II schools. Although that estimation indicates the pot is half full, it also indicates it is half empty. If club coaches dangle scholarships in front of you, get it in writing. Remember, club coaches--like college coaches--want the best players available, and you might find yourself on the end of the bench.

* What do I hope to get out of it? If playing is the goal, then how much will I play? If recognition is the goal, then how much attention will I get? The answer to the last question is virtually none--the media cover high schools extensively but rarely cover club sports. Most club coaches agree that the social element is greater in high school sports.

* Who has what to gain? Just consider why you’re wanted by this particular club. Are your interests best served, or are you a valuable commodity for Team A because you’re not on Team B’s roster? After all, national championships are at stake. Always remember that club sports is a business that makes money off your participation; the more people involved, the more money someone makes.

It is wrong to assume that all club coaching is better than all high school coaching. It is wrong to assume all clubs are run like dictatorships in which athletes have no room for outside interests. It is wrong to assume that high school coaches don’t coerce players to compete in just one sport--their own.

High school sports would be much more interesting if coaches were more willing to share athletes. It would be great to see more wide receivers running track and more linemen wrestling, instead of being locked away in a weight room. It would be great to see more soccer players running cross-country, and more volleyball players competing in the high jump.

Ultimately, whether that happens should be the decision of the athlete. It should not be a mandate from the coach.

In the retail world, every attempt is made to satisfy the customer; i.e., the customer is always right. But in some athletic environments--in both club and high school--it’s the other way around. The store manager is telling the customer he can or cannot shop.

That’s strange business. And among enlightened shoppers, not without risk.