The X’s and O’s of Basketball blog posted an ESPN Outside the Lines episode the other day about the growing tension between club basketball and high school basketball.
The argument is that AAU is essentially competing with high school basketball because AAU tournaments are starting to get more visibility due to NCAA recruiting rules. I actually appreciate that ESPN did this little piece because it does seem to be a growing phenomenon...in fact, it seems worthy of a documentary (can you imagine what Hoop Dreams might have looked like with an AAU element included?).
As an educator, this is of particular interest to me because I find the behavior of adults in youth sports to be sickening at times.
For example, at one point in the video above, a high school coach tells a story about how some of his players who need summer school cannot attend summer school because their AAU coaches are demanding they attend summer tournaments, thus jeopardizing their ability to play high school ball and find a way to college if they do not receive a scholarship for whatever reason. That’s ridiculous…and I would even go as far to say reprehensible.
When you consider the numbers regarding how many high school basketball players actually make the NBA, it is just silly for an adult to suggest that a teenager should ever prioritize basketball over his education. I suppose we could even go one step further and say the problem is not even the coaches – it’s the corporate entities that sponsor this industry of youth semi-pro-masquerading-as-amateur sports that’s the problem.
Surely one could argue that in Europe, men’s basketball players like Ricky Rubio are also encouraged to make basketball a lifestyle at an early age. Fair enough. But he’s also actually making money to do so. Far too often, adults are asking U.S. youth to play amateur sports on a semi-pro schedule without any compensation and to the detriment of their education…and that’s where it gets absurd to me.
Anyway, this made me think about the impact of club basketball on girls’ high school basketball. I know very little about girls high school and club basketball…but I wonder -- with the WNBA creating the opportunity for girls to aspire to playing professional basketball in the U.S., has there been a parallel increase in importance of club basketball? Are we seeing a similar situation where girls are forced to choose between playing for a high school team and an AAU team in their quest for visibility?
Given that there is considerably less money involved in the WNBA (and women’s sports in general), I would assume that the stakes are not quite as high for girls’ basketball players.
Hopefully the adults involved are able to keep things in perspective.
Related Articles:
As all-star tournaments gain momentum, 'AAU football' begins (nice summary of the harms of boys' AAU basketball...and how it could spread to football)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/03/24/seven-on-seven/index.html
Logging you in...
petrel · 826 weeks ago
However, the great motivating factor in this mess - and even in the paragraph above - is money. "Follow the money" is a great maxim to follow in just about any dustup and it answers a lot of questions. I don't think that the stakes will be as high in girls' basketball because there's just not that much money involved. Everyone out there wants a piece of the next Lebron James - I assume that they are hoping either for prestige or for some sort of kickback from an alumnus, or to gain the status and prestige of being a regional powerbroker, to have college coaches kowtow to your whim. That's not the case in women's basketball. The stars of women's basketball usually make their cash either through endorsements or playing overseas, and the "effort to return ratio" is significantly smaller. The worst elements in AAU (and there are also elements just as bad in boys HS basketball) are looking for a cut, and that cut isn't as big in women's basketball.
A coach · 826 weeks ago
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
One thing I wonder about is how AAU coaches can work more closely with high school coaches and somehow try to support each other. Is that possible? Have you been able to develop relationships with AAU coaches that work with your girls?
Brian McCormick · 826 weeks ago
And, yes, there is recruiting in girls' basketball and there are clubs who influence a girl to a certain high school or a high school coach who influences to a certain club. And, yes, girls engage in tournaments throughout the spring, even though recruiters have only one weekend in April and 2.5 weeks in July to recruit at club tournaments. May is a total dead period, yet most girls are playing in at least one tournament per weekend.
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
I clearly can't be objective in this -- I am strongly against this entire "AAU" culture from both a basketball and educational standpoint. Maybe someone can convince me of the value of high stakes AAU tournaments and how that could change...
Brian McCormick · 826 weeks ago
And, it is ironic for a college coach (below) to criticize the system as the college recruiting process is largely to blame for the increasing popularity and importance of spring and summer basketball.
My proposal:
http://thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/content...
My issue is that the competitive season is too long. But, it's going to be hard to go back because everyone is convinced that this is the best way to develop players, nobody listens to scientists and the powers that be are financially invested in the current system.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/419387/u...
Helen Wheelock · 826 weeks ago
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
CarolAnne 28p · 826 weeks ago
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?page=ti...
