I'm sure everyone has read the various threads citing, real and/or perceived, problems with the high school football format. High school basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball has already taken a back seat to AAU and other club sports. It is a widely accepted belief and opinion that most college recruiting in those sports now come more from club teams then high school teams. There are often opinions and allegations of wrong doing by schools to encourage players to attend their school. There are complaints about the perineal powers being unbeatable and teams wanting to move to other classes to get away from those great programs. And, there is the ever present complaints about private schools, and now there seems to be complaints about independents schools.

 

Will we see an end of high school sports and a move to club sports only? Sure, that seems crazy, and I expect a lot of people to say, "that will never happen". Well, many would have said we would never see six classes of football in Kentucky, so I would be cautious in saying "Never". Is the move to club sports really what everyone is unknowingly asking for?

I'm sure everyone has read the various threads citing, real and/or perceived, problems with the high school football format. High school basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball has already taken a back seat to AAU and other club sports. It is a widely accepted belief and opinion that most college recruiting in those sports now come more from club teams then high school teams. There are often opinions and allegations of wrong doing by schools to encourage players to attend their school. There are complaints about the perineal powers being unbeatable and teams wanting to move to other classes to get away from those great programs. And, there is the ever present complaints about private schools, and now there seems to be complaints about independents schools.

 

Will we see an end of high school sports and a move to club sports only? Sure, that seems crazy, and I expect a lot of people to say, "that will never happen". Well, many would have said we would never see six classes of football in Kentucky, so I would be cautious in saying "Never". Is the move to club sports really what everyone is unknowingly asking for?

 

This is a great topic! But a very serious topic for high school sports. It's already happening. The people that say it will never happen must not have kids in competitive select sports recently. The clubs for all these sports are pushing it and you can't really argue with where kids get more recognition. I already know several soccer players that only play club soccer. They don't play high school because the game is too slow, fear of getting hurt or they rather be trained by a much more experienced club trainer than a high school coach. It's happening in all sports, but soccer and volleyball seem to be leading the way. It is a real threat.

This is a great topic! But a very serious topic for high school sports. It's already happening. The people that say it will never happen must not have kids in competitive select sports recently. The clubs for all these sports are pushing it and you can't really argue with where kids get more recognition. I already know several soccer players that only play club soccer. They don't play high school because the game is too slow, fear of getting hurt or they rather be trained by a much more experienced club trainer than a high school coach. It's happening in all sports, but soccer and volleyball seem to be leading the way. It is a real threat.

 

True. I know someone who got a D1 scholarship in soccer and never played high school soccer. It is ironic this thread is in the KY Football forum because the one sport that doesn't have to worry about this is football since there is no select/club/AAU football.

High school sports will never die.

True. I know someone who got a D1 scholarship in soccer and never played high school soccer. It is ironic this thread is in the KY Football forum because the one sport that doesn't have to worry about this is football since there is no select/club/AAU football.

Yea, but how long until we see a club version of football start? If the benefit of college recruiting is recognized in other club sports, how long until someone sees football as a worth while endeavor?

High school sports will never die.

Maybe not, but it may just fade away. In other words, you may see the "super stars" playing club sports and the "rest" playing high school sports.

Maybe not, but it may just fade away. In other words, you may see the "super stars" playing club sports and the "rest" playing high school sports.

 

As long as the 'superstars' are in school then they'll want to play in high school, IMO. None of the club sports interfere with high school sports seasons right now and I think high schools will make it hard on the club sports. I can actually see club sports losing their luster before high school sports.

Maybe not, but it may just fade away. In other words, you may see the "super stars" playing club sports and the "rest" playing high school sports.

 

I agree with both of you! It will never die, but it is already transitioning to what you describe. It will be much harder for football to do it, but I'm here to tell you that soccer, bball, softball, volleyball and baseball are not far away. I talk to parents about this all the time! Old school families will hang on for awhile, but I feel it will take over eventually. The KHSAA is already starting to address it. Thats why they have opened up sports to be practiced year round (except for the dead period in July). They have removed many of the restrictions so the kids can practice with the schools more often.

As long as the 'superstars' are in school then they'll want to play in high school, IMO. None of the club sports interfere with high school sports seasons right now and I think high schools will make it hard on the club sports. I can actually see club sports losing their luster before high school sports.

 

It will be hard for the superstars to not play in front of the classmates and schools. But if more and more start getting scholarships outside of school and kids end up getting hurt playing school sports and ruin their chance at the schooly they have locked up, it could evolve very easily. I just had this conversation with a good friend of mine that has a freshman baseball player at Eastern. He told me he very seriously considered not playing his junior and senior year for fear of getting hurt. It admitted to his Dad that he didn't go all out in high school because he didn't want to get hurt. For example, he is a middle infielder. He would never block the bag on a steal in highschool. Or dive as much. He always played about 3/4 speed to keep from getting hurt. Now I know you can get hurt anywhere, but I think his phliosophy was no one of any importance was watching him at the high school games and that he wanted to make sure he was healthy for the season that really ment something and could get him to the next level.

