The Clarion 2019 - High School vs Club Sports

The Clarion 2019

High school Sports vs Off-season

Laura Sanchez, Staff Writer

During the young part of people's lives many students, especially high schoolers, decide they want to play a sport or possibly numerous sports to keep busy, stay fit, meet new people and have fun. Students differentiate on how serious they take the sport, whether it is to compete at a higher level one day or if it is just another activity to just help them get out of the house. High Schools typically offer countless amounts of sports for students to engage in. While off-season clubs and such offer more time to dedicate to the sport. Many student athletes participate in both off season as well as high school season, but when compared which is preferred.

Clay Fordham(20), a varsity baseball player at Granite Hills, has been playing ball since the age of four. While dedicating lots of his time at the Granite Hills baseball fields, Fordham also has done offseason baseball exclusively in Orange County this past year. Though Orange County is a bit of a distance from home, Fordham believes that he’s going where he is deemed the best opportunities and having the most fun.

Clay Fordham pitching and batting.Courtesy of Dan Barnes Photography

“Offseason is preparing for highschool to be our best selves,” Fordham said. Though offseason attracts different scouts for Fordham because of the league he is in, he prioritizes high school baseball. High school is a great way to be seen and where he puts himself out there.

The dedication put into his playing has given him lots of time to spend with his teammates where bonds have formed that had made them not only players on the team but family. When Fordham plays he feels as if he is representing Granite Hills due to the amount of dedication he has put in. Fordham personally prefers high school baseball over travel ball (offseason) due to his past experiences with both.

Ally Fuller(21), a varsity volleyball player at Granite Hills, has been playing since sixth grade. Unlike Fordham, Fuller has dedicated more of her time to club because that is where she has played longer as well as the commitment and seriousness of her club is more intense than the program for volleyball at Granite Hills.

While both present their challenges, to Fuller whether it is skill and conditioning at club practices or competing for playing time at high school practices she could not pick a favorite because she enjoys both for different reasons.

For Fuller, club and her high school team are very related. The club that a player is at could help determine what team is made and vice versa. Also some players overlap on her club and high school team. “Playing with the same people can help strengthen a team a lot,” Fuller said.

Allison Fuller playing volleyball. Coutesy of Charles Scott Photography

Allison Fuller in a volleyball match. Coutesy of Charles Scott Photography

Comparing high school sports vs club sports is a difficult task to do. There are many different components on which would be preferred. Whether it is past experiences and bonds formed on one team, the connections of the coaches, or the skill level and division of another team .There are many factors that play into an athletes choice and there isn’t a wrong one.

Click here to return to the Web Edition Page, or here to return home.

Google Sites

Report abuse