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
From Tara Van Derveer from that article...
"The problem has worsened in the United States with the relatively new promise of fame and success in women's basketball. "We're following the men right down this road of kids playing 12 months a year, 80 to 100 games," Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer says. "The club coaches can be powerful brokers. Girls live in a more emotional world. The chemistry, the camaraderie. So much is about being accepted. Then you have a male coach with a 14-year-old girl wanting to please this person. Girls are really motivated by being pleasers. Are they more vulnerable? Yes, I think they are.""
Helen · 826 weeks ago
And let's not get started on high schools -- who can forget the Seattle articles from a while back (linked in the add. to this article, Deafening Silence: http://fraser61.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/deafenin...
Q McCall 58p · 826 weeks ago
Sad...
hendue · 816 weeks ago
We emphasize we are supplemental to high school. I don't believe we are an exception. We just don't have as many girls to fight over. Boo Williams program poaches our area (they are over 4 hours away) and so do Fairfax Virginia groups. But, to be fair for the national level exposure that's where our girls had to go. Not anymore.
The educational piece isn't missing. I believe that's because we have a leader with D1 experience. He knows the grades/scores have to be there and preaches it. We don't want to detract from the high school experience. Most HS team camps are held in June now because the universities hit the road in July. We take June off so our girls have no need to choose. When we started back up at the end of june, girls were encouraged to miss for team camps. We don't want them missing for open gyms because of the value of the showcase experience to the team.
Our girls have earned over two million in financial aid and scholarships from basketball the past two years (based on 4 years of schooling). I believe we offer a great service to girls basketball in our region.
We don't blow smoke. We give them honest appraisals and coach them accordingly. Prima donas have a very difficult time and we don't cater to parents whims.
My dilemma now is to evaluate what I can give to the AAU program next year because I'm taking over a declining high school program. I've made a commitment to growing the hs program. I'm going to encourage my younger assistants to work with the AAU group. The lead coach is an excellent mentor. I will use it for staff development. Sorry for the long note.
Q McCall 58p · 816 weeks ago
It definitely seems that coordinating schedules as you have and having your younger assistants work with the AAU group is a good way to go.
And never apologize for long-winded notes on this blog... have you read *my* posts? ;) This one is among the shortest...
hendue 1p · 816 weeks ago
This was the first time I've witnessed the recruiting feast at Jr. Nationals, Mike White/Fila, etc....
Our program serves girls in Central and Southwest Virginia. This program is where they are getting their offers from colleges. Not the high schools. We had an upcoming Jr. who is recruited by Big East schools. That doesn't happen out of our high school.
I believe we, high school coaches, are moot to the recruiting process in lower populated area like mine. Club ball gets our girls exposure. I use this organization to grow the girls in my high school program who want to focus on b'ball. Soccer has forced this specialization issue in my area. It's year round. Track and Field is year round. Volleyball is year round, but not as well supported as the others I've mentioned. I don't think it serves high school athletes to specialize before their jr. year, maybe should say senior because of young age of many female hs players.
So, I'm not sure, for areas of the country like mine, that the growth of AAU for girls is a bad thing. I'm inclined to supporting it, but using it for my high school's benefit. We have quality coaching.
Q McCall 58p · 816 weeks ago
So as a coach who is involved in both, how do you think AAU can do a better job of providing exposure to these girls without interfering with their education? That's my main concern...
That and the tendency to convince solid players that they're superstars.
AAU Coach · 787 weeks ago
I understand the concern over AAU basketball, however, I do not think ALL AAU is bad. I think most clubs are in it for positive reasons and the shoe companies ruin it for the rest.
In order to evaluate AAU you really have to look at it on two levels, Showcase and DI / DII.
The AAU teams that I feel cause the problem are showcase teams such as the Team Nike, Team Melo, etc. They spend their summers traveling with only minimal practices (2-3 a season) and they pick up their players at 16/17 years old.
On the flip side, there are (majority) AAU programs who are in it for good and actually have a positive effect. For example, my club has 3-4 practices a week (same as HS) and run a HS style practice. We don't scrimmage, we run drills. Education is important to us, I even know a few coaches who have suspended players from their clubs because their grades were not acceptable. These coaches usually have these kids starting at 10-12 years old.
AAU Coach · 787 weeks ago
AAU Coach · 787 weeks ago
I know this post is kind of old and may not get a reply, just wanted to share my thoughts on the subject.... By the way, my club is a boys club.
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