thunder34 Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Why do so many coaches force or even mandate that their players play AAU. Many softball programs struggle to even play half a schedule because they cant play any weekend for having to go to AAU tourney. A basketball coach would never go for a player missing a game in January to go play in a weekend softball tourney. But the softball coaches seem to be happy playing 15- 20 games and not practicing or playing on the weekends.This is sure tragic to those girls that really want to play softball. Hey AD's, and principals take control of this before you ruin softball in small town USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tackle Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) Your concerns affect a lot of sports. This happened a few years ago. A kid missed a Saturday track meet due to an AAU basketball game. The next week, the father went to the track coach and told him that he was disappointed that the track coach allowed him to miss the meet and that he felt that his son should put a school team over a non-school team. He asked the coach to require his son to put track first if any more conflicts came up. Now here is the interesting part of the story. That dad was the head basketball coach of the school. I wish all coaches in every sport would give that kind of support to their school teams. Too many kids specialize today at an early age. In my opinion, many would be better off to get a variety of experiences by participating in several sports. Some parents want their kids to play a sport year round so they can have a college "career". Many never make it past high school and some burn out before they graduate. Edited March 24, 2011 by tackle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
score3 Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Pretty much any player that wants to get a basketball scholarship plays AAU as that's where college coaches mostly watch kids play. If you want to get a softball scholarship, you play travel softball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Warhorse Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Pretty much any player that wants to get a basketball scholarship plays AAU as that's where college coaches mostly watch kids play. If you want to get a softball scholarship, you play travel softball. I really think that AAU and other Travel Teams keep this propaganda alive. If you are good enough player in any sport, the colleges are going to find you. There is alot of monetary incentatives for the folks who run these AAU and Elite Travel Teams. The cost for alot of athletes is prohibitive. The really sad part is that it cuts down of the high school experience and limits opportunities for especially small high schools to maximize success in all sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoganknows Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I really think that AAU and other Travel Teams keep this propaganda alive. If you are good enough player in any sport, the colleges are going to find you. There is alot of monetary incentatives for the folks who run these AAU and Elite Travel Teams. The cost for alot of athletes is prohibitive. The really sad part is that it cuts down of the high school experience and limits opportunities for especially small high schools to maximize success in all sports. Good post ...AAU is a money maker for lots of folks and the players, parents , school athletic programs all suffer and get taken for a long and expensive ride so Johnny or Susie might get to play at North South Dakota State...it's so sad. Add Club volleyball and Club soccer to that list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redog Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Why do so many coaches force or even mandate that their players play AAU. Many softball programs struggle to even play half a schedule because they cant play any weekend for having to go to AAU tourney. A basketball coach would never go for a player missing a game in January to go play in a weekend softball tourney. But the softball coaches seem to be happy playing 15- 20 games and not practicing or playing on the weekends.This is sure tragic to those girls that really want to play softball. Hey AD's, and principals take control of this before you ruin softball in small town USA. Must be a pretty small town - takes about 11-12 girls in softball and 7-8 girls in basketball.... that's 20 or so - where/what are the other girls doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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