5 Questions with UHSAA Executive Director Dave Wilkey

1. What impact are club sports having on high school sports?

A: Major. The concern is that it is coming down to people having to make some hard choices. For instance, in California, they have many club soccer teams that don't allow players to participate in high school soccer … So parents have to decide if their children are going to miss out on that high school experience. And many chose to do so, which tells you how anxious families are to promote their kids and make them elite athletes. It's a paradigm shift. It's huge. The difference is really in the philosophies - club sports cater to elite athletes and high school sports is more about participation and developing the person, student, school and community. It has also led to more specialization, which is not only counter to the mission of high school sports, to have a multi-level and variety of experiences with specialization coming later, but also the student athlete. The danger in all of this is the over emphasis on things that might never materialize. Earning a college scholarship to play sports is the dream of many people but the reality of a very few. Our goal is excellence without excess. That's becoming more difficult to do in this climate.

2. What do you hope student athletes gain from participating in high school sports?

A: I hope they get higher grade point averages, their attendance is better and their drop our rates reduced — all of the things studies show students get from being involved in high school sports. But I also hope that they put themselves in these life-learning laboratories; that they learn the lessons taught there and apply them to their lives. Life isn't always fair. Sometimes a referee does blow a call, and that's life. You have to keep playing. I hope they learn lessons so that when they head out into the real world, they are prepared for everything that will come at them.

3. What impact will the economic downturn have on the growth and development and even the ability to sustain prep sports?

A: There was a lot of conjecture in the fall when our football revenue was down that it was due to the economy. I personally don't think that was the issue. Wrestling and Swimming gates are what they were last year, and so far, I'm hoping basketball will be also. We don't feel the economy has diminished the attendance significantly. People still need an outlet … I really feel high school activities will be part of that pressure release valve. When times are tough, people might spend less on a lot of things, but they still need something to make them smile. I believe high school sports can put a big smile on people's faces.