Are clubs taking over high school sports?
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:25 pm
It sounds like track and field is one of the last high school sports to remain stronger at the high school level than the club level. Besides football of course.
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 50302/1002
Student athletes torn by conflicting loyalties
Opportunities often better at club level
By HAP FRY
HapFry@coloradoan.com
Just like the Beach Boys, Megan Evans and Kristin Viger wanted to be true to their school.
Unfortunately for the two Fort Collins High School seniors, they believed that loyalty was getting in the way of their goals.
Thought by many to be two of the top swimmers in the state, Evans, who will swim at Oregon State University in the fall, and Viger, who will swim at Missouri, quit their high school team in January.
Their reasons? Each said the commitment of attending high school practices over workouts with their club team, Loveland Swim Club, could hurt their development as swimmers.
"High school practices are about 3,000 yards less than I need and can get at Loveland," Evans said shortly after making her decision. "I feel bad that it had to come to this, and I feel bad that I had to leave and let my teammates down, but I need that training to do well at meets."
At the very least, Evans and Viger's decisions raise an interesting question.
Is participation in club sports becoming more important than participating on a high school team?
Back when the Beach Boys were in their prime, the answer would have been a resounding no. Now, it's not so clear.
Other than football, there isn't a high school sport that's not offered at the club level. And while club participation in wrestling and track and field might be de-emphasized in comparison to competing on a high school team, it certainly is not that way with many other sports.
"If I had to pick between club soccer and high school soccer, I'd go with club," said Rocky Mountain soccer player Estelle Johnson, who will attend the University of Kansas on a soccer scholarship in the fall. "I love playing high school soccer, but there is just much more competitiveness in club."
Johnson's high school coach, Cheryl Ingham, agrees.
"It's all about club now," Ingham said. "None of (college recruiting) happens at high school (games) anymore. (College coaches) may come and watch one (high school) game, but that's because they can watch so many more games and see so many more players at a club tournament.â€Â
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... 50302/1002
Student athletes torn by conflicting loyalties
Opportunities often better at club level
By HAP FRY
HapFry@coloradoan.com
Just like the Beach Boys, Megan Evans and Kristin Viger wanted to be true to their school.
Unfortunately for the two Fort Collins High School seniors, they believed that loyalty was getting in the way of their goals.
Thought by many to be two of the top swimmers in the state, Evans, who will swim at Oregon State University in the fall, and Viger, who will swim at Missouri, quit their high school team in January.
Their reasons? Each said the commitment of attending high school practices over workouts with their club team, Loveland Swim Club, could hurt their development as swimmers.
"High school practices are about 3,000 yards less than I need and can get at Loveland," Evans said shortly after making her decision. "I feel bad that it had to come to this, and I feel bad that I had to leave and let my teammates down, but I need that training to do well at meets."
At the very least, Evans and Viger's decisions raise an interesting question.
Is participation in club sports becoming more important than participating on a high school team?
Back when the Beach Boys were in their prime, the answer would have been a resounding no. Now, it's not so clear.
Other than football, there isn't a high school sport that's not offered at the club level. And while club participation in wrestling and track and field might be de-emphasized in comparison to competing on a high school team, it certainly is not that way with many other sports.
"If I had to pick between club soccer and high school soccer, I'd go with club," said Rocky Mountain soccer player Estelle Johnson, who will attend the University of Kansas on a soccer scholarship in the fall. "I love playing high school soccer, but there is just much more competitiveness in club."
Johnson's high school coach, Cheryl Ingham, agrees.
"It's all about club now," Ingham said. "None of (college recruiting) happens at high school (games) anymore. (College coaches) may come and watch one (high school) game, but that's because they can watch so many more games and see so many more players at a club tournament.â€Â