Question: Why so many clubs?

When I was in high school (2002-2006) there was only a handful of clubs for travel volleyball in Western NC. If I didn't go in Charlotte the choices were only three clubs. I had to drive 30-45 minutes to get to these clubs. No club had their own building. They used high school gyms or church gyms which may be further away then 45 minutes. Now there is 30-45 clubs with in a hour drive for volleyball clubs. Baseball, softball, and basketball are have more in the area than volleyball (though volleyball is becoming a large sport in NC).  So what happened in 12 years? Why is there more travel teams or clubs then McDonald's in towns? Is there a need for so many clubs? Are there that many players needing a place to play? Are there that many outstanding coaches who need a place to coach? Let's look at these questions together and hear me out here. 

1. What happened in 12 years. Population change is important factor. There are more players to play. With that comes big business. There is a lot of money to be made in club / travel sports and charlatans want to cash in on this. 

2.  More teams then McDonald's in a town. Pure pettiness. That is why small towns have two or more club teams. Look at the roots of the clubs starts. Most start with a parent being mad their child didn't make the club or travel team they wanted to make or the parent got mad at the coaches for not making their daughter a super star even though the player was never at practice or just plain out sucked.  The parents then go start there on club or team. 

3. Is there a need for so many clubs? No. There is no need for this. In my area alone there is a watering down of talent. Very few clubs will be able to compete for a USAV or AAU national title because teams don't stay together. There have been some that have won recently but the point is how many more teams could go on to win high level titles. We are to watered down.

4. Are there that many players needing a place to play? The decline of high school sports have left athletes who want to get better without much support in the school system.  Who wants to waste time with a coach who is a math teacher and the school begged him or her to coach because they signed up for coed volleyball in college (just using volleyball as the example) or played in middle school. High school programs overall are starving players of the team spirit and the sport. Not all of these programs do this but most. Players need a place to be a family and grow in a sport.

5. Coaches needing a place to coach. No. There is not that many outstanding coaches who need a place to coach. In fact, I believe there needs to be a dramatic scaling back of coaches and more coaching education. Look at the travel teams or the clubs. The coaches are parents or the young adults children of who coaches in the club. Do they know how to coach? No. Do they know how to player develop? No. When I attend tournaments I look around at the clubs there and look at the coaches. Do that next time you go to an event. Look at the coaches and watch them. Do you think these coaches are outstanding? I bet you will see my point.