A COPARISON OF HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER & CLUB SOCCER

Student-athletes who participate in both their high school soccer teams and community club soccer teams too often see participation in both as the same thing. Likewise, so do their parents. High school athletics/soccer and club soccer ARE NOT the same. While the activity (soccer) may be the same, there are so many differences that participation in each makes each one unique in its own way. All high school sports are an extension of a student-athlete's school day and participation in any high school sports team (or school club) adds to the overall high school experience of ayoung person.

In the past 20 years, community-based club soccer has encroached on high school sports, not the other way around. In most of California, the high school soccer season has always been a "winter sport" and the fixed participation dates have not changed. Likewise, CIF Rule 600 which mandates that student-athletes play for only one team during a single season has been in place for many years. However, the structure of club soccer has changed greatly and so have the demands of club soccer coaches which too often require young athletes to make a decision between participating in either one program, but not both. Complicating the matter even further, too many club soccer officials will mislead young athletes into believing that if the athlete only plays club soccer, they will greatly increase their chances of getting an athletic soccer scholarship. Having coached high school soccer for over 30 years, I can say with absolute certainty that this is not true.

In my tenure as the Milpitas High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team's head coach, I have had the honor of coaching 3 young women who went on to play at the Division 1 collegiate level: Besty Juergens (Fresno State), Jessica Hernandez (San Jose State) and Sarina Bolden (Loyola Marymount). All 3 young women played for both the MHS soccer team and their club team.

Our young athletes should never be forced by anyone to pick participation in one program over another. Young adults should be able to make the most of every opportunity to participate in a variety of sports and teams. Adults should never create situations that place our young athletes between a "rock and a hard place."

Something to consider.

Coach Tomlin