A Parent’s Guide to AAU Sports - Chad Hanson, Dordt College

Today's Blog entry comes from Chad Hanson, the head volleyball coach at Dordt College.  I came across this entry from Chad in another online publication entitled In All Things . Coach Hanson graciously said we could re-post his thoughts on our blog this week.  Chad addresses a very important topic in this entry and I thank Chad for sharing his insight and reflections with us this week.

The topic of AAU sports is broad and I must keep it narrow. AAU sports is a general term that could

refer to the specific entity of the Amateur Athletic Union where 38 sports are currently offered. Within the official AAU entity, there are local or state chapters such as AAU Iowa where 12 sports are currently offered. AAU could also be used improperly to describe “club” or an affiliated grouping of youth sports teams representing a region (not a school). For example, USA Volleyball has over 5,300 junior clubs registered that compete for a national championship in different age and skill divisions each summer.

The narrow theme that I wish to engage is: Should my son or daughter play AAU sports?

To address these questions, let me present some questions below and add further thoughts within each question category. My hope is that the reader will find some helpful guidelines on which to base a wise and Biblically grounded decision for your son or daughter. The following is not an exhaustive list and is not in ranked order:

1. How much total time (daily, weekly and monthly) will this require of my child?
In the Biblical context of 1 day rest for 6 days labor, will the practice and tournament schedules honor that Biblical order? Some AAU sports and seasons have a few practices per week and local tournaments only on Saturday’s. Some could practice a few days per week and also play in consecutive 2 or 3 day tournaments on the weekends (usually over a holiday weekend such as Memorial Day). The length of an AAU season is also important to consider. Some AAU sports could last 6 weeks from start to finish, while others could last for 6 months from start to finish. Naturally, there are more repetition opportunities for the longer seasons.

2. How much financial expense (up-front cost vs. implied cost through my child’s involvement) is required for participation?
There might be an up-front cost of $100 per month for a child to play an AAU sport (some more expensive, others less expensive), but that may only cover the gym rental and uniform cost, tournament entry fees, and maybe also the coach salary. There are implied costs such as: spectator admission fees at the gymnasium door, hotel rooms, gas, food, souvenir purchases, airline fees if traveling to a distant tournament, and additional lessons that could surface from your child wanting more playing time or a greater role on their team. I have heard of some families paying over $10,000 for one “club” season, without implied costs factored in. The family justified that expense with the rationale that their daughter would get a college scholarship to play that sport. They were using her college savings to pay for her high school club experience.  I have heard of some families paying over $10,000 for one “club” season, without implied costs factored in.

3. What will the development and growth (physical, emotional, spiritual, social, mental) benefits be for my child by participating in this AAU program?
Luke 2:52 and 10:27 suggest that God wants us to continue growing and developing in all areas of our lives through love. Will my child grow godlier by his or her participation in this sport? Will my child be encouraged properly in areas of teamwork, accountability, trust, skill development, tactical

strategies, goal setting, perseverance, commitment, selflessness, diligence, self-control, responsibility, leadership, communication, and more? Is the person that will lead my child someone my child can respect for the right reasons? A reminder here for all of us parents: the coaches who spend time with our children in the sports context end up having a great impact on their development.

4. What kind of overuse or repeated physical motions will my child be undergoing in order to participate in this AAU program, as distinct from their school sponsored sport?
There is great athletic and health value for a child to play different sports instead of 1 sport year-round. Rest for certain muscles, bones and joints is very important for the long-term health of the child. Many AAU sports programs are managed during the off-season of the school sport. This can lead to structural problems as the muscles and joints need rest after 3 months of the school sport. The AAU season can change that rest opportunity by continuing the frequent use of the muscles and joints in the same motion required by that sport.

5. Does my child want to participate or do I want my child to participate in this AAU sport?
It is possible that the hidden motivation of signing a child up for the AAU season is out of anxiety that your child will miss out on a college opportunity unless they play year round. However, there are many different, and often times better, ways to expose your child’s athletic talent in front of a college coach. You could consider filming a practice or school sports match and sending a DVD to a college coach. YouTube has created a great platform convenient for both college coach and prospect to share video footage. Attending some specific sports camps of the colleges of interest can be an important way to increase exposure. If your child doesn’t stand out in a sports camp and get noticed by the college coach in his or her junior or senior year, then maybe they are not meant to play that sport at that level. It is important to ask yourself: Does my child want to get practice and play AAU or am I, the parent, requesting they get more practice in the sport?How can I help my team become more successful?

6. Is this particular AAU program or coach a good fit for my child?
Parents and players who have previous experience with the same coach or the same AAU program, can provide some beneficial insight into what you might be considering for your child’s participation. They might respond to your financial questions in a positive manner and justify the “college savings” as rationale for their son or daughter to participate. However, you might be in a different position and unable to view “college savings” as the rationale, or unable to justify playing on Sunday’s, etc. Again, this is your decision, but the experience and perspectives of others can help you feel solid about your decision.

