AAU+Handlers= Trouble

[pigman]

I've gone on rants on here before about the AAU being out of control, and all these players ending up with handlers that have nothing to do with their schools. GT has stated several times Tubby didn't like playing the AAU recruiting game and that contributed to the drop off in recruiting. I can't say that I disagree with Tubby on that issue. A kids choice in my opinion should involve the player, parent, and some guidance from the high school coach. It's the high school coaches and parents that make sure players are eligible and put in the most time with them. I guess the surprise news on O.J and Wall's handler have yanked my chain again and I just needed to vent.

[SportsGuy41017]

Not all AAU/spring and summer coaches are like this, it is a small percentage.

 

Like it or not, the coaches who have these players over the spring and summer "can" have a lot of influence and get the player more exposure. But I agree that the final decision should be up to the player himself, with strong guidance from him family, and a small amount from his HS and spring summer coaches.

 

The problem is that many of these kids have/had no father in their lives, that is where most of these "handlers" come in. They are sort of like the male that the kid(s) look up to and will believe anything that the handler tells them. Looking at some situations, yes the best thing for the kid to do is get as far away from these people as possible, but since most get in the lives of these kids long ago, it's kind of hard to make that break.

[Log Mountain Boy]

I've gone on rants on here before about the AAU being out of control, and all these players ending up with handlers that have nothing to do with their schools. GT has stated several times Tubby didn't like playing the AAU recruiting game and that contributed to the drop off in recruiting. I can't say that I disagree with Tubby on that issue. A kids choice in my opinion should involve the player, parent, and some guidance from the high school coach. It's the high school coaches and parents that make sure players are eligible and put in the most time with them. I guess the surprise news on O.J and Wall's handler have yanked my chain again and I just needed to vent.

 

You are dead on. I know all AAU coaches are not crooked, but it can be such a crooked profession. I just think its sad the way these guys exploit kids the way they do in certain situations.

[MJAlltheWay24]

A kids choice in my opinion should involve the player, parent, and some guidance from the high school coach. It's the high school coaches and parents that make sure players are eligible and put in the most time with them.QUOTE]

 

I agree with you about the kid's choice. But I will throw out there that a lot of the time the AAU coach really does spend more time with the players than their high school coach does. It was kind of like that for me and I wasn't even close to being big talent.

 

AAU coaches spend a ton of time with their players, especially if they stay with them from the beginning. Think about it, from say third grade until they graduate high school?

[DADDY CAT]

A term like "handler" always sends up a warning flag of sorts, IMO...