Compromise best thing for athletes

The issues of high school sports versus specialization and club sports commitment came into focus for me last week following the girls basketball season opener.

A coach was discussing with a player her importance to the team. But she was going to miss upcoming games because of a soccer trip to North Carolina.

Other teammates on that traveling team who played Greater Spokane League varsity basketball last year simply chose to not turn out this year and avoid any conflict.

This raises a question that seems to have no answer. Must you choose one sport over another, or can you find time to do more even though sport seasons overlap?

Athletes are torn, and who can blame them? Club travel throughout the United States for elite showcase competition and for college exposure is alluring.

But there’s also more community interest in high school play and joy when playing with classmates in front of a crowd of adults and fellow students.

Which to choose? Club soccer and high school girls soccer seasons overlap in the fall. One Mead player opted for premier only and not high school. Others reportedly mulled that possibility but continued to do both.

Some GSL soccer coaches compromised by not practicing Mondays to allow a day of rest for players who otherwise would be worn out playing seven days a week.

“We didn’t have to take Mondays off,” said Ferris coach Robin Crain, who weighed the pros and cons. “But it’s so hard on the girls. They break down.”

His daughter Tori, now playing at Whitworth, is one who dealt with the overlapping seasons. She chose to specialize, giving up basketball after her freshman year to concentrate exclusively on soccer.

“It was her decision,” Crain said. “She loved soccer so much and there were benefits. It was great being on the only team to become a national champion.”

But then there are players such as former Mead and WNBA basketball player Stacy Clinesmith, who could excel while playing multiple sports.

“She was the best female soccer player I had,” said ex-coach and current activities coordinator Dick Cullen. “She didn’t play a lick outside of school and could have gone Division I.”

University’s Tonya Schnibbe juggled high school and club commitments in two sports and played a third in high school before moving on to Weber State for basketball.

One only has to look at current Ferris football/basketball standouts to see it can be done.

I understand that some athletes fall in love with a sport and prefer to specialize. And I realize the value of travel teams and the exposure to college attention.

But it also seems that athletes needn’t be forced to choose. They should play as many high school sports as they can manage, if so desired.

“Kids do too much as it is,” Crain said. “But they choose to do too much and certain athletes can do so without a problem.”

It is incumbent, therefore, that reasoned adults who administer various sports programs work out compromises to their seasons to accommodate the best interests of athletes.

That’s easier said than done, of course.

Adulthood is no guarantee that common sense is going to prevail over self-interest.