Youth Basketball and It's Politics

What happened to the pureness involved in youth basketball? All this time I was trying to keep my kids from burning out playing basketball. But lately I'm the one who needs to take a step back, again. And as I take a look at the system of youth basketball, especially AAU basketball, I'm losing love for the game I once loved. Now I understand better or at least remind myself why I got away from basketball as a competitive player in my youth. The bickering, backstabbing and underhandiness from people jockeying and positioning their kids or players. Whatever happened to a kid's skill determining his fate? It's more than daddyball hurting youth sports. For example, Nike has several tournaments where major college coaches come out to take a look at the future talent of players. Can you imagine the the stress parents are having trying to put their kid on the top teams? Coaches feeling obligated to parents who have befriended them for obvious reasons by donating money, establishing frienship with the coaches.

Oh, and lets not forget the parents who call the coaches and manuver trying to get their child positioned on the team. Its getting sickening. And the coaches making backhand deals to please parents. Let your kid's talent dictate his fate, not your money, influence the coach.