At UC High, many students have decided to take part in a sports club on campus. Sport clubs are a great source of extracurriculars for those who do not want to make a full commitment to a sports program, but are not to be taken lightly nonetheless.
Though they may not be met with the same prestige nor given the same label, sports clubs and school-funded teams are two sides of the same coin. Varsity Beach Volleyball Player Senior Arjan Singh said, “Our club functions the same as a traditional sports program offered by the school aside from the fact that it is not school sponsored.”
If you find yourself wanting to play a sport that may not be offered by the school, there are many ways to play that desired sport without the funding of the school. “Beach volleyball is a club and it is a way to get around the fact that our school doesn’t offer beach volleyball as a CIF-sponsored sport,” said Singh.
The players in clubs often have to face more struggles than those who play on a school fund team. “Clubs as a whole do not receive the same respect that other sports teams do just because of the fact that we are not able to get that CIF label and credibility,” said Singh.
While sports clubs offer a way for athletes to engage in their sport even if it is not offered at a CIF level, they are not without their challenges. Badminton Club President Senior Ash Warren said, “We started this club because last school year we lacked gym time to play in the off-season. Our tryouts and time in the gym were cut short a couple of times because other teams’ practices were prioritized. I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, but it was a bit frustrating at times.”
Sometimes work and love for their sport enables them to form close bonds. “The community of our club has a strong bond because there is a small number of players, which allows for a tighter connection,” said Singh.
Clubs can bring people together and build bonds that can stand the test of time: “Seeing everyone give each other advice, visit outside badminton facilities together, and try their best to improve as players individually helps our team overall,” said Warren.
“Even outside of the club, our players are very close and keep in touch with each other whenever we can since we spend most of our time together attending practices and games basically every day during the season,” said Warren.
“Generally our player’s efforts are aimed to progress our club into eventually becoming a CIF-sponsored team within UC High,” said Singh.
Commitments are also made by the coaches of the teams. “The coach’s effort is a big part of our success as well. Even though they are not funded by the school, they devote their time and effort to the team,” said Singh.
“Everyone’s willingness to help each other out is what helps us grow as a team, although badminton is not prioritized compared to other sports,” said Warren.