[coolhandluke]

Okay...

I just wanted to get the opinions of people on here.

I had an argument with someone about how competitive high school sports and AAU sports are.

Obviously AAU is very competitive in basketball, but there are also other AAU sports....

We were having this discussion particularly on baseball though.

But think about it... Would it be better to be on a team that includes the best players from your school (high school baseball) or would it be better to be on a team that includes the best players from your entire city or region (AAU or All-star teams). That is how I want you to answer this poll, but also give a response as to why you are choosing your answer.

Remember... when you play AAU, you are playing other AAU teams which consist of the best baseball players from other cities, but when you play high school baseball you are playing against some good players from that particular school, but not an "All Star" team like an AAU team would hopefully be.

[blwall1416]

Having coached in AAU, I can tell you that it is lacking when it comes to "development" of the player. It seems likes its more about winning the next tournament, or being named to the all-tournament team, than working to improve different areas of your game. A good high school coach has a better opportunity to develop a player than an AAU coach.

There can be some great competition in high school games.

I can only reference my experience with AAU in basketball. I think that particular sport has issues. Baseball, I'm sure, is an entirely different beast.

[SuperJon]

AAU baseball is nowhere near what it used to be. Everyone has moved to USSSA. High school baseball is much more beneficial because it develops you as a player and teaches you what team baseball is. In AAU, USSSA, or showcase ball you just show up and play and wins and losses don't really matter. Yes, showcase ball can get you signed to a college, but unless you are developing during the off season with your high school team, the showcase stuff doesn't matter.

[Fumblerooskies]

My son played AAU/travel baseball for 5 years...and there is no doubt it is 100% more competitive than HS ball. The development aspect of playing against (and with) better competition is a no-brainer.

Now...Supe is right about USSSA...it has made major in-roads on AAU. I think the original posters point is travel ball of some sort. In Lynchburg, for example, the travel baseball teams have always been competitive at a state and regional level.

[Sly Fox]

It is a completely different type of competition. Travel helps to raise skill sets facing higher calibre competition. But for increasing competitive desire and learning how to be a winner, nothing tops playing for your school.

[olldflame]

AAU basketball can be very helpful for players who's numbers in HS are questioned because they go to a small school and play weak competition. Larry Blair would be a good example. After being overlooked by all the big schools, he finally got noticed when he went off in a couple of big AAU tourneys against top flight guards. By then we had him locked up. IMHO there is no substitution for playing HS ball at a high level, which is why so many good players who had been big fish in a small pond end up at places like Oak Hill or Fork Union for their last year or 2.

[ATrain]

I say it depends on the high school league. AAU is probably going to be more competitive than say A or a private school league, but as you get into AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA the level of play increases significantly.

[Fumblerooskies]

I say it depends on the high school league. AAU is probably going to be more competitive than say A or a private school league, but as you get into AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA the level of play increases significantly.

The major difference in baseball will be the 7th-8th-9th players in the lineup, the strength of the subs, as well as the depth in the pitching staff. You just can't compare that to a travel team in that respect.

You can also make the same statements about a Legion baseball team, where many of the HS-aged players play in the summers after their soph-senior seasons. When you add the baseball "showcase teams," like former Flame Scottie Scott used to coach in the fall, then you are talking top-notch HS-aged baseball.

[01LUGrad]

Ahh, the subjective sports. It's too bad there is no way to know exactly how good athletes are in these sports.

That's why I love track! No hype. No trying to figure out which district, region, state, coast, or even country is the best. It's all on the clock, baby! If only other sports were so easy to figure out.

Just for the record, HS Track is better than AAU simply because the coaches have far more time to develop the athletes over an extended period of time (4-5 years). I would imagine that would be a similar situation in some other sports.

[flamesbball84]

Generally, AAU is more competitive in my opinion, but REAL high school teams (think Oak Hill, for example) would beat any AAU team everyday of the week. However, AAU is absolutely worthless in player development, it's basically just a big show to highlight your skills and hide your weaknesses...

[Sly Fox]

Uh, I have to question the description of Oak Hill as a "real high school team".

[Fumblerooskies]

Generally, AAU is more competitive in my opinion, but REAL high school teams (think Oak Hill, for example) would beat any AAU team everyday of the week. However, AAU is absolutely worthless in player development, it's basically just a big show to highlight your skills and hide your weaknesses...

It all depends on the age group. If you are talking AAU basketball in the 18-U age group, then you are probably right. However, the players develop their skills by playing against better competition in games. Sure, fundamentals might be lost in that, but playing against and with the best is always going to improve a player...either that, or they get out.

At lower levels of other sports, it IS about development, as with baseball, in particular, you don't have the "little league" mindset of equity. There's no minimum playing time, and teams carry smaller rosters (up to about the 15-U). Coaches have the freedom to push players into being their best, without having to cater to the "lowest common denominator." In fact, one could argue that a well-run AAU program is much like a well-run HONORS program or AP class in schools...in being challenged, the students develop much more than if they were in a regular or even advanced class.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

AAU basketball can be very helpful for players who's numbers in HS are questioned because they go to a small school and play weak competition. Larry Blair would be a good example. After being overlooked by all the big schools, he finally got noticed when he went off in a couple of big AAU tourneys against top flight guards. By then we had him locked up. IMHO there is no substitution for playing HS ball at a high level, which is why so many good players who had been big fish in a small pond end up at places like Oak Hill or Fork Union for their last year or 2.

Youre Exactly Right Using the LB example.

I dont know anything about AAU baseball, but having played AAU basketball and now coaching it I think its a tough comparison. The only reason I would say high school is more competitive is because there is always a few rivalries and you have something on the line in those games and you have home games. AAU Is more competitive because it is the best of the best, the elite. Most of the time you wont have a "homegame" unless you play in the tournaments in your area, but even then its usually just parents, no student fans. Where AAU becomes competitive is when you really want to win these tournaments and you have to play 3 or 4 games in a day, then you see who the best competitors are. The fact of it all is though you HAVE to win, Winning gets scouts to come watch you play whereas in high school your name and ppg are in the paper to get people to come watch. I voted for AAU just because I think it is more competitive due to the talent level and every player is trying to impress a college and if they have already signed they are trying to improve themselves against an elite level of competition so they dont get smacked in the mouth when they take the floor in college.

[SuperJon]

That may be the most intelligent post you've ever had on this site.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

That may be the most intelligent post you've ever had on this site.

Normally I would respond with a quick "f u" sort of comment, but today Im having a great day and Im trying to be positive and not letting anyone rain on my parade sir. So Thank you.

[SuperJon]

I was being serious. That was a good post.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Sorry, Looks like a duck, walks like a duck...


haha I thought it was a stab

[Fumblerooskies]

I have to agree...that was a great summary of it, TBGBG!

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

That may be the most intelligent post you've ever had on this site.

And That Sir, Was your most intelligent post haha KIDDING