gshoops75

As with most complaints about rules (on or off the court), it's important to know the rule before commenting on it. You should refer to page 10 of your AAU handbook, of which I'm sure you have a copy. Please note that a team that participates in their D2 DQT can only advance to D2 nationals. A team that plays in D1 DQT can qualify for D1 if their finish is high enough (top 4 in the TN DQT), or D2 if not. This should encourage teams to sign up and play D1 (taking on the toughest competition) and see what happens. That's the reason this team did not "just play D2 in the first place." They were willing to subject themselves to defeat at the hands of D1-level competition to give themselves the opportunity to make D1 nationals. In my (very) humble opinion, there shouldn't even be D2 DQT's (in fact, they did not exist until 4 or 5 years ago). With D1 DQT's at best, you go to D1 nationals. At worst, you go to D2. Don't kid yourself, in essense, D2 nationals are a sign-up-and-play event. Not to take anything away from them, but that's what it is.

Got a 12-U team that's wanting to go to YBOA nationals. Still need to qualify through state, but fundraising and planning for a possible nationals trip needs to get started now. I've been to D1 AAU nationals - first class events - a few times, but never YBOA. I understand that they are 2 different animals in terms of the nature of the teams, that goes without saying. What I'm curious about is the quality of the YBOA national tournament - organizationally, as well as the experience the girls get. For anyone who's been, I'd be interested to know: Was the event well run? Was the competition challenging (with regards to the level of your team)? Would you go back again? Did going to YBOA nationals enable your team to end the season on a positive note? Any other thoughts on the event? Thanks, GS

I'm looking for a tournament in or around Jackson, TN the weekend of May 4-6. I have to be down there for a family event, and would like to be able to take my team and play while I'm there. We are 12-U, but would be willing to play 13-U or in a grade-based event. Please post to this thread if you know of anything. Thank you. Crossville Thunder 12-U

This is ridiculous. How can you suggest that "good teams are passed over, because of the way the state system is set up"? To be "passed over" is what happens when someone is picking things out, seperating the good from the bad. You "pass over" the things you don't want. These teams weren't passed over by some objective third party, they all had the same opportunity. Is the NCAA tourney system flawed? Do you think it's "too bad" that every year there is at least a team or two that makes it to the Big Dance that's sub-500 - because they got it together and won their conference tourney? And, I would submit that the TN state tourney system is even better than alot of similar playoff systems, i.e. the NCAA. With the NCAA, some teams don't even get a chance to get in because they don't qualify for their conference tournament. With the TN system, everyone gets a chance to start at the district level, and for some teams, they don't even have to win a district game to get to the region. Plus, the seed match-ups are always 1-4 and 2-3, etc, and the region champ hosts the sectional - so you are rewarded for strong play, which is how it should be. Ask any coach and they'll tell you, it's not how you play at the beginning of the year, but how you play at the end. That's why the NCAA tournament is so much better than the BCS. Shoot, you lose a football game or two, you're chances for a national title are over. But in hoops, whether NCAA or TN HS, you can lose all year long - as long as you get in done in the end, who cares? Ask Pat Summitt what she cares more about - the 10 regular season losses they had in 95/96, or the national title they won that year. I spend most of my time on the girls board, but after hearing about Cloundland's story (7-18, winning 7 straight, and getting to state) I couldn't help but get behind it. These are the kinds of things that make sports great, regardless of where your allegiance lies. Every coach of a sub-500 team next year should point to this Cloudland team as an example of what can happen when you bring it all together. And, I say all this having no idea where Roan Mt or Cloudland HS is...

Got to throw some congrats out to the Blue Angels (Lady Jets) 16-u team for making it to the semi-finals of the TN Miracle Classic this weekend. Finishing in the top 4 of this 16-team tournament is huge, considering the fact that it is one of the most competitive events in the South. Even more impressive is that they accomplished this with a team made up entirely of players from the same high school - half of which were playing out of their age group by 1 or 2 years. Not only did they compete against all-star squads from other states, they beat several of them including two different Dayton Lady Hoopstars (DLH) teams - a powerhouse organization from Ohio. You should see the look on people's faces when they realize that their "put-together" team just got beat by a high school team! Especially some rude, obnoxious ones from Dayton... Just a good example that chemistry, toughness, and teamwork can make up for alot. But, pure size and talent will win out if there is enough of it - as evidenced by the SC (Nike) 76'ers! Still, this bunch turned alot of heads this year with what they accomplished as a high school team playing in the world of AAU all-star squads. Congrats ladies, I enjoyed it...hope you did too... I'll be looking forward to watching you this winter! Coach GS

