Is It Worth It?: Competitive sports cause teen athletes to sacrifice important experiences for the small chance of reaching the college level

I smiled bitterly as I scrolled through my friends’ Homecoming Instagram stories showing off their sequined dresses while pinning boutonnières on their dates. But I didn’t have time to swipe up to DM them and ask how the dance was going. 

Maybe the after party was starting then, but warm-ups for my KC Athletics club soccer game in Springfield started in 20 minutes.

I grabbed my water bottle and made sure I had everything I needed in my bag: shin guards, soccer socks and cleats. I gave one last outfit check in the mirror. My all-blue uniform stared back at me, and I couldn’t help but wish that it was a sparkly, strapless navy dress instead.

Whatever, this is an important game. You’ll just go to the dance next year.

A familiar lie I tell myself. 

Being involved in club sports at a high school level puts myself — and other athletes — in a difficult position of either becoming highly-coveted recruits or playing the sport for fun with no in-between.

I’ve got a tournament but I’ll go to that party next month.

I can’t hang out that day, I’ve got practice at 6 p.m., but we can go see the movie next week.

I’ve got soccer tonight, I’ll study for the test tomorrow.

With team practices three days a week, constant away games over the weekend and individual training on my free days, soccer has become the center of my life. Everything else has to work around it. I wish I could be the athlete that says they’d give up anything for their love of the game, but it’s starting to take too much time out of my life.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve slowly started to notice how demanding club soccer is. Every waking moment revolves around training, practice and achieving perfection. I have chemistry homework to do over the weekend? Too bad.

I can’t help but wonder if it’s even worth it.  My goal is to play soccer in college, but having to constantly prioritize training over my social and school life to even have the slightest chance of playing in college doesn’t seem to pay off.

Socializing with friends outside of the sports bubble has become a rare luxury. I’ve started to miss out on events like birthday parties, vacations and concerts because they conflict with my training schedule. Schoolwork has become a juggling act, coming home from practice sweaty, tired and sore doesn’t give me much incentive to do assignments.  

The sport I used to adore is now causing me to sacrifice my teenage years just for the possibility of a D3 college offer.

The constant need to improve, impress coaches and secure scholarships and offers is turning sports into a high-stakes endeavor rather than an enjoyable pastime.

When I first started soccer in fifth grade, I played for enjoyment — eccentric goal celebrations, mandatory post-game ice cream trips and unbeatable grass stains hold my favorite memories of the sport while I played on my elementary school’s team. 

Then in fifth grade, I made a decision that affects the majority of my time today. I vividly remember my parents sitting me down at the dining room table and telling me that if I wanted to continue playing soccer I should move on and start playing on a competitive club team. At the time I knew it was going to be different, but I wanted to get better at soccer. 

I made some new friends, got brand new uniforms and my dribbling skills improved, but as the years went by the level of competitiveness increased — winning became crucial, my passes were expected to be perfect and there was little room for error.

As much as I’d love to play college soccer at a high level, club sports are an awkward in-between of training academies and recreational teams. When I joined club soccer, I didn’t understand the rabbit hole of the commitment I was making.

Trying to meet the expectations of the sport started to take a toll on my love for it. Instead of being excited to play, I began to feel anxious. I stopped caring about post-game ice cream because I was too busy going over every mistake I made in the game and I didn’t get grass stains anymore. I got bruises. 

Youth sports should foster a love for the game and allow room for personal growth beyond the field. It’s essential for parents, coaches and institutions to recognize the individual needs of each teenager. Young athletes and their parents should carefully consider their priorities before going down the club sport route.