Skip to main content

Club Volleyball

While playing for a public-school team may be relatively easy, since all that is needed is to attend the school and try out for the team; playing for a club team is a little different.  First of all, it is generally more expensive.  The travel fees, tournament fees, food, coaching staff and refereeing is all payed for by those who belong to the club and/or sponsors. The costs of these organizations are seen as an investment since the college coaches are coaching during the regular high school season and are much more likely to be able to watch a player in action during the off-season, or club-ball season.

One of the most popular institutions in the “club ball” world is the Amateur Athletic Union. There is a lot of debate when it comes to AAU sports between professional athletes and coaches.   Former NBA star, Kobe Bryant, who is an open critic of AAU sports, said, “I hate it because it doesn't teach our players how to play the right way.  It's just a showcase.” Many other agree that it promotes the magnification of individual athletes, and diminishes the importance of being a team-player and winning. 

There a few more benefits that should not be overlooked, no matter what critics may say. The most significant of these benefits would be the level of competition, since most other athletes are part of these AAU teams for the purpose of being seen by college coaches, they are going to possess a higher skill level.  Anyone who plays sports knows that the better the competition, the speedier the improvement.  What better way to learn and improve than to play against the best competition available?

Another benefit of the AAU is that the organization is a great advocate for the Positive Coaching Alliance.  This means that the coaches of the club teams are more likely to promote self-confidence and build character in the most helpful and supportive ways.

On average, it can be expected that the total cost for playing on a club ball team will be anywhere from $400 to $4,000 a year.  But to get a college education paid for, and for an extension of a sports career, it could be minuscule in comparison.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hey Now, You're an All-Star?

Have you ever bought what looked like a big box of candy (my preference would be something like Milk Duds or Skittles) and walked out of the store with your mouth watering only to find that this “big” box just holds a little tiny bag of that favorite candy you just paid for?   Disappointment, frustration, anger, even a loss of appetite. This is how I feel when I clear an evening to watch the NBA All-Star Game. There are a few things that are fundamentally wrong with this game and the advertisement that is surrounding it.   There is something even more wrong with the people who pay so much to go and worship a group of athletes who half-try in a competition against the “best in the world”.   But, if you were one of the players in this game, and there was next to nothing to gain for winning, and everything to lose if you get hurt, who could blame you for not playing hard and putting on a good display of effort and skill.   And how many players have fallen off the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Southern Utah Rivals

The Kanab Cowboys and Parowan Rams have been playing against each other since the beginning of time, it seems.  There is something that is very unique about this so called "rivalry", and it is definitely worth noting.  It has been nearly 70 years since the Rams have outscored the Cowboys in a gridiron grind-out.  Yes, nearly 70 years since the Rams have beaten the Cowboys.  But, there is something stirring in the water this football season that just might become an even more interesting situation.  The new Parowan Football Head Coach, Carter Miller, played college football with Kanab Football Head Coach, Bucky Orton.  Bucky reportedly texted Carter upon hearing about his new job in Parowan with an explicit version of, "Oh, shoot!"  With the implication that the near 70 year streak Kanab has over the Rams may be in jeopardy, especially when it is taken into account that some of the best talent around was part of that Miller-package fo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Opportunity

High school can be some of the best, and some of the worst times in a person’s life.   Sometimes it is both!   But one thing that ought to come to everybody’s mind when they hear about high school is opportunity .   All too often there are people who miss this, who overlook it, who take it for granted and who mistake it for a burden.   Not often enough, however, is this great stage of opportunity capitalized upon, and turned into a spring-board to catapult one into something bigger and better than themselves.   That is exactly what Southern Utah University Volleyball player, Rylee Rogers, has done for herself. When asked what motivated her to go from being a high school athlete to a college athlete, she claimed that it was the motivation and inspiration given by her mother.   “She always taught me to be a team player.   She taught me to make sure that the team looks good before you make yourself look good.   I feel like that might be lost t...
Post a Comment
Read more