Lucy Paine, Sports Editor
@lpainecourant
Graphic by Alessandra Gass
With more than two thirds of high school students playing at least one sport for their school, playing for club teams in their offseason can be key to maintaining and enhancing their skills in a competitive environment. From girls hockey and soccer to boys lacrosse and baseball, student athletes use club leagues to gain extra practice time, develop skills, and learn to compete in high pressure situations.
Club sports provide high school athletes with consistent, advanced training that prepares them for their high school seasons, which often requires months of intense practice, conditioning, and game play. Whether working with teammates or meeting new competitors, many athletes say these club experiences help them to achieve peak performance on their high school teams.
“When you play club you get to practice two extra times a week with high level game competition which helps you improve immensely” said sophomore Macyn Callahan, a girls hockey goalie for the CT Polar Bears. “When you’re a club athlete and you also play high school it takes some of the pressure off the high school season having played with harder competition in club season beforehand.”
Senior captain of the girls soccer team Paige Place, who plays for Connecticut Football Club (CFC), described how club soccer helped her become more technically skilled and confident on the field. “Specifically, I became so much better technically in my first couple of years. As a smaller player, I needed to master my footwork,” said Paige. “Overall, club has trained me for big moments. For example, I take a lot of PK kicks for my club team, which made me confident when stepping up twice in the FCIAC final game.”
Paige’s experience highlights how high level club sports creates players who are ready to take on tough challenges when their high school teams face critical moments. By repeatedly facing high pressure scenarios with their club teams, athletes become more resilient and mentally prepared for the stakes of their high school games.
The competitive exposure that club sports provide also has a lasting impact on male athletes preparing for their high school seasons. Will Hayes, a senior boys lacrosse player for Eclipse Lacrosse Club, noted how playing club lacrosse strengthened his skills and raised his confidence especially when returning to play with his school team. “Not only has club lacrosse made me a better player but it increased my confidence for when I play on the New Canaan team,” said Will. “Every part of club lacrosse has made me a better lacrosse player. Mainly being surrounded by great players makes me want to be better than them, making me work even harder to succeed.”
In baseball, the focus is not only on the technical skills but also on the exposure to varied coaching styles and training philosophies. Sophomore Maddox Hoffman, who plays baseball for Connecticut Baseball Club (CTBC), said that his experience with club baseball has challenged him to push himself and grow as a player. “Working out with different people and seeing different talent pushes me to be better because they show how good I can be with my coaching and opportunities,” said Maddox.
Maddox’s perspective highlights how club sports provide opportunities for athletes to be influenced by different coaching styles and approaches, giving them broader knowledge and skill sets. Exposure to various coaching philosophies in a club setting can give athletes an edge in their high school sports as they learn new techniques and strategies that they may not have encountered otherwise. Club sports are often intense, with rigorous practice schedules and frequent travel, for many athletes, the rewards are well worth the investment. These athletes return to their high school teams with refined techniques, better conditioning, and heightened mental readiness all of which help them handle the demands of the high school season. “I believe that any athlete striving to reach their full potential should consider joining a club team in their sport,” said Macyn.
