Making enough mistakes and learning from them is what they call "experience".
Best advice I can give if you're thinking about having your child play in any sporting "club" is find out what goals of the club are. Clubs are teams that play throughout the year and aren't a church or rec league.
We're on club #3 and this one feels like a good fit (we said that about #2 but my daughter is getting a lot of playing time on #3 and so is the rest of the team so we're pretty happy). We originally switch to team #3, switched back to #2 after a bunch of promises, then went back to #3. #3 coach said he was glad we did that because now my daughter has no doubt where she wants to be. I like this coach.
Most of these clubs don't advertise or recruit openly. Lot of word-of-mouth type info. AAU, USBA, Junior Nationals, USSSL, YBOA, there are many league and teams to play on. You really have to start looking in December to try and find a team for spring.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
New Beginning
Something you'll need to understand about AAU teams that focus on winning titles: They are not interested in player development. They wish to maintain their starters and keep the bench players on the bench. They believe this is the only way to win. Unfortunately, the only ways these teams get any better is by picking up new superstars. Otherwise they only incrementally improve. There's no big leap in performance.
We were on such a team but before the season, we got approached by another developmental team that wanted my daughter to play for them. We like them a lot but my daughter got sold a bunch of lies by her current coach and the coach asked her to stay. Said my daughter would play a lot during the games. When the season started, it went back to the same as before.
Augh but this time we had an out. The other team still wanted her so we made the switch. I honestly thought no one on the old team would make much of a fuss. It sent shock waves through the entire club. We got accused of hurting the teams chances for a state championship.
We had a meeting and I asked why everyone was so upset. She didn't play but 15 minutes in first 8 games of the season. The explanation? "But she has so much potential and she's going to be great".
Ummm yea.... maybe you should have played her more. Score one for the players.
We were on such a team but before the season, we got approached by another developmental team that wanted my daughter to play for them. We like them a lot but my daughter got sold a bunch of lies by her current coach and the coach asked her to stay. Said my daughter would play a lot during the games. When the season started, it went back to the same as before.
Augh but this time we had an out. The other team still wanted her so we made the switch. I honestly thought no one on the old team would make much of a fuss. It sent shock waves through the entire club. We got accused of hurting the teams chances for a state championship.
We had a meeting and I asked why everyone was so upset. She didn't play but 15 minutes in first 8 games of the season. The explanation? "But she has so much potential and she's going to be great".
Ummm yea.... maybe you should have played her more. Score one for the players.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
ok what's going on?
my daughter has been practicing hard and working on her fundamental skills have paid off.
She's also playing in a church league and she's much more advanced skills wise than most of the girls in that league. If you've never been exposed to organized ball (besides school teams) there are a couple different flavors of organized ball.
Church/Rec leagues: these are leagues that cities, gyms, and churches organize. The YMCA and YWCA often have leagues during the winter. Perhaps the most well known church league is Upward Bound http://www.upward.org/.
The level of competition and organization depend on the group organizing. Call around to see which league has the most teams. This is a good indication of how well the program is run. My daughter plays in a Upward league that has had as many as 8 teams in the girls division IN HER AGE GROUP alone. I've talked to other player parents that their entire program, both boys and girls in all age groups, had 8 teams.
At the club level, usually consisting of traveling teams, is the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). USSSA originally was a softball league but opened up to other sports in 1997. AAU is much older closely linked to Junior Olympics and colleges. Both have the same overall goals and in our local area, the team participate in each other tournaments. AAU is the more recognized "brand" but joining an AAU program won't get you closer to a scholarship than if you played for a USSSA team.
The level competition and quality of the program vary from club to club. I've seen some club teams that are nationally recognized and others that would have a hard team against some of the Upward teams my daughter has been a part of. With the top level clubs, there seem to be 2 sets of different goals: Some run their teams to win games and tournaments. Others seek to develop individual players and worry less about winning (with the belief winning will come with more fundamentally sound players). You have to do your research. Does the
club boast of team accomplishments or of their players who have made it to the college and pro level?
There's other club level organizations like
Which is more popular depends on your geographic region.
Then you have your middle school and high school programs.
Anyway, my daughter plays AAU most of the year but also plays in an Upward league. Playing upward is very fun for parents and players. It's design to give a "big league" feel but trying every player to get equal playing time. My daughter has dominated her league this year and it's boosted her confidence. We've also been working a lot of her fundamentals. She's taken her game to higher level and is turning a lot of heads.
The coaches and players that would pay her no regard before, are now becoming her good friends and mentors. While I'm pleased she is being accepted, it's frustrating to see her deal with finding a new group of friends and seeing her old friends look at her differently because they are still warming the bench. She still chooses to pair up with her buddies during drills but it's becoming clearer that she passing up some girls that used to be better than her.
I guess you could liken it to a kid suddenly becoming popular in school and having their old friends get mad at the kid for it.
She's also playing in a church league and she's much more advanced skills wise than most of the girls in that league. If you've never been exposed to organized ball (besides school teams) there are a couple different flavors of organized ball.
Church/Rec leagues: these are leagues that cities, gyms, and churches organize. The YMCA and YWCA often have leagues during the winter. Perhaps the most well known church league is Upward Bound http://www.upward.org/.
The level of competition and organization depend on the group organizing. Call around to see which league has the most teams. This is a good indication of how well the program is run. My daughter plays in a Upward league that has had as many as 8 teams in the girls division IN HER AGE GROUP alone. I've talked to other player parents that their entire program, both boys and girls in all age groups, had 8 teams.
At the club level, usually consisting of traveling teams, is the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). USSSA originally was a softball league but opened up to other sports in 1997. AAU is much older closely linked to Junior Olympics and colleges. Both have the same overall goals and in our local area, the team participate in each other tournaments. AAU is the more recognized "brand" but joining an AAU program won't get you closer to a scholarship than if you played for a USSSA team.
The level competition and quality of the program vary from club to club. I've seen some club teams that are nationally recognized and others that would have a hard team against some of the Upward teams my daughter has been a part of. With the top level clubs, there seem to be 2 sets of different goals: Some run their teams to win games and tournaments. Others seek to develop individual players and worry less about winning (with the belief winning will come with more fundamentally sound players). You have to do your research. Does the
club boast of team accomplishments or of their players who have made it to the college and pro level?
There's other club level organizations like
- USJN - United States Junior Nationals
- PTS - Prime Time Sports
- YBOA - Youth Basketball Organization of America
- GBA - Girls Basketball Association
- MAYB - Mid America Youth Basketball
- USBA - United States Baskeball Assoc
Which is more popular depends on your geographic region.
Then you have your middle school and high school programs.
Anyway, my daughter plays AAU most of the year but also plays in an Upward league. Playing upward is very fun for parents and players. It's design to give a "big league" feel but trying every player to get equal playing time. My daughter has dominated her league this year and it's boosted her confidence. We've also been working a lot of her fundamentals. She's taken her game to higher level and is turning a lot of heads.
The coaches and players that would pay her no regard before, are now becoming her good friends and mentors. While I'm pleased she is being accepted, it's frustrating to see her deal with finding a new group of friends and seeing her old friends look at her differently because they are still warming the bench. She still chooses to pair up with her buddies during drills but it's becoming clearer that she passing up some girls that used to be better than her.
I guess you could liken it to a kid suddenly becoming popular in school and having their old friends get mad at the kid for it.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
add www.jumpusa.com/ to the scammer, maimer, and rip off list
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.
-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.
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.
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