Student Opinion: The Benefits of Club Sports
Launch the media gallery 1 playerAbout roughly 28% of all youth participate in club sports in the United States. That is crazy to me to think that I am in 28% of our country that participates in club sports. Also, almost 90% of student-athletes who compete at the college level previously competed for a club team during their career. I knew club sports were beneficial, but I didn’t know so many people who play them advanced to the next level of play.
Since 4th grade, I have played on various club teams in both basketball and volleyball. Starting in 4th grade I played for CNJV Volleyball out of Columbus with my sister, Izzy. In 5th grade I explored my basketball club career through Bullets. From there I went to D-League volleyball in Norfolk, where I played until 8th grade. Now, I play for Power out of Norfolk with my sister and numerous other Clarkson-Leigh girls.
Not only have I enjoyed playing club volleyball, but it has also helped me to improve my skills as an athlete. No matter what sport I have played in club, I have always found them to be beneficial and to improve me in certain areas. I look at club as an advantage because of the different competition you see at the tournaments you travel to. Many people may think that club sports are just like regular season sports, but nobody will see or know the competition of a club tournament until they have experienced one.
Club practice and tournaments are meant to improve players without feeling the pressure of having to be perfect. Without taking statistics or filming, the game of volleyball becomes even more enjoyable. This always brings my team to have fun and a good time without having to worry about how you played in the last game or how you will play in the next game.
Overall, club volleyball is about being competitive but having fun as well. The more relaxed and energetic I play during club season, the better outcome we always seem to have. For me, club volleyball season always brings volleyball back into my mind and it just excites me for our next Clarkson-Leigh volleyball season!