www.jumpusa.com
-Bait and switch
-Will steal your money
-Will steal your identity
-Will maim you or your player
-Owned by Luke Lowrey
Stay away from them.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Rip Off: Luke Lowery and www.theverticalproject.com
Stay away from www.theverticalproject.com . Nothing but a bait-and-switch site lead by known confidence scammer Luke Lowery. The man has no interest in legitimate business and improving athletes. He just wants money. His methods are dangerous and will maim you. His research and advice is like that of someone who has never played sports before. His web site in intentionally confusing and poorly assembled so you can't find all the fine print.
Do a web search about his products and include "rip off" in the search parameters. Do an online search at the Better Business Bureau. www.bbb.org. The truth will be revealed.
I've heard rumors from insiders they keep a tally of how many people they hurt and rip off and wear it like a badge of honor.
Save you money and protect your identity. Stick to reputable folks like Gannon Baker. Or even just use youtube.
Do a web search about his products and include "rip off" in the search parameters. Do an online search at the Better Business Bureau. www.bbb.org. The truth will be revealed.
I've heard rumors from insiders they keep a tally of how many people they hurt and rip off and wear it like a badge of honor.
Save you money and protect your identity. Stick to reputable folks like Gannon Baker. Or even just use youtube.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Preview of the Spring 2010 teams
It didn't occur to me until yesterday but one of the winter league teams is comprised mostly of the project starting line up for the spring 11s team. When I mentioned it to another parent they laughed at me and said "you just noticed that now?".
To me, that's the wrong approach to take. The girls should be spread out and have to play with other teammates so they can become more rounded. Having the same girls play together all the time will help them win as a team but it will hurt their long-term, individual development. The program web site clearly states the 9-12 divisions are about individual development. But a winning record for the program pets is being given a higher priority.
What really stinks is that in an effort to make it appear Ben will try and balance the teams. Girls like my daughter will be forced to play on the "B" team and they will get constantly crushed in tournaments.
Ben looks to be struggling between keeping pet parents happy and the long term development of the overall program. The loser will be the girls who are not program pets in the short term and the overall program in the long term.
To me, that's the wrong approach to take. The girls should be spread out and have to play with other teammates so they can become more rounded. Having the same girls play together all the time will help them win as a team but it will hurt their long-term, individual development. The program web site clearly states the 9-12 divisions are about individual development. But a winning record for the program pets is being given a higher priority.
What really stinks is that in an effort to make it appear Ben will try and balance the teams. Girls like my daughter will be forced to play on the "B" team and they will get constantly crushed in tournaments.
Ben looks to be struggling between keeping pet parents happy and the long term development of the overall program. The loser will be the girls who are not program pets in the short term and the overall program in the long term.
Gee I was right after all
Well after I mentioned a possible issue about playing time and got an absolute denial of the possibility, the playing time was more closely watched this week and Ben even reminded the coach during the game to get the girls all their minutes.
What's frustrating is the push back I get from just offering a "heads up". Now I'm being pretty harsh and critical. From Ben's point of view, he's got parents riding is butt all the time about playing time. I was one of the last year too. Yes... I was a bad AAU parent. But I have tried to give back by constant volunteering to help make the program go. An AAU program does not work without help from parents. I've also learned to hold my tongue more and let things work themselves out on their own. But something tells me no matter how much I volunteer, support the teams, and try to help, I'll be in Ben's "in" crowd where he'll speak more than 4 words to me without me or my wife initiating the conversation. And that's just his personality. I don't know he does it to be arrogant. But it's a "what have you done for me lately" AAU world.
What's frustrating is the push back I get from just offering a "heads up". Now I'm being pretty harsh and critical. From Ben's point of view, he's got parents riding is butt all the time about playing time. I was one of the last year too. Yes... I was a bad AAU parent. But I have tried to give back by constant volunteering to help make the program go. An AAU program does not work without help from parents. I've also learned to hold my tongue more and let things work themselves out on their own. But something tells me no matter how much I volunteer, support the teams, and try to help, I'll be in Ben's "in" crowd where he'll speak more than 4 words to me without me or my wife initiating the conversation. And that's just his personality. I don't know he does it to be arrogant. But it's a "what have you done for me lately" AAU world.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Power Struggle
AAU leadership is a lot like a child. They want to be in control, told they are being good, and don't like to admit they are doing bad. They like having power and if you're not a top tier player, you better not question. They hide behind the guise of running their program like a high school or college team so they can push players around. The truth is, unless the club has a huge program with lots of players trying to get, the mid tier player does have a limited amount of power and influence when it comes time for state or nationals and they need to ensure a full bench is present. It makes me laugh when the mid and lower tier players are strong armed to play nationals. Yea, I'm going to drop $1,000 and use vacation time so we can travel out of state and my daughter can sit on the bench while the top tier players can all the big-game exposure. Sorry Ben, you gotta do more for us now for me to commit to that.
