[JRutledge]

The kind of tournament should not ever bother you IMO. AAU is only a problem if the evaluators do not back you or understands the environment. I have been on the side as a clinician on staff at a camp with an AAU Tournament and as a camper in the same situation.

As a clinician the evaluators took the most crap because the coaches and fans realize you are "in charge" and start to complain to us instead of the officials on the games. And they complain directly to us about situations. As a clinician we can also shield the campers from direct confrontations. And that is not unique to AAU Tournaments/Camps that happens when the HS variety takes place as well.

As a camper at an AAU/Camp the coaches are still the same, but it has been an opportunity to show your GM skill and show how you can handle coaches and give Ts appropriately.

AAU is usually a problem because the TDs and the assignor do not back and often have a total conflict of interest in their roles. In a camp setting there are teaching moments and situations that can be dealt with. Also AAU Tournaments are best run as camps when the person running the camp has some "juice." In the case where I was a clinician the camp director was a former NBA Official and current NBA evaluator. He can put most TDs in their place or put the situation in perspective. The camp I attended was run for a college conference and the camp director is a current D1 assignor. Also the camp I attended likely had better officials working those games then they would see at any other time. Also that camp ended before the tournament ended so they went from 3 Person to 2 Person (local guys only) to work the most of the final games. I am sure they saw or experienced some drop off and any complaining probably was not well received by the teams if that was the case.

Peace