Jul 4, 2021 6 hrs ago Athletic directors, state officials, coaches and families are all in agreement that participation in club sports has been on the rise over the past 10-15 years. The question, sparked by a tense Clear Lake school board meeting in April, has become how can club sports and education-based athletics co-exist?  In Iowa, the answer isnât clear-cut. Lisa Grouette / LISA GROUETTE, Globe Gazette West Fork eighth-grader Libby Trewin says the pros of playing both club sports and school athletics far outweigh the cons. "I would not be the player I am today without travel ball," she said. The IHSAA handbook has left the policies regarding the relationship between club sports and high school athletics up to each district.