Starting Young
Basketball is a fairly common sport to play, but those select kids who want to take it to the next level go to play AAU. AAU basketball is a popular activity for kids who love the game, and for parents who think that their child is talented. There are two different options for AAU teams, one option is the national version. These are the teams who will go to California, Florida, and other places across the country to play high level competition. The other option is regional AAU. This is the local version of travel basketball where kids can gets fairly good competition without having to go across the country. While both levels of AAU are a fun, international AAU is considered to be better competition and a better way to get college coaches to notice you.
Kids feel like the way to improve at their sport is to be on a travel team. They are not wrong, AAU basketball is a fun experience that teaches kids a lot, but it can also be unhealthy for the kids who are not prepared for it. When I see/hear of fourth graders who are traveling across the country to play games and practicing two hours away from their house three night a week, it makes me wonder if this activity is helping or hurting our basketball youth. There is good reason to be worried about the number of kids who will get …show more content…
There are many good things about it is you use it in the right way. If you start when the child is ready and committed enough, you can make great memories and play in high level games without the fear that they will grow tired of it. Now, there are some parents who do believe that their child is a blue chip players and should be looking at D1 schools in middle school. This idea is fine if you are smart, don't just throw them on an AAU team when they are eight, give them one-on-one lessons for a year or two. See if they are really willing to put the work and effort into the game without reaping the success through live
Basketball is a fairly common sport to play, but those select kids who want to take it to the next level go to play AAU. AAU basketball is a popular activity for kids who love the game, and for parents who think that their child is talented. There are two different options for AAU teams, one option is the national version. These are the teams who will go to California, Florida, and other places across the country to play high level competition. The other option is regional AAU. This is the local version of travel basketball where kids can gets fairly good competition without having to go across the country. While both levels of AAU are a fun, international AAU is considered to be better competition and a better way to get college coaches to notice you.
Kids feel like the way to improve at their sport is to be on a travel team. They are not wrong, AAU basketball is a fun experience that teaches kids a lot, but it can also be unhealthy for the kids who are not prepared for it. When I see/hear of fourth graders who are traveling across the country to play games and practicing two hours away from their house three night a week, it makes me wonder if this activity is helping or hurting our basketball youth. There is good reason to be worried about the number of kids who will get …show more content…
There are many good things about it is you use it in the right way. If you start when the child is ready and committed enough, you can make great memories and play in high level games without the fear that they will grow tired of it. Now, there are some parents who do believe that their child is a blue chip players and should be looking at D1 schools in middle school. This idea is fine if you are smart, don't just throw them on an AAU team when they are eight, give them one-on-one lessons for a year or two. See if they are really willing to put the work and effort into the game without reaping the success through live