04/27/2026
RE: AAU/Travel 🏀
Last weekend I watched a halftime that said everything. Coach spent the entire time cussing and arguing with refs. Didn’t talk to his players once.
The athletes just sat there … drinking water, not talking, not learning … just waiting for it to end.
This is AAU/travel ball in too many places. And it’s not a talent or basketball knowledge problem … it’s a leadership problem.
We’ve got amateur behavior around our most important and most vulnerable people … our young athletes. They need professionals!
Clown energy on the sidelines. No teaching. No direction. No presence.
Then we wonder why kids struggle with confidence, discipline, and handling adversity.
I’ve been known to act up … yell, cuss, wave my arms and stomp my feet. I’m not saying passion doesn’t have a place at the table. I also know that I’m there for my players.
Coaches … this isn’t about being perfect. It is about being professional and understanding your role.
You’re not there to perform. You’re there to develop young people.
Model it. Reinforce it. Teach it. That’s the job.
Parents … if you feel stuck in a situation like this, pay attention to what your kid is actually getting. You may have to fill the gaps at home.
Ask questions. Give clarity. Show them what good leadership looks like.
Not every environment will give them what they need … but they can still grow.
We can’t keep normalizing this. Our kids deserve better from the adults on the sidelines.
