Handy Manny

I'm in agreement with you Q. I think it puts KY players at a significant disadvantage in comparison to other states who allow their players to participate. Why not use October 15th? Why would a player essentially have to refrain from competitive play in their sport simply because school started? I can think of no good reasoning behind it.

I completely understand what you are saying YM. I have been in a position where I have had to pick up a guest player because of a deficiency in a particular position. It happens in AAU. Kids miss for all sorts of reasons. If I was at full strength, I would never add a player just to be a stronger team. It think then you do run into resentment from the regular rotation.

I really respect what you have said here. Unless you were short players then you take your team and compete. You have coached and trained these kids, now let them play. Building teams for a couple games just to have bragging rights in the state isn't coaching basketball.

I remember another thread that asked if parents would allow their sons to play on a B team for an organization. I guess Mr. Goodin has given his opinion on the question and it appears it is an overwhelming NO. Seems odd to switch to another team if your organization if fielding a team in the same tournament.

I have heard good things about the SWO Leagues, but have never played there.

The old rules had a 24 month window for each age level. I think that is too much at the younger ages. The school cutoff in Boone County is October 1st. Children who turn 5 on or before October 1st can start kindergarten. If they do not start until the following year they are considered a holdback. The old rules could have kids turning 11 playing against 8 year olds. Too much growth occurs in that time frame.

Unfortunately this happens all the time. I have had players leave for another team a week before our first tournament. Some teams can move on, but it can be detrimental to others. I blame parents as much as I do the other coaches. If you make a commitment to play for a team you should honor it . That is unless you were given false information from the start. Research your team and make a decision up front. Don't be an AAU free agent or "rent a player" On a side note, the players that left my team left the other team after a couple tournaments due to false promises. The whole grass is greener theory in full effect. That part of AAU drives me nuts.

Things may be rough for a year or two, but AAU will be better because of it.

I think that is what is most important. I like for the games to be about the talent and skill of the players and not just the physical domination of older kids.

I figured it would cause turnout to be low at most AAU events due the fact that most teams carried at least one or more grade exception players. You cannot fault the AAU because something really needed to be adjusted at the younger ages. A full year of growth makes a huge difference. I think no matter where you make the cutoff there will always be players who benefit and players who lose. I am just hoping that they stay with it and do not back track due to low turnout at events. I would like to see non sanctioned event operators follow suit and adjust their guidelines as well.

Any updates on how tournaments have been with the new rules in effect? Obviously the AAU tournaments are required to follow the new rules, but what about most other events.

In third grade, the KY Heat Elite from Ashland won last year and should make a good attempt at it again this year.

Instead of comparing programs, lets take a look at the question at hand. If the player is going to be a "B" level player on a "so called" big program then it is safe to say that this player would likely not be a candidate for an EYBL program. So we are talking about getting this player the exposure that is right for him. Not all exposure can be a good thing. Bad exposure does nothing for a player. So John Calipari saw a rivals 5 star take your son to school. Is John offering your boy a scholarship out of sympathy? There are plenty of good tournaments that any team with a checkbook can get into and be seen by hundreds of coaches. The bottom line is that you have to be good enough to play ball at the next level and then be able to be seen. That means actually being competitive at the exposure events. I can tell you first hand that it is possible to garner good exposure on small teams. I have first hand seen "small teams" knock off big programs full of D1 recruits at big tournaments in front of tons of college coaches. It all boils down to the right fit for the right player.

It is undeniable that if you are playing U16 or U17 travel basketball you intentions are to earn a college scholarship. So the team you play for should most definitely be about exposure. Exposure for your son is all that you care about. The trick is finding the team where your son can not only play in the big events, but actually has the opportunity to showcase their talents and not be a glorified cheerleader for other players. As a parent, you also have to be realistic in what level of college program your son may be able to play for. As has been stated and I am well aware of, many student athletes earn free educations by playing for smaller teams. There will be more DII, DIII, and NAIA athletes come out of KY than DI year in and year out. It is also important to remember that it is your son's responsibility to continue to work on his individual game during this period. Big organizations and small teams alike have a difficult time practicing and when they do it is mainly team concepts and less fundamentals. That is the nature of the beast. It is next to impossible to play a competitive travel schedule and still train and practice on a regular basis. This may be one benefit to the smaller teams with local kids. You have to remember that AAU coaches coach teams. Trainers train individuals. Now, to answer your question. I would definitely place my son on a smaller team over a B team almost any day at the U16 or U17 level. I would confirm the schedule, the past and present of the group first, but in the end I am looking for my son to be the one getting the exposure. JMO.

The rule basically eliminates grade exception players from teams 8th grade and under and forces them to play up. I like this at the younger age levels because this is where physical size can overcome ability the most. The 8th. grade is tricky because you will have the grade exception players who will likely play U15 twice in a row.

First off. AAU gets thrown around about as much as we call every carbonated beverage a Coke. True AAU teams and programs compete in AAU sanctioned events. I have coached all ages from high school down to second grade. We play competitively. My younger teams play in leagues and travel to the state tournament. The benefit they receive is additional practice and playing against other teams that have similar interest in playing competitive ball. These kids are better than most their age because they are on the court more. We emphasize fundamentals and teach the game right. As a coach. I could develop the younger kids with just practice and hold workouts, but the kids love the games. They are for them to have fun and for me to gauge their progress. We have a good balance at the younger ages. My high school teams are looking for exposure. We do practice, but time is limited. Most of the players are doing individual workouts on their own in addition to team practices. We are playing in exposure events in the hope that our players can get noticed. Every player that I have graduated has had an opportunity to play college ball at some level and I attribute it playing in the spring and summer at these events. The idea of AAU has benefits at every level if used correctly. There will always be bad apples that will try to profit off of any system, but IMO they are in the minority. Parents need to be realistic and find a team or program that fits their needs. Not all players are DI caliber, but all players can benefit from additional practice and competition.

As a coach I like the ability to call a timeout from the bench. I have been able to save myself turnovers before and I have also cost myself baskets by doing so, but I still would rather have the option. IMO it's not any different than yelling at a player to call the TO. What does it matter. You get so many per game to use at your discretion.

I agree with you RCC9 and it is only at the youngest ages where a year either way makes a huge difference in physical development. I think the only players who will be negatively affected by the new rule will be the physically dominant less talented players. As has been stated, if you are skilled and physically dominating, then in all likely hood you are playing up anyway for experience. The new rule just evens the playing field. I have no problems with it at all.

Should we start a new thread for the 7'4" shooting guard at Boone County?

I am curious to see how the trickle down affect will play out with all of the non aau events and leagues. Most of these types use aau rules which has allowed for a 24 month period per grade. This worked because a team could be formed with the intention of playing in the aau state and national and not have to make roster changes. With these adjustments to the aau rules, will more teams shy away form holdback players and will the non certified events change their rules?

It's about time we fired this thread up again.

I have heard that Snapp is no longer playing with Hoop Dreams.

Bump.

I am looking for a player for a 3rd. grade AAU team. I have a really good group of 7 and would like to add at least one more for a fall league. Weekly practices and a possible tournament or two also. PM me for more details or questions.

Have they lost anyone from the first post? If not, are they carrying 14 players? No doubt that is a very talented bunch, but going into the July evaluation period it may be difficult to get all of them the amount of exposure they are looking for.