Both club sports and high school athletics require a commitment to teamwork, skill development and competition. Both foster a sense of community, team pride, and the opportunity to hone athletic skills.
There are stark differences between club sports, which generally meet more consistently than high school sports (often year-round), and high school sports, which tend to be seasonal. In the United States, approximately 7 million youth participate in club sports. Club teams practice and play games more frequently, requiring a greater time commitment, making it harder for many to balance academics and athletics. Clubs provide more specialized training, which is typically more intense than what is offered through high school athletics programs, and also facilitate more opportunities for college recruitment.
Mr. Joe Callagy, a Hastings High School Varsity soccer coach, said, “As for choosing to play club over high school, I can’t blame someone for making that decision. They’re making the right decision, because that’s gonna get them closer to getting recruited.” Coach Callagy emphasized that prioritizing club sports might be the better option for an athlete hoping to play at the college level.
Academy teams, often linked to professional clubs, are rigorous youth development programs that are a pipeline for young players who intend to play professional sports. These teams are so intensely competitive that they often forbid their players from participating in high school athletics. With this information, one may question if it is fair for clubs to forbid their players from participating on their high school team, or is it a tradeoff that academy players must be willing to make.
There are reasons why athletes who play on a competitive club may be forbidden from playing on their high school team. For example, players may become overworked playing on two teams, hurting their club performance. Another concern is skill level; competitive club athletes might be too good for their high school competition, and might render the matches inequitable and less fun for their high school teammates and the opposition. The other issue is cost. A funded district may lose participation in school athletics because more students can afford club fees. If many skilled players who can afford a club sport are removed from a school team, that dilutes the experience for the less-moneyed players on the school team because the level of competition has been cut down. However, a number of other kids may not be able to afford to play in a certain club because it is too expensive.
Various Hastings varsity coaches have shared their opinions on this rule. Dom Cecere, a Varsity baseball coach, said, “Most clubs are set up to make money and charge players by the year or season. The lower level club teams exist to fund the top level team in tournaments around the country.” Coach Cecere encourages his players to find teams in their preferred sport to continue to develop their skill set. However, he is concerned that students might burn out by not having an off-season.
Coach Joe Callagy agreed that the high level clubs are often revenue driven: “It starts at the U.S. Soccer Federation: this professional player development pathway that they have set up. It just seems like a giant money grab.”
Meanwhile, Varsity volleyball coach Cristy Encarnacion said, “ I encourage players to participate in clubs because they get experience with players that are their age and level.” She also stated, “ Most of my varsity players also were part of different club teams and in some I saw great improvements and in others saw lateral movement or came back with bad habits.” Overall, Coach Encarnacion does encourage her players to get the most playing experience possible.
An athlete’s needs can be met through either club or school sports. High school sports also offer school spirit and the opportunity to compete alongside peers, which is essential for athletes who want to build deeper bonds with their teammates. Club programs emphasize skill improvement and have evolved into an effective pathway for scouting exposure, allowing them to remain competitive in the highly selective college landscape.
