Club sports help athletes stay in shape and improve in the offseason. They’re a popular choice for anyone who wants a competitive edge over those who only practice during the few months out of the year in a typical high school season.
“The club soccer scene is incredibly important for player development,” boys’ head soccer coach Rafal Slomba said. “It provides athletes with additional opportunities to refine their skills, compete at higher levels, and gain exposure to different coaching styles. Most of the players who are serious about soccer participate in club soccer or similar programs during the offseason.”
This year-round commitment to improvement not only sharpens athletes’ skills but also helps them enter the high school season more prepared. Athletes that participate in clubs are often in better shape and don’t need time to adjust at the beginning of their high school season.
“Players who participate in club soccer tend to have better technical skills, game awareness, and conditioning,” Slomba said. “Club soccer gives them more repetitions and exposure to varied playing styles, which translates into better on-field decision-making and execution. That said, players who don’t play club soccer can still excel if they have strong work ethic and natural talent, but they often need more time during the season to catch up.”
Club sports also provide athletes with the opportunity to engage with teammates and coaches with different athletic experiences. This can open their eyes to different techniques and styles that they can bring with them into the high school season.
“It’s definitely a different coaching style from high school,” senior Tyler Tiangco said. “At club, there’s a bunch of different wrestlers from out the Downers area in so there’s a lot of different competition. There’s lots of kids from different schools with different techniques, so it’s definitely a lot more challenging at the club.”
Clubs like 630 Volleyball in Lisle also provide athletes with more opportunities to get recognized by colleges, making club participation useful for anyone that wants to continue pursuing a sport after high school.
“If you are looking to get recruited to play that sport in college, you get a lot more recognition playing for a club because you will be competing in National events,” 630 Volleyball coach Faith Kolar said. “Most clubs will offer recruiting services and will speak with college coaches to help with the recruiting process. So I would highly recommend playing for a club if you are looking to get recruited for college or thinking about possibly playing for college.”
Despite the commitment required for club sports, the high school season gives athletes the opportunity to display all the hard work they’ve put in during the offseason, making it exceptionally important. Many athletes participate in club in order to help them achieve their goals during the high school season.
“My main goal this year is to be a state qualifier,” Tiangco said. “Practicing and competing in the offseason gives me an edge over other wrestlers. Having that extra mat time helps me improve faster than kids who don’t put as much work in.”