 

PP, you know I really respect your opinion and I truely hope you are right in this case. But I see it happening everywhere. It's kinda scary!

It will be hard for the superstars to not play in front of the classmates and schools. But if more and more start getting scholarships outside of school and kids end up getting hurt playing school sports and ruin their chance at the schooly they have locked up, it could evolve very easily. I just had this conversation with a good friend of mine that has a freshman baseball player at Eastern. He told me he very seriously considered not playing his junior and senior year for fear of getting hurt. It admitted to his Dad that he didn't go all out in high school because he didn't want to get hurt. For example, he is a middle infielder. He would never block the bag on a steal in highschool. Or dive as much. He always played about 3/4 speed to keep from getting hurt. Now I know you can get hurt anywhere, but I think his phliosophy was no one of any importance was watching him at the high school games and that he wanted to make sure he was healthy for the season that really ment something and could get him to the next level.

 

PP, you know I really respect your opinion and I truely hope you are right in this case. But I see it happening everywhere. It's kinda scary!

 

I could be in denial. I can't understand the mentality of playing a sport and not playing to win regardless of whether it is a club sport or high school. If my kid isn't playing 100% then he just won't play. I can't imagine playing something and not going hard all of the time.

I could be in denial. I can't understand the mentality of playing a sport and not playing to win regardless of whether it is a club sport or high school. If my kid isn't playing 100% then he just won't play. I can't imagine playing something and not going hard all of the time.

I feel the same way, but the reality is the players today are not the players of old. But, you inadvertently sided with me and RCC here. If the player isn't playing 100%, he just shouldn't be playing and he is not playing at 100% on the high school team but is in the club sport. So, in your statement you have said the player will not play high school sports, but will play club sports.

I don't think high school sports will go away, mainly because there are far many average joes playing sports than playing club sports. Club sports are for the highly talented players, 99% of athletes are not highly talented and do not receive college offers to play their sport. I had no chance at playing college football or baseball, that never kept me from playing in high school.

I feel the same way, but the reality is the players today are not the players of old. But, you inadvertently sided with me and RCC here. If the player isn't playing 100%, he just shouldn't be playing and he is not playing at 100% on the high school team but is in the club sport. So, in your statement you have said the player will not play high school sports, but will play club sports.

 

 

It wasn't inadvertent. I may be in denial. I'd make my kid give up the club sports though.

As long as the 'superstars' are in school then they'll want to play in high school, IMO. None of the club sports interfere with high school sports seasons right now and I think high schools will make it hard on the club sports. I can actually see club sports losing their luster before high school sports.

 

Wooooooo!!!! Are you kidding me?? Club sports are devastating high school sports, especially on the girls side. Select teams now expect year round participation making athletes unavailable for other sports. See volleyball for an example. Girls basketball numbers are dropping fast because of this phenomena!

 

Another example is swimming. USA meets occur concurrently with high school meets meaning that the USA swimmers are often unavailable for high school meets. USA swimmers also rarely attend high school practices.

I'm sure everyone has read the various threads citing, real and/or perceived, problems with the high school football format. High school basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball has already taken a back seat to AAU and other club sports. It is a widely accepted belief and opinion that most college recruiting in those sports now come more from club teams then high school teams. There are often opinions and allegations of wrong doing by schools to encourage players to attend their school. There are complaints about the perineal powers being unbeatable and teams wanting to move to other classes to get away from those great programs. And, there is the ever present complaints about private schools, and now there seems to be complaints about independents schools.

 

Will we see an end of high school sports and a move to club sports only? Sure, that seems crazy, and I expect a lot of people to say, "that will never happen". Well, many would have said we would never see six classes of football in Kentucky, so I would be cautious in saying "Never". Is the move to club sports really what everyone is unknowingly asking for?

Times have definitely changed since I was in school. Today, to get noticed by scouts and recruiters etc. the last place you will be noticed most of the time is on the playing field for your high school team. You are right about the AAU teams etc.

 

I used to think that in some team sports, the high school season is where the kids would get noticed etc. Not anymore. Baseball alone, you get noticed by playing Summer Ball and playing in tournaments/showcases designed to bring a lot of teams together where it is easier for scouts to watch a large group of players rather than just a few at 1 game during the high school season. I receive about 3-4 emails a week about baseball camps and showcases they want my boy to attend all over the country, but I only receive them because my son played summer ball last year after his High School baseball season was over.

 

I don't think high school sports is dead, I just think the times have dictated that there is so much emphasis on the athletes and competing at the next level that the actual High School sports has just become a small stepping stone to other teams and leagues for these athletes to get noticed in.