I think Knox Finest has at least 6 players back from last year's team, including 3 starters. Yes, FD left, and certainly should have given the opportunity with the 15's she got. That being said, the SRT's Knox Finest have played in have been weak - this assessment coming directly from them. I don't think they've played a game all season that they didn't win by 30+. I guess what I meant by saying this age group is weak compared to the national scene is this: last year we (the Stars) won the 13-u state going away. Never trailed, won all games by double digits. Then went to nationals, struggled to get out of pool play, and then went 2 and out in championship play. This with 2 of the top 10 best posts in the country, and with overwhelmingly the best team in TN. Regardless, I think Knox Finest takes the state (good luck ladies) and hope all the 14-u teams that go to nationals can represent TN as well as all the other age groups do. GS

Well...as far as 14-u goes, I don't have a dog in the fight this year, but there will have to have been some major changes between TN Team Pride last year and this year for them to beat Knoxville's Finest. And, there may have been big changes, I haven't seen them this year. I do know that Knox Finest has a solid nucleus of players back from the state champion team from last year. Will TTP have an answer for GJ? That will determine who is this year's state champ. This age group is not what it used to be, due to a large # of players playing up in other age groups and as well as several strong teams breaking up. Unfortunately, the teams in it stack up pretty weak nationally as well, at least as of right now. However, if the individual talent at this age ever is pooled, it would be a national title contender. Hey Showtime, good luck in Memphis this weekend. Tell FD and her parents I said "good luck", as well. Give me a shout sometime...

In searching for tournaments on aaubb.com, I noticed where this group puts on several tourneys in middle TN. I've never played in any of them and don't know anyone who has, so before I sign up and send in my $$, I was hoping to get some unbiased (no bashing, please) feedback on their events. Was it well run? Did your team benefit? Competition level? Would you go back? Some of their recent tourneys include: APRIL 8-10: 3rd Annual Greenwave Shootout, Gallatin APRIL 15-17: 6th Annual Phi Slamma Jamma, Lebanon APRIL 22-24: 5th Annual Tennessee Tune-Up, Tullahoma & Shelbyville Thanks for your opinions. GS

Have you had much interest in this league? I am coaching the Cumberland County HS girls (mixed ages 14u-16u) this spring/summer and we are looking for some games. We'd be interested in playing any hs varsity team, or AAU 16u/17u or strong 15s. Feel free to call me at 931-265-6060 or email at gshoops75@hotmail.com Thanks, Grant

Talk about hitting the nail on the head. This is the bottom line. I started working through a local association this year (doing jr high and jv), following a job change having coached and taught the past few years. The associations are BEGGING for new members. They will literally take anyone (remember, the exam is open book), put stripes on them, and send them out to start calling. Granted, to call varsity games you have to have been selected to "move up" to varisty and pass a closed book exam - but there is no real formal training. So, as far as the idea of accountability, it's tough to hold someone accountable in a situation where the leverage lies with the official rather than with the association (ie, they need him more than he needs them). If you're looking for a real-life comparison, look to the teaching field. There are tons of great teachers out there, just like there are tons of good officials. But, why do you think there are some situations where teachers get away with doing almost nothing in the classroom in terms of instruction? Often, schools can't find people to fill the jobs they have open, much less get rid of ineffective existing teachers in order to find someone better. They pretty much have to settle for what they've got. It's because there are application files that are EMPTY. How can you hold someone accountable, tell them they need to shape up or they'll be gone, whenever there is no competition for their spot? For the sportswriter that said the analogy was wrong about kids not being held accountable for not blocking out, well I agree with you. But that only works because there is a large number of warm, willing bodies to take the place of a player who doesn't get the job done. Same with coaches; they can be held accountable because they know if they don't get it done, there is a deep applicant pool waiting for their job.

