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Undue influence = AAU Basketball.
Maybe some of these high school coaches need to work on getting AAU programs. Coach Ramee of American has been doing it and now American is strong. The same with Mission San Jose.
that’s quite an accusation about American and Mission. All of their players are in their own school district. Ramee and Doug have always had good teams..even when the talent was down.
Maybe in some cases but anything that involves $$ for these coaches can create quite a bit of influence.What I mean is that getting good AAU programs help the schools. I'm not saying there is anything wrong. I'm using that argument to say AAU is NOT undue influence. If you get a high school coach involved in a AAU program it shows the parents and the players how much they are willing to put into the high school program they coach at. I think American and MSJ are doing the right thing and there is nothing wrong about it. I don't look at it as undue influence.
Maybe in some cases but anything that involves $$ for these coaches can create quite a bit of influence.
Play for me in my club and then go to my high school team. Or how about play for me in my club and don’t play in HS or how about play for me in my club and don’t play any other high school sport or play for my club if you want that scholarship! Not trying to be cynical but club sports is not necessarily good for HS sports. Would love to hear about positive examples
Maybe in some cases but anything that involves $$ for these coaches can create quite a bit of influence.
Play for me in my club and then go to my high school team. Or how about play for me in my club and don’t play in HS or how about play for me in my club and don’t play any other high school sport or play for my club if you want that scholarship! Not trying to be cynical but club sports is not necessarily good for HS sports. Would love to hear about positive examples
Sam Manu of Aragon runs the San Mateo Suns. Providing a place for the Aragon and other Peninsula kids to play in the spring and summer has helped the school program tremendously. It is NOT a money maker for him, his coaches donate their time and their is no recruiting happening. With that said, if you are a student athlete with a choice, why not attend a school with a coach that is invested.Maybe in some cases but anything that involves $$ for these coaches can create quite a bit of influence.
Play for me in my club and then go to my high school team. Or how about play for me in my club and don’t play in HS or how about play for me in my club and don’t play any other high school sport or play for my club if you want that scholarship! Not trying to be cynical but club sports is not necessarily good for HS sports. Would love to hear about positive examples
Receiving a college scholarship takes a lifetime of work and dedication. Basketball especially requires year round development. Successful high school’s programs provide year round opportunities because that’s what the kids and parents are looking for. Any coach willing to dedicate their time year after year to help kids accomplish their goals should be applauded.
Overall, I agree, but I do think it's important to emphasize that playing one sport and one sport only from age 11 or 12 on is generally not the best way to go. Patrick Mahomes is just one example of many of how playing more than one sport helps overall athletic development. It also prevents burnout, which is all too common among young athletes who specialize too early, and helps avoid injuries.
I think having a main sport -- the one you focus on in the summer -- is important, but for basketball, for example, playing volleyball in the fall is an excellent complement to basketball. Water polo and lacrosse are also good, as they have the same kind of spatial structure as basketball, and if soccer had not been moved to the winter, that was a good alternative.
Often, parents are convinced by coaches (usually in volleyball and soccer) that kids have to play one sport only or they'll fall behind, but many, if not most, of these coaches have a financial interest in getting kids to play their sport and so their advice should be taken with a grain of salt. Listen, rather, to college coaches in football and other sports who say they prefer to recruit multi-sport athletes in high school because they are more well-rounded.
Overall, I agree, but I do think it's important to emphasize that playing one sport and one sport only from age 11 or 12 on is generally not the best way to go. Patrick Mahomes is just one example of many of how playing more than one sport helps overall athletic development. It also prevents burnout, which is all too common among young athletes who specialize too early, and helps avoid injuries.
I think having a main sport -- the one you focus on in the summer -- is important, but for basketball, for example, playing volleyball in the fall is an excellent complement to basketball. Water polo and lacrosse are also good, as they have the same kind of spatial structure as basketball, and if soccer had not been moved to the winter, that was a good alternative.
Often, parents are convinced by coaches (usually in volleyball and soccer) that kids have to play one sport only or they'll fall behind, but many, if not most, of these coaches have a financial interest in getting kids to play their sport and so their advice should be taken with a grain of salt. Listen, rather, to college coaches in football and other sports who say they prefer to recruit multi-sport athletes in high school because they are more well-rounded.
Overall, I agree, but I do think it's important to emphasize that playing one sport and one sport only from age 11 or 12 on is generally not the best way to go. Patrick Mahomes is just one example of many of how playing more than one sport helps overall athletic development. It also prevents burnout, which is all too common among young athletes who specialize too early, and helps avoid injuries.
I think having a main sport -- the one you focus on in the summer -- is important, but for basketball, for example, playing volleyball in the fall is an excellent complement to basketball. Water polo and lacrosse are also good, as they have the same kind of spatial structure as basketball, and if soccer had not been moved to the winter, that was a good alternative.
Often, parents are convinced by coaches (usually in volleyball and soccer) that kids have to play one sport only or they'll fall behind, but many, if not most, of these coaches have a financial interest in getting kids to play their sport and so their advice should be taken with a grain of salt. Listen, rather, to college coaches in football and other sports who say they prefer to recruit multi-sport athletes in high school because they are more well-rounded.
I will only speak as to girls' basketball, based on the last 24 years of coaching a lot of girls at the elementary and middle school levels, and having followed them through later high school and college careers.
If the objective is to become a top player in a top program, almost all players need to go pure basketball at least two or three years before they start high school. That's what the girls they will compete against do, and delaying makes things a lot harder and more problematic.
For every girl who keeps playing multiple sports through 8th grade and still becomes a basketball success, there are probably a dozen girls who do that then hit the wall at the JV level or make varsity as juniors and seniors and watch games from the bench.
Wish I had a dollar for every parent who has told me that "back in the day we played all the sports" then watched his or her daughter flounder at the high school level.
