HighSchool OT

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

AAU is part of the problem cause it use to be the very best players played it, not you have all the water down levels of AAU. Players and parents think that if their kids is playing in AAU.One they are very good, Second that they are just as good as the ones playing at the top level, and they too will get to play D1 ball. Until they stop letting every Daddy form a team after his kid doesnt make the kids he tried out for, or the parent gets mad with the coach cause son isnt playing and forms his own team. Bottom line is sometimes you just have to tell the player and the parents that Johnny isnt that good.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

Wendellboy10, well said. I agree that it is a combination of things that are hurting the young athletes. As a high school coach, I can't tell you how many times I hear about a kid being an AAU All-Star. The fact of the matter is that when the team does well, people get noticed. The challenge is that we live in such a "ME" society that we lose focus of what is important. Personally, I would rather coach a kid with less talent, but a team attitude and a strong work ethic than a "wannabe all-star" that has attitude problems. If these kids REALLY want to get noticed, they should make the GRADES in the classroom first, be a hard-working and determined athlete second. If parents put as much emphasis on grades as they do getting their "ALL-STAR" exposure, they would probably find the path to success a little easier. Sorry, off my soapbox now. I just hate seeing kids with the talent to play at the next level, whether D1, D2, or D3, blowing their opportunities because their focus is misplaced.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

parents need to step back and refocus on what is important. once they do that the next step is finding someone they trust to coach their child. trust means to be honest. if johnny or susie isnt good enough or needs to improve in an area then they need to be told. when coaches dont point out the areas needed to improve that should be the first indicator that they do not need to be coaching in the first place. no player is complete. everyone needs to improve. yes there are high school coaches that do this, but i believe there are far more aau coaches due to the nature of the system. to be a coach at the high school level requires an education. there are some great aau coaches. some have the education but there are far more that do not. aau coaches that undermine what the high school coaches do are the very problem. society has set up the athletes for failure. the everybody wins mentality makes it so a kid is going to listen to someone blowing smoke before someone being honest. parents get caught up in the emotion of being a parent instead of stepping back and letting coaches coach. the sport is in trouble if it continues to move in this direction.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

Great points 1975musty.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

I think there are some good aau you teams, but I'd the coach is in it for the wrong reasons it ruins the kids and their mindset

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

Heres whats going on,10 years ago if a kids was Failing in school,the parents would ask the kid why hes was failing. Now days the parents are asking the Teacher why ARE YOU failing my kid.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

For those in these positions administrators, teachers, coaches, counselors, parents, academic advisors, or anyone in a position to help the child you all are held to a standard in which the best interest of the child is the focus. Agreed that each of the positions I named don't always work together but please don't forget why you signed up for your job if it's money then you will never understand, if you don't want kids protect yourself from having them, if a player has a desire to play at the collegiate level don't discourage the kid because dad comes to the games drunk and doesn't like the way you coach, if a kid isn't the smartest in the classroom but he has a killer jump shot should he not deserve the same effort in his education that you would give a national honor student, if an athlete has flaws he is not alone everyone around him or her has them no matter the position and if you are in any of these positions your job is to educate, protect, advise, compromise, uplift, and give the child your best effort at whatever their interests are whether it's a ball or a book. Yes to some of these kids winning is everything especially when it comes to sports because for some that's the only W they have in the win column in their game of life.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

Ibeck, yup, same thing goes on between the parents and coaches

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

Cutty, good point..Yes to some of these kids winning is everything especially when it comes to sports because for some that's the only W they have in the win column in their game of life. For me, it is definitely not about the money, it is about the mission. For a kid that struggles academically, I will work to aid them in getting a better understanding because their future is reliant upon educational learning. As a coach, I will run through a wall for any of my athletes and they know it. In turn, I demand the best efforts from them..in or out of the classroom, on or off the field or the court. We (teacher/coaches) are so much more than our title and those of us who truly are dedicated to the craft are trying to help shape these young men (that's what I coach) into the best that they can be. To me, that's winning.

RE: Does Winning Mean Anything

@lbeck. the same thing happens with baseball, you travel ball, select ball, little league, etc. There are more teams than players and some kids end up playing on more than one team. But the important thing is that daddy got his son a team to play on. LOL

@cutty, I also agree with you on your points.

@twilsonsr. I agree with you as well with your coaches stand point. There is nothing better than seeing one of your former players as a successful person 5 years after you coached them. But some players and a lot of parents are more concerned about how many points little johnny gets and how much playing time, and is their a scout in the stands and although you helped him get a B average in school, they are looking beyond that. And I really hate it when a parent looks at their star basketball player or football player as their cash cow!