With busy schedules and stressful classes, many students seek out low-commitment, fun, and social clubs. In recent years, LZHS has implemented a couple of low-commitment sports, such as pickleball and badminton club. These clubs give students with a place to be social and active without the stress of a traditionally competitive sport.
“[Low commitment sports] allow you to focus on other interests and hobbies outside of school,” Sofia Cook, sophomore and member of badminton club, said. “I was taking harder classes, so the badminton club allowed me to actually hang out with friends and have fun, while also not completely wrecking my schedule and making me quit other things that interested me.”
Badminton club was founded at a tough time for school activities and sports: 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially approached by students Elizabeth Garcia, PE teacher, decided to support students in creating the club.
“[The club] was able to be in school, [it was] one of the only things we could do, [it is] non-contact, [and we were able to] physically distance. It was one of the seniors [who] had the idea to start the club,” Garcia said. “[…] I was more than willing to do something with physical education that would be something kids could enjoy without a big commitment.”
Pickleball club also provides the same type of freedom. The club initially started because the current senior presidents of the club, Katie Mack, Joey Miester, and Aiden Abasolo, started playing pickleball in the summertime and wanted to introduce the fast growing sport to other students.
“[Some] of my favorite memories while running this club [are] being able to play pickleball with friends I don’t usually see outside of school,” Abasolo said.
While these types of clubs are beneficial to students Garcia has seen a decrease in some student participation within the pickleball club.
“Pickleball club that meets a couple of mornings a month, but that has been mostly a senior activity, and I don’t know if that’s going to continue next year [unless students take over leadership roles,” Garcia said. “It seems like it was a little more popular in the fall, and then it’s dropped off to just maybe eight to ten kids at the most. So it’s unlikely to be something we can do next year if we don’t get more people participating.”
Like pickleball club, badminton club is also a great opportunity for students to take on leadership roles; the club offers roles such as president, secretary, and public relations. Pickleball club may continue next year due to current members expressing interest in leadership roles. Both clubs often meet a couple of times a month, but space can be difficult to find during the winter sports season, and it may be hard to find students who are always able to participate.
“A problem we have faced while running the club is the lack of advertisement for pickleball club,” Abasolo said. “Often this would result in a lack of attendance.”
Overall, these sports are an opportunity for students to exercise without committing to a sport or paying the expenses of a traditional sport.
