Is AAU involvement good for the kids? It seems that it gives them additional play experience and some exposure, but it also seems expensive and time consumning. What do these AAU people get out of this?

They are promoting youth sports. AAU is a choice, so the money spent doesn't have to be spent. I guess it depends on the individual in what they want to spend and how much time they want to put towards something like AAU. AAU is good in that it does give kids more opportunities to play and gain exposure. They are drawbacks to the AAU format, especially w/the big traveling teams and their circuit.

They are promoting youth sports. AAU is a choice, so the money spent doesn't have to be spent. I guess it depends on the individual in what they want to spend and how much time they want to put towards something like AAU. AAU is good in that it does give kids more opportunities to play and gain exposure. They are drawbacks to the AAU format, especially w/the big traveling teams and their circuit.

What age group do the AAU programs start at?

What age group do the AAU programs start at?

The Embryo Division

The Embryo Division

 

Local competition begins Prenatal...

Local competition begins Prenatal...

:laugh: And there in lies the problem.

AAU is essential if you want better competition. We have always had our community team (Ft. Thomas) play in AAU leagues to get better. We are not trying to win National Championships. It is crazy how cut throat it is though. Just this weekend we took them out to play in the BCI tourney and you should have seen the size of the Cincy Lakers and Louisville Rising Stars. Each team had atleast 3 sixth graders (supposedly) at 5'11 or taller. A few of them had hair under their arms and the best was a kid on the Lakers who was 11 yrs old and I'd say he went 5'10 290lbs. Your talking about All Star teams here, choosing from over 200 kids who tryout and come from all over. Our choice to enter these tourneys and leagues is to get them playing at a different level and exposed to the upper echelon of talent. It will make them better as a team as they enter the 7-9th grades and also in high school.

 

The grade school leagues although nice and fun just don't cut it anymore. You cant depend on these to step up your game, although they are great for fun and enjoyment.

What age group do the AAU programs start at?

In NKY it starts at 9u...

I think it is great exposure for kids and a great experience to travel. My issue comes with the cost. What do the kids do that don't have the money for this? I do not know much about AAU, so maybe there are programs for these kids to help?

I think it is great exposure for kids and a great experience to travel. My issue comes with the cost. What do the kids do that don't have the money for this? I do not know much about AAU, so maybe there are programs for these kids to help?

 

 

There are several ways teams can raise money for their travel and tournaments they enter. A lot of teams run their own tournament once or twice a year and they also do fundraiser sales. Many get sponsors who take care of it and others just rely on parents to flip the bill which is probably 60% of the time. Kids who don't have the money, the coaches or other parents usually chip in to cover but it usually is a dire circumstance. Unless they are 6'2 and in the 6th grade, then I am sure they figure out a way to cover his cost. :thumb:

AAU is essential if you want better competition. We have always had our community team (Ft. Thomas) play in AAU leagues to get better. We are not trying to win National Championships. It is crazy how cut throat it is though. Just this weekend we took them out to play in the BCI tourney and you should have seen the size of the Cincy Lakers and Louisville Rising Stars. Each team had atleast 3 sixth graders (supposedly) at 5'11 or taller. A few of them had hair under their arms and the best was a kid on the Lakers who was 11 yrs old and I'd say he went 5'10 290lbs. Your talking about All Star teams here, choosing from over 200 kids who tryout and come from all over. Our choice to enter these tourneys and leagues is to get them playing at a different level and exposed to the upper echelon of talent. It will make them better as a team as they enter the 7-9th grades and also in high school.

 

The grade school leagues although nice and fun just don't cut it anymore. You cant depend on these to step up your game, although they are great for fun and enjoyment.

Does AAU really help smaller(Class A schools) when in the long run you usually lose those kids to a bigger school and you can never compete against schools who have many middle schools to choose from,etc. I hear the "it will make you better" all the time, but how is getting beat consistenly by 30+ points or whatever do this. Wouldn't it be better to play the teams within your district or region that you know you'll be playing in the future than spending the money traveling to big cities and getting pummeled? Don't get the 'playing up' idea and never will.

Does AAU really help smaller(Class A schools) when in the long run you usually lose those kids to a bigger school and you can never compete against schools who have many middle schools to choose from,etc. I hear the "it will make you better" all the time, but how is getting beat consistenly by 30+ points or whatever do this. Wouldn't it be better to play the teams within your district or region that you know you'll be playing in the future than spending the money traveling to big cities and getting pummeled? Don't get the 'playing up' idea and never will.

 

It helps Class A players. Great Example of that is Corey Pelle. He plays with the Shining stars and plays against top competition Nationally. If he didnt play AAu, he would only play against Silver Grove schedule. Nothing against that schedule because this year they have actually beefed it up a little but you get my drift. I am not saying take the Dayton Greendevils to Las Vegas and enter them in the Nike Tournament. I am saying that when you watch some Class A schools you see that their roster consists of kids who have Grade school skills in high school bodies. The pace of the game and aggressiveness is so much different. Its like Shellshock to some of these squads when they have to face schools who have kids that have played AAU.

In a nutshell AAU is good for kids because they usually play tough competition all spring and summer. This can only make them better.

I say: teach them to dribble an shoot, then potty train them.

It helps Class A players. Great Example of that is Corey Pelle. He plays with the Shining stars and plays against top competition Nationally. If he didnt play AAu, he would only play against Silver Grove schedule. Nothing against that schedule because this year they have actually beefed it up a little but you get my drift. I am not saying take the Dayton Greendevils to Las Vegas and enter them in the Nike Tournament. I am saying that when you watch some Class A schools you see that their roster consists of kids who have Grade school skills in high school bodies. The pace of the game and aggressiveness is so much different. Its like Shellshock to some of these squads when they have to face schools who have kids that have played AAU.

I just think if your at a Silver Grove or Augusta,Deming,etc. wouldn't it be more beneficial to play against these kids growing up. I'm sure the Shining stars are not made up of Silver Grove players. What I am talking about is individual schools making up an all star team within that school system and traveling and playing all star teams(probably like Shining) that have kids from various school systems. This happens at 3rd grade and up and the kids never have a chance,yet this improves skills and confidence.