Switching Goals: Soccer players decide between sticking with their club team or switching to the school’s

It was nearing the end of the spring season for the Sporting Kansas City Academy (SKCA) U17 team and despite it being his 5th year, junior Jack Lucas was spending more time watching his team from the bench than playing alongside them. He needed a change.

The straining choice many elite teen soccer players go through is whether they will stay with a year-round club or play on their school team. Lucas made that decision and left his club to play high school soccer. However, in a similar position, sophomore Wesley Cribb confidently chose to stay with SKCA. 

“I want to pursue [a] career in trying to be a professional soccer player, and I think Sporting Academy is much better in quality and they play more quality teams,” Cribb said. “I think that’s what is going to get me into a really good college or on a really good professional team.” 

Cribb believes staying with his club team will boost his chances of playing soccer at one of his dream colleges — University of Virginia, The University of California-Los Angeles

and Gonzaga University.

With two-hour practices every weekday and weight lifting afterwards, one to three games per weekend and traveling for away games, Cribb’s life resolves around soccer. The workload and speed of play at Sporting is more rigorous than at other club teams, according to him. But in the long run, the packed schedule and high-intensity training will be worth it for a better shot at playing soccer in college and professionally. 

After 5 years on SKCA, Lucas felt it was time for him to pursue the rest of his soccer career with a new club. After talking to his understanding U17 coach, Rumba Munthali, Lucas moved on to a new team: Kansas City Scott Gallagher. It was hard leaving his teammates and coaches that he had formed such strong relationships with, but he made strong friendships with, but he knew it was the right decision for his future in soccer.

With his new team having more flexibility than the last, he had the opportunity to play soccer for East as well — Lucas made the varsity team when he tried out.

Now playing under Coach Jamie Kelly, Lucas has found that the coaching styles of Munthali and Kelly are generally similar despite one coaching club and one coaching high school.

“Coach Kelly is a great coach and gives great advice,” Lucas said. “The coaches at Sporting were really good too.” 

According to Lucas, the main differences between SKCA and East soccer is the quality of players and how intense the environment is. Sporting coaches expect more from you than they do at East. 

Lucas noticed when he was at SKCA there was a lot more passing and connecting with your team on the field whereas East players focus on possessing it themselves while also working with their teammates.

Lucas is having a lot of fun with high school soccer and enjoying himself. Being able to have light-hearted practices and play alongside his friends helped make the East soccer experience better.

“The practices are really fun and just getting to talk with my teammates and the bus rides are hilarious,” Lucas said.

The choice between playing for the club they’ve been with for years or joining their high school team of friends they know from school, ultimately came down to what they think is best for their career goals.