Club Sports

Sports aren't something athletes like just because it gets them away from the house or out of school early. Sports are a passion. They are a passion that can lead them in the right direction. While many athletes play school sports all year round, others participate in one and compete on a club team as well. What is a club team you ask? A club team is something you can join to play the sport you love all year.

One reason I encourage one or two sport athletes to go out for club is to simply get better. Obviously if you are only playing one sport it's the one you like the most. Most people who only play one sport wish to play in college as well. Playing on a club team can help you get recruited and enhance your skills tremendously since you will be training all year. Also, playing different teams throughout the year will help you try new things and overall acquire different skills. The fact that you have to tryout to make a club team can create a better dynamic on the team and help athletes improve at a good rate.

Another reason you might want to consider playing for a club is for the traveling aspect. You get to travel to bigger cities or other states to play in tournaments. This is not only extremely fun, but can give you a glimpse of other teams. Sometimes it gets boring playing the same teams over and over again. It's nice to play new teams and adjust to their strengths and weaknesses. This not only sparks competitiveness across the nation, but allows athletes from all over to meet and share experiences. Playing in tournaments can also be a great opportunity for team bonding, which can be some of the greatest memories of your life.

Club season has to be one of the best seasons of the year for me, because I have a team that I get to practice with months on end and create a second family with. The simple fact that it’s longer than school season makes it that much better.  If you truly love the school sport you're in, you will love it even more if you play club. This can sometimes get expensive, but it is definitely worth it if you whole-heartedly love the sport. Not many people have the options you do so don't take that for granted. Appreciate your coaches and teammates every day.