SPORTS | ‘There’s a bit of imposter syndrome’

and their expenses results in not only disharmony in school squads, but also causes low-income children to drop out of the sport.

A 2020 national survey from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab concluded that children aged 6-18 of low-income families are six times more likely to quit sports on any level compared to children from high-income families.

Junior Maisie Wong is one of four athletes on the varsity girls volleyball team who has never played club sports for volleyball. She cited the cost of club sports and lack of time as the main reasons for not participating. She said even though she sometimes feels inferior to the club sports players, the team environment fostered by head coach Heather Cooper keeps her motivated and passionate for the sport.

“There is definitely a little bit of imposter syndrome or feeling like you’re not good enough,” she said. “But with a good team, coaches, and environment in general, you quickly get over it and play the sport you love.”

Varsity girls soccer coach Erich Rabago acknowledges the inequities in playing club sports, and estimates that 90% of his varsity athletes participate in them.

Due to the money-driven culture of soccer, he doesn’t see a scenario where the game will become more affordable for his team to stay competitive.

“Soccer is pay to play in the U.S.,” he said. “Unless that changes, not sure if there is anything you can do.”

To donate

The VEX competition’s challenge this year is called “Spin Up” in which teams have to work with an allied team to launch disks in a net and spin rollers on the side of the game.

The team is looking to raise $15,000. To donate, scan the QR code above.

The highly competitive tournament accepts around 800 high school and middle school teams out of more than 20,000 entrants worldwide, with teams qualifying through local tournaments or online challenges.

The team credits sophomore Kai Chua for helping them qualify for the global round. Chua had spent 67 hours working and eventually winning an online Mathworks challenge to code with MATLAB to make a drone to follow a line. The win gave the team a ticket to the VEX Worlds round.

As it was his first time coding with MATLAB, the win was even more surprising for Chua.

“I didn’t really have as much time to code it compared to the other team, so I was actually really happy that at least the hours I put in were put to good use,” he said.

Robotics adviser Barbara Schremp said she screamed when the team notified her that they had qualified last week. The robotics team had qualified for the VEX Worlds three years ago by winning a local competition, but were unable to attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These guys have worked and tried so many different ways to get there,” she said. “They were strategizing how we could do this. … This isn’t the first year that they’ve tried things like trying online challenges. They did, and it yielded an invitation. I’m really proud of them.”

Clubs: More opportunities to practice, improve Sophomore Toma Ii has been playing club soccer for six years, which he said has helped him learn to play as a team, how to make a through pass, and how to look for a striker on the run. Li credited the social setting of club sports with the improvement of his ability to play with others, which he said translated to playing on the Branham team, as all the club players had an easier time with teamwork and chemistry.

“I think I’d be more of a selfish person (if I had not joined a club sport),” he said. “It sort of motivates you to work harder than even before.”

For teams, experience counts, and playing on club teams means that there’s less catching up to do.

Senior Jacob Rinehart is on the varsity baseball team, and has been playing club baseball, including travel ball, since he was 12. Rinehart has gone as far as New York, specifically to Cooperstown, where the Baseball Hall of Fame resides. He was part of the squad that went to the CCS championships last year.

“There’s a clear line between the people that have played and people that haven’t, it’s a lot harder to work on drills and stuff and teach new things to people,” he said. “Because you have the people that know how to do it and people that don’t and it’s hard to process that all together.”

School sports are still meaningful and important to the development of student athletes, according to Rabago. He said that even for those in club sports, school sports provide opportunities and chances that club does not.

“I do think school sports are very beneficial,” he said. “They provide the student athletes to play on a team with friends and represent their school. It also provides some players to play different positions on the field, and have different responsibilities within the team.”

Wong said that the culture of Branham volleyball is unique to club sports in that it provides a more philosophical approach to the athletes’

“With a good team, coaches, and environment in general, you quickly get over it and play the sport you love.”

Junior Maisie Wong, who has never played club volleyball

Senior Jacob Rinehart, who’s club baseball since he was 12 motivations to play volleyball.

“The volleyball program at Branham is like no other,” she said. “Cooper heavily stresses the importance of ‘why.’ Why are you playing volleyball? It’s not just because you like the sport, there is always something deeper.”

Though they recognize it as a notable inequality, student athletes expressed doubt that the elitism and lack of accessibility to club sports will ever improve.

Global Sport Matters reported that nearly nearly three out of four adults played at least one youth sport growing up, only 37% of their children ages 6 to 12 played a team sport on a regular basis in 2017, down from 41.5 percent in 2011.”

The article said that cost was a key reason behind the decrease.

Despite the camaraderie and supportive environment of her school, Wong said she has accepted the fact that without club sports, getting on the same level as her fellow athletes who do play in club sports is next to impossible.

“The best players were club players; that’s not meant to put anyone down, it just was the facts,” she said. “However, I wouldn’t say that my development was worse or anything, it was just that they practiced more than me.”

“I’d be more selfish (if I hadn’t joined). It sort of motivates you to work harder than even before.”

Sophomore Toma II, who has participated In club soccer for six years

Senior Ava Medina, who has ommitted to playing volleyball with Shorter University.

Costs of clubs

Costs to play in club sports in the Bay Area can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year depending on the following factors.

Club fees: Clubs typically charge membership fees to cover the cost of facilities, equipment, uniforms, coaches, and other expenses.

Tournament and travel expenses: Many club sports involve traveling to tournaments and competitions, which can add significant expenses to the cost of playing.

Uniforms and equipment: Costs can vary depending on the sport and the level of competition.

Training and coaching fees: Some clubs may charge additional fees for specialized training or coaching sessions, such as individual or small group lessons.

Miscellaneous expenses: There may be other miscellaneous expenses associated with playing club sports, such as registration fees, team bonding events, and fundraising activities.