CP3 All Stars coach Keyford Langley
has won multiple championships, including back-to-back national titles in 2013
and 2014. Steve Smith of Wisconsin United brought home back to back title
followed by a final 4 finish in 2014. The Oakland Soldiers boasted one of the most
fearsome line-ups in youth basketball on their way to a 2014 national
championship in Hampton, Va. There are
many memorable teams and players as well games and rivalries that have
captivated the national landscape for several years at the youth level.
Life as many have known it on the
AAU level came to a screeching halt yesterday with the impactful ruling; the language
of which has not be fully or formally documented to the general public,
relating to the removal of the age exception provision previously in place for
AAU tournaments and sanctioned events.
Simply put student athletes who have
used the prior parameters which combined age and grade based policy to obtain an
extra year to development academically, emotionally, physically, and of course
athletically will now be required to operate exclusively under age requirements.
The following requirements will be put in
place immediately for ages 7 to 14.
·
7 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 7 on August 31, 2015
·
8 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 8 on August 31, 2015
·
9 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 9 on August 31, 2015
·
10 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 10 on August 31, 2015
·
11 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 11 on August 31, 2015
·
12 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 12 on August 31, 2015
·
13 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 13 on August 31, 2015
·
14 and Under – An athlete can be no
older than 14 on August 31, 2015
Governance over age eligibility at
the 15u level – 19u level will not change.
Whereas the initial out cry for the ruling
has been favorable by many; individuals and coaches have applauded what has
been referred to as a “leveling of the playing fields” relating to height, athletic
prowess, strength, maturity, and a more “fair” and competitive environment. All of which are more than reasonable and
realistic points of views. Any
individual with a child when first asked, “Would you like your child to compete
against kids his own age?” would in all likely hood say “yes”; but let’s delve a
little deeper into the phenomenon and consider all aspects for all kids.
First and foremost there must be an understanding
of “what” we are evaluating outside of the situation itself. AAU is first in foremost a business operation
~ meaning an outside business entity should not dictate any level of development for
any child anywhere. The decisions made
by this entity at the end of the day relates to what makes sense for their brand
and ultimately their bottom-line. Any misconception
that this decision relates to anything more than that is flawed in nature – the
leveling of the playing field means more inclusion. More teams at regional and nationals mean
more hotel bookings, player registrations, more team registrations, more door
money, and more concession dollars.
Losing seven high level elite teams from an event in basketball terms would be a
travesty; for AAU this spells immense opportunity.
Losing seven high level elite teams will quickly be replaced by 25 more teams who
now believe they have a chance to win and compete. In the end this must be considered as the impetuous
for such a move as this.
Consequently each team must independently
consider and place a value on what equates to two events per year – a regional qualifier
and national championship event. The misconception
that AAU is a governing body of some sort over youth basketball is untrue and has quickly
been proven by some very powerful entities within the youth industry. Rob Taylor of NYBL the top youth basketball
league in the country quickly drew a line in the sand making a statement
yesterday via its website that they will continue to operate as they have since
inception. USBA, which is line to become
the new National Championship event of choice, also stated that “there is no current
consideration for a change in eligibility requirements”. With a four day event which will be held in
Atlanta in 2015 and will ultimately move to a 24 court facility in 2016 in the
same area becomes a cheaper, shorter, and viable option for teams, players, and
parents who have chosen to benefit from the additional year of development at
the grassroots level. Tournament
Director Mike Melton of Basketball Spotlight has also announced a choice for
teams and players adding specific division options. As well Gary Pinkney has advised the Maryland Invitational Tournament will also continue to operate as in previous years forgoing his long tenured relationship with AAU.
Early reports from the NOLA Super 60 indicate they will follow the AAU policy
as they operate in some form or fashion as a sanctioned event hub.
The reality of this situation as
currently constituted is that the Genie cannot be put back into the
bottle. College and University have seen
the benefits as indicated by the recruiting of specific players. ESPN has documented the benefit in their high
school rankings. Parents have seen the success
and opportunity that reclassification has created.
Top high schools nationally have requested/suggested reclassing to obtain
a more ready player at their institutions. The question becomes for many:
If an additional year of development;
academic, emotionally, socially, athletically provides you with a high school
or college scholarship is it worth it?
For the many across the country the answer will remain a resounding “yes”. What is lost in this equation? The opportunity to play in two events per
year or to play “on a level playing field”….a playing field that inevitably will
disappear immediately by AAU standards and by high school standards the first
day of 9th grade and does not exist at any point moving forward.
Does Little Johnny’s mom and dad
want their child’s first experience of playing at a high level against players
that may be bigger, stronger, quicker, more athletic, and possibly more skilled
to be in his high school basketball tryout?
That answer may be different depending on who you ask or their goals as it pertains to having a basketball future. Or course the OPTION to play up will forever remain but the construct/playing as/with teams that create a high school like atmosphere at the grassroots level will not
be available via the AAU model any longer.
No answer is right or wrong, there
are many institutions of higher learning that all provide degrees and they all
have student bodies. Yet, some prefer to
attend if they can handle elite universities that some cannot get
into (or handle) – a Harvard, a Yale, a West Point.
These schools are for what many would consider your elite students. Does that mean someone attending Arizona
State education is subpar? Absolutely not
– the beauty is in the option.
As long as there remain viable
options, leagues, tournaments, and event – as there are now, for players to
compete on an elite level in a high school style environment the phenomenon of reclassification
will remain. Those teams and players who choose to compete on that level will
match up and create the same excitement as they have in the past. Those that determine to deconstruct organizationally and rebuild to AAU standards, conversely can look for/desire a more
structured and controlled environment where the elements are more predictable,
AAU has re-created that.
The object
should always be inclusiveness; with the goal always being that there is a safe, fun, learning
environment for all kids of all levels.
Children should not be looked down upon; teams should not be criticized for
choosing to do what they feel is best for their families in any instance as
there is circuit and a place for all of them.
P2bball.com will continue to support
and evaluate talent as we have done in the past by graduation class as in the
end this will be who each player will be competing against for their college scholarships.
it really doesn't matter to me either way to go forward with the new rules or those leagues who chooses to remain the same. My son will ball out no matter what! I do respect P2BBall public message posted on here. Bottom line...Everyone should do what's best for there child/ren, business, Team and or organization
ReplyDeleteIt's not fair that a kid born in Orgas has to play a greater than the kids born in September. What's the logic in it. Hey kid going on August 25 is the same age as a kid bring on September 3. If anything it needs to be done by calendar year.
ReplyDeleteThis is ultimately a bad ruling because kids with summer birthdays are sadly at a great disadvantage--and are now left off travel teams that they have played on for years. The intent of the rule was stop the fraud, and intentional holding back of kids sometimes two years. The ruling should be changed to May 1 or May 31st, to account for the younger kids who have been held behind for emotional, and physical maturity issues based on being the youngest in their class. Now they are hung out to dry. Its not fair. The AAU has thrown the baby out with the bath water.
ReplyDeleteGreat READ and perspective from both sides! It does make you go "hum". In the end prepare your child to be able to compete against the best whether it's a kid their age or 2 years up. This only makes them tougher and hungrier in the end.
ReplyDelete