There are two different seasons within a sport: club season and school season. Club season usually takes place either before or after the school season, and it is typically considerably longer, filled with travel and tournaments. Obviously, sports seasons vary by sport, but there’s no doubt that each athlete prefers one season over the other.
Both club and school seasons are essential, but they both strive towards their respective goals. Both seasons have specific goals, but with the club season being longer, it’s often seen as a time to develop skills and really break down aspects of the game. “High school volleyball comes with a lot more conditioning, while club is a lot more about fine-tuning technique,” sophomore Avery Minor said.
Varsity high school sports strive for postseason success and the hope of reaching state, but many wonder what the equivalent of state is in club sports. Club sports feature more tournaments, which can bring home trophies and medals, and many club sports have an end-of-season tournament they prepare for all year, called Nationals. “Club season prepares for nationals at the end of the year, and so I would say that’s the big thing we prepare for,” Minor said.
If an athlete wants to continue their sport in college, they tend to focus more on the recruiting process during their club season. The club season involves much more travel, so there are many opportunities to be seen by recruiters from all over the country. Along with the travel the club season entails, it brings many athletes together and helps recruiters watch them all at once. “Club season is more about traveling a lot more, and it’s more for getting recruited. While for the high school season it’s more about winning the state,” junior Hannah Larson said.
The high school season, being shorter, is usually much more intense and exhausting than the club season. Practice-wise, high school sports practice every single day, and sometimes twice a day in the preseason, yet they often have weekends off to rest. Club season, on the other hand, is less practice-heavy, with usually 2-3 practices a week, but weekends can get busy with tournaments and often multiple games. “The switch from high school to club seasons can be hard, but it’s usually pretty easy, because high school practices are tough, so they keep me in shape for club,” Minor said.
Many don’t realize the stark difference between club season and high school season, especially those who don’t play a sport. Ultimately, both seasons shape athletes immensely, in different but equally important ways. The two seasons allow athletes to train year-round and become the best possible athletes they can be.