The girls are in a Winter league right now. The league is made of 3 teams with a combination of 10U-12U players on each team. Each girl is supposedly guaranteed 10 minutes of playing time. This is to attract younger players so the rosters can be filled out. But don't be fooled: It's still the top tier players and coaches pets that get the most playing time.
My daughter told me she didn't get her full 10 minutes yesterday. I'm not entirely sure so I mentioned it to the program director and possibly something to remind his coaches of. He got defensive and stated the coach subbed girls out 11 times. Hate to break it to you Ben, multi substitutions doesn't mean each girl is getting 10 minutes. Not even indirectly. My daughter didn't play the last 11 minutes of the second 16 minute half. She got about 5 minutes the first half and about 2 minutes at the start of the second. Easy math. While I can understand him wanting to protect his coach, fact is his argument was incredibly unintelligent. Instead of simply saying, "I'll remind the coaches", he had to unsuccessfully go for a position of power.
If you're not a top tier player and you have an issue, you'll get squashed. We even had an incident where a top tier player (who was a coaches pet) shoved my daughter during the game because my daughter scored the first 4 points of the game. My daughter looked to the coach, coach just shrugged her shoulders because the top tier players family and coached family are close. I brought it up to the coach and program director. Anything get done? Was the top tier player told to stop acting like a spoiled baby? Nope. Ben and the coach twisted it so my daughter was wrong.
It's funny when you read the team web site: It's a random collection of Ben's thoughts. Very unorganized and hard to follow. It has sections criticizing type of girls. Princesses, drama queens, etc. He uses it as his own personal blog. Then it goes onto to say you shouldn't write/blog anything bad about the program.
Give us break Ben. We know the mid tier girls won't get as much time and attention. They can't glorify you and provide the ego stroke that fuels you. But at least pretend to care about the mid and low tier girls in the program. Let them and their parents get an even shake every now and again. It'll teach your top tier players and parents some humility, team work, and sportsmanship.It something Ben preaches but does not practice.
I'll be writing down the times my daughter goes in and out of the game. If there's a problem, I'll present it. Maybe you could critique my handwriting to find a way for me to be partially at fault.
The girls are in a Winter league right now. The league is made of 3 teams with a combination of 10U-12U players on each team. Each girl is supposedly guaranteed 10 minutes of playing time. This is to attract younger players so the rosters can be filled out. But don't be fooled: It's still the top tier players and coaches pets that get the most playing time.
My daughter told me she didn't get her full 10 minutes yesterday. I'm not entirely sure so I mentioned it to the program director and possibly something to remind his coaches of. He got defensive and stated the coach subbed girls out 11 times. Hate to break it to you Ben, multi substitutions doesn't mean each girl is getting 10 minutes. Not even indirectly. My daughter didn't play the last 11 minutes of the second 16 minute half. She got about 5 minutes the first half and about 2 minutes at the start of the second. Easy math. While I can understand him wanting to protect his coach, fact is his argument was incredibly unintelligent. Instead of simply saying, "I'll remind the coaches", he had to unsuccessfully go for a position of power.
If you're not a top tier player and you have an issue, you'll get squashed. We even had an incident where a top tier player (who was a coaches pet) shoved my daughter during the game because my daughter scored the first 4 points of the game. My daughter looked to the coach, coach just shrugged her shoulders because the top tier players family and coached family are close. I brought it up to the coach and program director. Anything get done? Was the top tier player told to stop acting like a spoiled baby? Nope. Ben and the coach twisted it so my daughter was wrong.
It's funny when you read the team web site: It's a random collection of Ben's thoughts. Very unorganized and hard to follow. It has sections criticizing type of girls. Princesses, drama queens, etc. He uses it as his own personal blog. Then it goes onto to say you shouldn't write/blog anything bad about the program.
Give us break Ben. We know the mid tier girls won't get as much time and attention. They can't glorify you and provide the ego stroke that fuels you. But at least pretend to care about the mid and low tier girls in the program. Let them and their parents get an even shake every now and again. It'll teach your top tier players and parents some humility, team work, and sportsmanship.It something Ben preaches but does not practice.
I'll be writing down the times my daughter goes in and out of the game. If there's a problem, I'll present it. Maybe you could critique my handwriting to find a way for me to be partially at fault.
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