My 9 yr old son was fortunate enough to make an 11U AAU team which qualified for a holiday tourney. Head coach was away for Thanksgiving so I volunteered to handle the duties. Our team begins warmups & it's quite evident the opposing team has 12-13 yr olds in an 11U tourney. Game starts and opposing coach is screaming directions non-stop like Bobby Knight & General Patton. Up 30+ points in the 2Q they continue to full court press. The director of our program asks the opposing coach to call off the press, coach goes bananas & parents now get into it. A lovely scene!
At the half I approach opposing coach and he states "we're building a program, not calling the press off". I reply " building a program scared to play in it's own age bracket. What exactly are you accomplishing beating kids 2 years younger?". He walks off in a huff.
After the game, AAU tourney coordinator apologizes for allowing them to play and notes the X-mas tourney will have age verification. There is no age verification process!!!! Too late, I pulled my team and we'll head elsewhere.
I heard AAU was shady but this validated it. Youth hoops is clearly headed in the wrong direction.
At the half I approach opposing coach and he states "we're building a program, not calling the press off". I reply " building a program scared to play in it's own age bracket. What exactly are you accomplishing beating kids 2 years younger?". He walks off in a huff.
After the game, AAU tourney coordinator apologizes for allowing them to play and notes the X-mas tourney will have age verification. There is no age verification process!!!! Too late, I pulled my team and we'll head elsewhere.
I heard AAU was shady but this validated it. Youth hoops is clearly headed in the wrong direction.
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