I have played under, coached in, and reffed for the TSSAA. I have read over all the posts in this thread thus far, and have the following comments. 1. First, this thread comes up every year around this time, once people have been to enough games, etc to get into official-bashing mode. That says enough about the finicky nature of our opinion on officials. 2. The majority of the posters seems to have a "conspiracy theory" type of attitude towards the officiating they get. Never in my days as a player or coach did I feel like an official was "out to get me" or "had a problem". Never in my days as an official did I go into a gym thinking, "I'm going to screw so and so". When a team loses, there are hundreds of reasons why and 99% of the time, those reasons have nothing to do with the refs. You may want to place the blame outwardly on the refs, but until you accept personal resposibility for the outcome(s), you will never be able to move forward as a coach/team/player/fan. I will grant you that 1% of the time that a late call (or missed) call in a close game could swing the outcome one way or the other. But, that's the nature of the sport. But, even with that, most forward-thinking, responsible coaches will tell you that there were "plenty of chances to win" earlier in the game before the call even became a factor. 3. Officiating is an interpretive science. By definition, that means that you take the events that you see, measure them against an accepted standard, interpret the results, and make a ruling - much like a judge would in court (that's why they call it an "opinion"). Thus, inherently, anytime you have an opinion passed down, there will be two segregated groups of people created, those that agree and those who do not. Those that agree are generally always those in whose favor the opinion goes in. Those that do not agree are those in whose favor the opinion goes against. Might want to get used to this fact, in basketball and in life. 4. As one poster interestingly noted, "Also supervisors need to be harder on their offcials when they mess up but its hard to when you are short handed anyway with the number of refs you have." This is very true. Most assigning officers have trouble, and alot of stress, finding enough warm bodies to cover the games. Believe me, they cringe at the thought of sending an inexperienced, relatively untrained official out to do a set of games - but what choice do they have? As the same poster says, "Everyone loves to complain about the offciating but no one wants to step up and do it themselves". How true. In the past, I've had people who moan and groan about the officiating, tell me "but, I wouldn't have your job". Go ask any assigning officer for any association in the state, and they'll tell you how excited they get when a new young person comes along that wants to officiate. There are few folks out there who meet the job description: able bodied, willing to travel and work nights, basketball knowledge a plus, experience preferred, but not required, opportunities for advancement limited, moderate pay. will NOT train, must not have children playing (so you are free on game nights), have desire to be cussed at, threatened, chased, and assaulted. 5. Officials love basketball and love the kids. That's why they are there. Certainly not for any other reason (see above job description). They cringe when someone gets hurt. They think about it all the way home when they miss a call, even if no one else noticed that they did. They also cringe when they see and hear elementary school and middle school aged kids taking pot-shots at the officials because that's what they hear and see their parents (and sometimes coaches) doing, because they know that cuts right into the fabric of the game at that age - which is sportsmanship, respect, and teamwork. Hopefully, for the sake of the game, at some point the tide of finger pointing towards officials will ebb. It really makes me wonder who else these "finger pointers" blame their shortcomings (losses) on. If you fail a class, do you point at the teacher and say "they didn't like me'? Do you get passed over for a promotion and say, "so and so kissed up to the boss"? Are you unable to afford the car you want, and say "if Kerry had won, I could"? For once, maybe, do think it could be you? Your fault? Did you ask the teacher to stay after school to help you? Did you show up early to work and do more than the bare minimum asked of you? Did you take night classes so you could get the promotion and the raise? Fortnately, I was lucky enough to play for coaches and have parents that recognized that players and coaches win AND lost games - not officials. As soon as we wanted to complain about the officiating, they were always quick to point out what we (or I) could have done better to have affected the outcome - as much as they may have wanted to complain themselves. And, I am so thankful for that. It really makes basketball (and life) more enjoyable when you accept responsibility for the things you can control and free yourself from the frustration of complaining about those things which you cannot. This might be the longest post in coacht history, but this is an issue that cuts right to the core of our game - the game I love and am concerned about. I hope everyone can filter, funnel, and accept resposibility for the bad things and enjoy the games this season. It's a great game when you look at it purely. Which, is how your 8 yr old sees it when they get on the court for the first time. Remember that? Wasn't it fun?

Matt, is there a place on-line where I could take a look at the registrants? Just wondering who some of the other younger TN players might be. I know who your 15's are but I was curious about any others. Sounds like a good turn-out. Glory will be there, it will be interesting to see how she does against the older kids. Give me a shout sometime and let's talk about the spring. --Grant

Congratulations on the victory! It will be fun watching this generation of players go forward with their careers. As evidenced by this summer's AAU finishes, TN girls basketball continues to set a standard of excellence. Way to go coaches and players! Grant TN Stars 13-U

TN Team Pride White was third in Pool A and TN Liberty was third in Pool B. Anyone know who won the 3rd/4th place game between the Magic and Ladies? This was a well run tournament with nice gyms, nice locker facilities, and nice folks.

We had a team at the SRT and while there were a few mix-ups, we didn't run into any major problems. That's not to say there weren't any, it's just that we didn't experiece any in our age group (13's). The biggest thing we dealt with was the change of gyms from Smyrna to Blackman, and not finding out until we got to LaVergne to sign-in Sat. morning - then having to find our way to Blackman. That, and the fact that there were no directions from gym to gym - only from I-24 to each gym. So, if you were at Blackman and needed to get to Hooptown, you didn't know how. But, that was minor. We managed. On the bright side, I thought the gyms themselves were nice, the officials were fine, and the hospitality room was a nice touch. I would go back, but I can understand how someone else's experience may have been different based on how their age group was done.