Anyone else think that giving high school coaches more freedom in coaching could help? I think it'd either be a really good or really bad thing, not really a lot of in between. On the whole, I think it might wind up helping though.

Why would the AAU even need to care what grade a player is in if they only went by age. The AAU has no busines in education, so why would they care? Then if you went to the 13U nationals you would be playing 13 year olds(maybe).

Anyone else think that giving high school coaches more freedom in coaching could help? I think it'd either be a really good or really bad thing, not really a lot of in between. On the whole, I think it might wind up helping though.

 

It seems like some coaches are trying to direct their players to one team or the other. More so at younger ages or until they get varsity minutes and they don't have to worry so much about AAU packages to certain schools.

It seems like some coaches are trying to direct their players to one team or the other. More so at younger ages or until they get varsity minutes and they don't have to worry so much about AAU packages to certain schools.

 

I"m not seeing coaches push players in one direction or the other. Very few programs have direct HS coach connections, or am i wrong?

I"m not seeing coaches push players in one direction or the other. Very few programs have direct HS coach connections, or am i wrong?

Most larger AAU programs have direct connections and good relationships with most of the High School coaches in their area. Well at least I can say that for our program. The advantages are obvious in that if you have good coaching most of the High School coaches want to send their kids to your program. The worst thing you can do as a AAU program is to recruit players away from their High Schools to other Schools. You won't last long with High School Coaches playing that game.

Most larger AAU programs have direct connections and good relationships with most of the High School coaches in their area. Well at least I can say that for our program. The advantages are obvious in that if you have good coaching most of the High School coaches want to send their kids to your program. The worst thing you can do as a AAU program is to recruit players away from their High Schools to other Schools. You won't last long with High School Coaches playing that game.

 

Sounds like days are numbered for some then.

Do away with it.

 

 

1000% this ^^^^^

Anyone else think that giving high school coaches more freedom in coaching could help? I think it'd either be a really good or really bad thing, not really a lot of in between. On the whole, I think it might wind up helping though.

 

Can you explain a little more what you mean?

At AAU 2nd grade nationals we played against a Florida team that had a 11 year old on it. Protests were filed by 3 different teams but because the AAU committee has to judge violations the decision came after nationals were over. AAU is very corrupt/money oriented.

At AAU 2nd grade nationals we played against a Florida team that had a 11 year old on it. Protests were filed by 3 different teams but because the AAU committee has to judge violations the decision came after nationals were over. AAU is very corrupt/money oriented.

Just curious, did your team pay the protest fee and, if so, did AAU share the documentation with you? I have always wondered what happens in that case, because I am sure the coach did not fess up and say "you got me, here is his real birth certificate and, yeah, he's three years too old". Did one of the protesting teams KNOW that the kid was too old, or was it just a hunch because he was too big or skilled? Lastly, if the outcome was successful for the protestors, did they modify the tournament finish or take any disciplinary action against the coach/organization?

wacg 5th grade is being challenged on age of a kid as we speak. They had a meeting several weeks ago. Carlos flew in a lawyer and aau put it off. still have not done anything that I know of.

The problem with the age factor, especially in girls is the maturity and size of a 15 year old compared to a 13 year old. A 15 year old girl for the most part is finished growing and has matured into a basketball body. Those teams win because of the bigger/stronger issue, question is do they have better basketball skill, most of the time it is a no. Watching middle school girls basketball you can notice it big time. It would be like a 19 year old senior playing against a 13 year old freshmen which could happen by the way. Age until at least 16U would help big time I would think. A 13 year old 8th grader or a 13 year old 6th grader, makes a huge difference.