If your kid wants to keep playing multiple sports for the fun of playing multiple sports, I am all for that. But don't fool yourself into thinking it will somehow make her a better basketball player. You get good at basketball by practicing and playing basketball, and by doing physical training focused on your basketball needs.
I whole heartedly disagree that if you want to be a top player, you have to eat sleep, drink pure basketball. Kids who ONLY play one sport from a young age typically burn out (a lot of times) as they get older. Playing multiple sports at a younger age does wonders for the kids mentality, efficacy, and orientation-especially if she/he is successful. There are many sports that have tons of crossovers..soccer and hoops being one of the major ones. I think more often than not (probably wrong here) kids who specialize at a young age do so because of parents that think they'll be better focusing on one sports where he research paints a much different story
I agree about the skill level, to a point. But one of the biggest factors in success in anything is enthusiasm and excitement. And girls who play nothing but basketball from age 11 on are much, much more likely to lose the thrill of the game. I see girls who play 60 or 70 games of club ball, and then add 25 or 30 in high school, and after a while, it looks like none of the games matter any more, and they just don't care that much.
In the long run, success is as much about attitude as it is about talent, and a player who's getting bored with her sport at age 16 could easily be passed by a player who plays with enthusiasm and excitement.
Of course every person is different and some players will thrive doing just one thing. Others won't.
For me, I used to play a lot of softball (several nights a week, tournaments) but I found if I played year-round, I wasn't as effective. I needed to take a couple months off every year to get myself mentally prepared to play well. Whatever I lost in skill I gained in enthusiasm. Others felt differently -- but one size does not fit all.
This is complete gibberish. Personallogic is making a factual point that the competition is committed to playing year round so if you want to succeed you may want to consider doing the same.
Sure kids that play year round the same sport from age 11 do risk getting burned out and losing the thrill. The kid that shows up the first day of practice after taking their three months off to regain their enthusiasm will lose the thrill within a few hours. They will quickly realize their skills have deteriorated to a point where they know they are no longer at the competitive level of their teammates.
I whole heartedly disagree that if you want to be a top player, you have to eat sleep, drink pure basketball. Kids who ONLY play one sport from a young age typically burn out (a lot of times) as they get older. Playing multiple sports at a younger age does wonders for the kids mentality, efficacy, and orientation-especially if she/he is successful. There are many sports that have tons of crossovers..soccer and hoops being one of the major ones. I think more often than not (probably wrong here) kids who specialize at a young age do so because of parents that think they'll be better focusing on one sports where he research paints a much different story
3 months will deteriorate skills to a point where they no longer are competitive? Are you a club soccer or volleyball coach?? That's totally absurd. It may take a little time to readjust but it's like riding a bike...have you ever played high school sports or college?
Think about a the time BEFORE specialization and the multi-sport athlete...it's not a big deal to do multiple sports and NO, you won't get worse and other much better
Agree with the above -- as I said, one size does not fit all, so I think it's a mistake to make a blanket statement that every player must specialize as soon as possible.
I do disagree, though, with the idea that skills decline after a month or two off (and those who read my post might have noticed that I suggested two sports, and focusing on one in the summer). Basketball is a difficult game, granted, but it's not that difficult to dribble and shoot. It may take a week or so for the muscle memory to click back in, but that's what the three weeks of practice before the first game are for.
But again, for some kids, playing one sport from middle school on will work, and enthusiasm will not dim nor will injuries specific to the sport occur -- though of course there's no way to predict whether either will happen.
For other kids, playing two sports is better -- though of course it's possible they will be passed by by the specialists.
You pays yer money and you takes yer choice ...
In fact, watching many multi-sport athletes who start basketball in third or fourth grades, and continue through eighth grade, I see a lot of them finish without even what I would consider the basics. Heads up dribbling, layups both hands, decent release on jump shots, good on the ball defensive fundamentals, etc. Certainly in no way prepared for high school level play.
So let me repeat:
The main sport should be played in the summer. The secondary sport should be played only during its high school season. So, most common for basketball:
Fall: Volleyball
Winter, spring, summer: Basketball
Or
Fall, winter, summer: Basketball
Spring: Lacrosse
The summer is really the differentiating factor -- that's where the focus should be for the main sport.
Someone referenced this above, but in terms of the burnout factor--WHO is driving the specialization? I think that will be the precursor to the possibility of the burnout. Is it the child wanting to be great in the sport they love? Or is it the overly ambitious parent pushing to keep up with the Joneses or trying to live vicariously through their child?
If the player is the one CHOOSING to put in more time and focus on one sport, this typically ends up far better when they are being pushed/forced to stop playing other sports and to train when perhaps the athlete's heart isn't into it.
I know I've actually talked a few athletes of mine into continuing their second sport when they wanted to quit and focus. But after discussions with them, they still enjoyed their second sport but felt like they needed to get in the gym more for college options developing their game. My point to them was always, "If you really enjoy your second sport, then play it. Find time outside of the school day or on weekends to squeeze in some extra workouts in your primary sport to grow and stay ready if that's your goal."
Of course with my own daughter, she played 4 sports throughout 7th and 8th grade and often did the stacked practices referenced above hopping from one practice to another. But these were all her choices. After having a lot of success in several sports, she decided she wanted to focus on basketball and her grades entering her freshman year. I told her I wanted her to play at least one other sport her freshman year and see what other HS sports are like...but she was adamant she wanted to train and get good grades. So she committed herself to working out 4-6 days a week after school and maintained a 4.00 throughout HS. So things worked out for her but it was her choice. As she made choices, we laid out a plan for her to achieve HER goals.
The path isn't the same for everyone and not every player is a scholarship caliber kid. But when the choices come from the player things will work out the smoothest in the end.