In Bend especially, sports are a person’s identity. From a young age, there are soccer games, ski lessons and swim team practices. As children grow up, many join more advanced travel teams and clubs. As their skills develop, they become further specialized into their sport.
Senior Zari de Brun has been playing soccer since age seven and now plays for Apex Futbol Club.
“My brother was playing and it looked super fun and [when] I got on the field I loved it,” said de Brun.
Sports are a way to have fun and be active, and joining a club sport can help athletes dramatically improve their abilities. Offered year round, athletes receive more practice and are able to compete with more advanced opponents.
“I’ve had like thousands more hours than [most high school skiers], because I’ve done five days a week for the past couple of years when they only do two days a week,” said junior Ian Spencer, who Nordic skis for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF).
With the added coaching and practice time, club sports provide better support and training.
“The coaches can be more specified, because there’s less kids, and they’re all closer to the same level,” said Spencer. “And also you get a lot more coaching time because it’s five, six days a week.”
According to the National College Scouting Association (NCSA), at least 77% of collegiate athletes played both club and high school sports. Club sports provide players with the opportunity to compete at a more advanced level where they can be recognized by college scouts and demonstrate their skills to the schools they hope to attend.
But the time out on the field, on the court and on the snow adds up. Practices seem to eat up any free time and athletes are left struggling to balance athletics with academics and field time with friends and family.
“It was kind of draining,” said Autumn Junker, a sophomore who used to play volleyball through the National Pacific Juniors Volleyball Club (NPJ).
Junker had played both school and club volleyball since middle school and decided to step back this year. It turns out that a number of athletes quit club teams in high school. A study from the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital found that only 39% of high school seniors compete in organized sports, a dramatic decrease from middle school where 90% of students participate.
A major hurdle and reason that so many athletes are forced to quit is the cost of club sports. On top of paying for the program itself, families must pay for uniforms, equipment, travel costs and more. It adds up. An article by USA Today High School Sports cites that families with children in elite club teams spend an average of $100–$500 per month per kid. The survey also found that 20% of these parents are spending $1,000 per month. These elite teams seem to be only for middle and upper class families.
Beyond the financial strain, club sports can take a mental toll on the athlete as well. Chores pile up, friends’ messages are left on read and the Canvas to-do lists keep getting longer. With so much to do, how can student athletes manage it all?
“I’d say, honestly, it takes practice,” said de Brun. “I’ve been doing it for a while, it is important to prioritize what needs to get done first.”
After dragging oneself to practice day after day and then scrambling to finish assignments before 11:59 pm, the stress adds up and burnout can set in.
“It’s really important when you feel that way to recognize it and take the steps to get yourself feeling better again or else it only goes in the worse direction,” advised de Brun.
It can be hard to figure out exactly what “steps” to take when struggling with the mental side of athletics, but it is important to acknowledge the stress and take some time off. Rest is critical for longevity in life and sports are no exception.
One major cause of burnout is overspecialization. Doing one sport five days a week and almost year round can be exhausting, and one way to combat this is to do multiple sports. Being a multi-sport athlete is not only helpful to reduce the likelihood of injuries but it also can help athletes maintain a more positive mental state.
“I think it’s good, at a high school level, to vary your sports and to do cross country, Nordic skiing, track, downhill skiing, [etc.] as much as you can,” said Spencer.
When athletes vary their training and who they interact with, they unlock a whole new world of opportunities to expand their abilities.
Club sports can provide athletes with new possibilities but, like anything, they are not without their faults. Sports have an important role in every athlete’s life and they provide a safe and enjoyable environment for many people. The role of sports is to build work ethic and perseverance, but it can easily have a negative impact on an athlete. It is essential that we keep sports a source of strength for everyone.
