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Don't work this kid's AAU games
You think you got it bad now? 12-year-olds whose parents think your call just cost their kid a D1 scholarship. Well, get a load of this:
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I don't have to worry about "losing a scholarship" for a kid. I never work those kid's games!!
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It's interesting, though. At a camp this weekend, I had a game where both teams had a kid who was playing to get seen by the coach of the D1 college where the camp was held. Both coaches said to me, the standard, "Well, you know #11 is just trying to get seen. Please take it easy on him." My partner would say, "A kid that fouls out of any game I'm reffing, isn't ready for college, coach."
Each kid was very tall, and of course, they ended up against each other in the post. I was interested in my own thinking process as I was working. I'd start to call a foul, and then hesitate. Neither coach complained too much, so I suppose we struck the right balance. But I'm sure I would have called more if the coaches hadn't said those things before the game. I also don't think either of them was ready for college, although of course they still have a year more of hs. Both were pretty rough on defense, and just not polished in their ball-handling. But if they don't get into that school, it won't be because of me. But is that a good thing? |
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I would expect any coach who takes the trouble to come see a kid play would want to know how he reacts to a wide range of situations, not just while he's getting pampered by the coach, the officials and his team mates. I've worked ncaa sanctioned camps & tournaments and have never had anyone tell me to take it easy on any player because he's getting looked at. Hell, they are *all* getting looked at during these things by *someone* at some point. But I have told players to be smart, shut up and play the game because coach so-and-so is watching him and he's about to screw up his big chance. |
Somebody needs to tell daddy that he's nuts. You can't offer an eight grader.
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Also, I'm working on not blowing so many fouls, and I really didn't pass on any of the OMG stuff. And as I said, neither of the coaches complained (about that one issue) much. Thus the question. Was it a good thing or a bad thing that I let the coach get in my head a little? Did I end up making the right no-calls, but for the wrong reasons? |
If I come away from a game second guessing myself then I may not have done the best I could have. Perhaps the coaches comments did influence your call making process and you want some back. If you can walk away and feel ok about the game then you did well. I see a little of both in your post so live and learn.
An example I have is a partner came up to me and told me that the best player on Team A had 4 fouls and we better make darn sure his 5th is well earned. I found myself changing the way I was making my calls after that and the game seemed to get a little out of hand (rough play) while I waited for this kid to hack his way out of the game. Anyway once I shook my head and got rid of the kid the game finished without incident. I walked away wishing I had not changed my focus and learned a lesson, NO player is protected from fouling out, call the game consistant and you have no problems. Don't take my comments too literal, I was passing on calls that were fouls but not hard fouls and I know that was wrong. |
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I am a little concerned about the camp I will be attending this weekend. Hopefully I can watch some action near the evaluators and get a feel for what they think should be called before I have to step on the floor. |
Why work any AAU? If the AAU is not associated with a camp, I will pass.
Peace |
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As the father of two boys' (senior and freshmen in H.S. this coming school year) who will play Div. III sports when they matriculate to college, I can understand a parent wanting to assure his child's college education as early as possible but this is ridculus. Who is to say that Floyd will even be at USC when this kid graduates, plus the kid can't sign any earlier that his senior year in H.S. This is just plain nuts. But I am not suprised. The first AAU National Championship Tournament I officiated was the 1993 Girls' 12U and one could not turn around without falling over a member of a Div. I coaching staff member. Remember, 12U means that they just completed sixth grade for crying out loud. I am done ranting (foaming at the mouth as some esteemed members of the Forum would say). MTD, Sr. |
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[email protected] |
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Gee - a 3-way with Juulie and Dexter!!! All we need to make it perfect is Diebler! In fact, he could be the referee!! :eek: |
Im with your partner on this one. If either one of them gives you a reason to call a cheap shot or a violation then I feel that they are not ready to move to the next level. We only call what we see.
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Just had to offer this - kind of along the lines of the subject of the the thread.
My older son played AAU ball with a kid whose grades were so bad he was never eligible to play high school basketball. The kid ended up signing, and playing with, an elite D1 program. How did he even get into college? Prep school his senior year. And, as a side note, one of my younger son's teammates has an older brother who plays football for an elite D1 program. Two of his classes: Yoga and History of Rock and Roll. |
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Thanks, Juulie. I've been around, just mainly lurking.
He's still at the school. This will be his second year. My older son plays DIII ball now. Lots of long bus rides. We're starting over, though. My eight year-old played his first AAU season this spring. I feel like its a second chance for me. I'm trying to put my howler monkey days behind me. Twice during the season refs stopped our games (10 year-old games, no less) to have parents removed from the gym. Both times I looked across at my wife, and mouthed, "Yay! Its not me!" |
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Once we know that we can figure out if the kid's AAU coach was able to grab some of that as the money changed hands. You know, consulting and services fees. |
Its interesting you say that. He started off the season with my son's AAU team. After a couple of tournaments he was approached by the coach of another team. He was told by that coach if he changed teams he would be guaranteed to play for an elite D1 school. The kid ended up moving in with the family of one of the kids who played on that team. A couple of weeks after jumping to the other team, we all attended a big out-of-town showcase tournament. He committed to the D1 school while at that tournament.
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The strangest way of paying for prep school that I've heard is a local NY prep school that required those on financial aid to work their grant off selling baked goods on the street during their spare time. Unbelievable. This is something that is not talked about too often and everyone assumes there's a lot of under the table money. In reality, it's often a scam that parents have to accept because they didn't make their kids work during their real HS career. Of course, recent changes made by the NCAA have changed the landscape for prep school eligibility. It looks like junior colleges are about to become popular destinations for academically challenged athletes. |
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Obviously it doesn't always work that way, which is exactly why the ncaa took the steps they did break the player-AAU coach-prep school-D1 coach connection. But they cannot break it completely and AAU coaches still have a lot of influence (and earnings potential) steering kids in a particular direction. |
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