7. How will this AAU sport benefit or conflict with the training and philosophy of the school program? Will these benefits outweigh the conflicts?
There can be a great tension for an athlete when they are

being taught to perform a skill differently by different coaches. But, regardless of individual techniques, I believe that all athletes are best prepared for higher levels and mastery of skill when they are trained to become aware of controlling their body in space (a concept known as proprioception). What matters is the on court (or on field) result (what I call “the outcome”). Every repetition that the child gets is one more rep to improve the outcome. The more your child can develop quality outcomes via different methods, the more adaptable they will be when they enter college, where the college coach will likely do things differently than previous coaches.  While receiving coaching from multiple coaches, though, it is important to remember that each coach will likely want things done her way. If the school coach is asking you to do something one way, then do it that way while playing for that team. If the AAU coach is teaching a different way to do it, then do it that way while playing for that team. Coaches tend to factor the ability to follow their particular system into decisions about playing time; giving each coach what she wants will likely increase playing time opportunities. However, if questions about playing time do arise, parents should not raise those questions for their child. A middle school or high school aged athlete can ask those questions directly at a discreet and respectful time. And, a great way to ask the question by the athlete is, “How can I help my team become more successful?”

-Chad Hanson

Learn more about Chad Hanson HERE
Follow Dordt athletics on Twitter @dcathletics

 

Experiencing Diversity Through Sport - Matt Franzen, Doane College

Today's Blog entry on MLK day comes from Matt Franzen, the head football coach at Doane College.  Matt shares his reflections on how diversity has had positive effects on the building of a team in intercollegiate athletics.  He also shares how Doane College and the Tiger football team has embraced diversity in Crete, Nebraska.  Thank you Matt for sharing your story and reflections with us on our Blog.

Last Friday night I sat on the floor in our Crete home with my 1 year old daughter Cora, listening to
U2's Joshua Tree album and thinking about what I would write this blog post about.  She found the volume dial and gave it a healthy turn.  As she started to bounce up & down with the music (she gets her musical gift from her mother), her 4 year old sister Anna came running into the room yelling "turn the music down, it's hurting my ears!".

     

My first thought was that Cora would turn to her and yell, "If it's too loud, you're too old!".  But since she's not yet speaking more than a word or two at a time, her look said as much as she glared at me when I turned down the noise.  

I'd been thinking about writing about the unique opportunity we have in football to infuse our team with diversity and the value in this.  This subtle difference between these two sisters (Anna actually likes music just fine, but Cora seems to FEEL it in her soul) convinced me to share my thoughts on this topic.

Our team at Doane has always been fairly diverse, at least compared to other teams located in semi-rural Nebraska towns.  Building a team where all members come from a very similar background makes the job easier but I think an opportunity is lost.  

As a staff, we work hard to build diversity through recruiting and also to foster diversity once we get

our kids on campus.  Finding cultural diversity takes out-of-state recruiting in many cases and also takes time and attention once the kids get to town.  Handling a young man from Dallas, TX the same way as a young man from Thedford, NE generally does not end well.  As a coach, you have to go into this situation understanding that these kids come from very different backgrounds, both geographically and likely socially as well.  They listen to different music, dress differently, and probably see a different barber.  Getting to know the kids and their individual needs is critical.

We talk to our team very early in pre-season camp about understanding and appreciating the differences in their teammates.  Each of us come from somewhere different.  Many will come from different home settings (1 parent, 2 parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, no parents, etc.).  Some have been raised in a church environment and some never will step foot in a church.  Belief systems and priorities are going to be different among young men when you have 120 team members.

We work hard to create an environment of respect and tolerance among our team members at Doane.  One of the best parts of coaching, for me, is watching kids who come from a very homogenous environment get to know and genuinely love guys who don't look like them.  We all have prejudices and stereotypes and football provides an opportunity to break these while our kids are still young and impressionable.  As legendary coach Bill Curry points out, when a white kid from the country brings an African-American city kid home for Thanksgiving break, lives are changed - not so much for the kids in this instance, but for the families.  These offers are reciprocated and the impact on both sides is tremendous.

The beauty of diversity, in my mind, is also in preparing our young people for the world they will soon enter.  The ability to accept and appreciate differences in others that one will encounter down the road is priceless and opens up all kinds of wonderful life experiences.

I'll sign off with one of my favorite memories of late.  My wife and girls and I were at the Doane-Midland basketball game last November when our 4-year-old went on a little jaunt.  She's taken to helping herself to a drink of water from the cooler behind the bench and this time headed down to try some Midland water.  After grabbing a swig, she started back and then took a sharp turn, walking directly in front of the Midland bench during live action!  My wife and I (parents of the year at this point...) watched aghast from the opposite end of the gym.  One of our players, Ferrari Shores, casually walked over and took her by the hand, then walked her around the floor back to mom and dad.  Anna has grown up around the team and didn't think twice about him coming to the rescue.  I'm pretty sure everyone in the gym couldn't help but notice a 6'3" 320 pound young black man walking hand-in-hand with a sprite little white girl who was skipping (yes, skipping) her way back to mom and dad. 

Good stuff indeed.

-Matt Franzen
Learn more about Matt Franzen HERE
Follow Doane football on Twitter @doanefootball

The Support of Many Helps the Healing Process - Jon Hart, Dakota Wesleyan University

Today's Blog entry comes from Jon Hart, Associate Athletic Director at Dakota Wesleyan University.  Jon shares the story of his hunting accident on October 26, 2014.  Hart continues on the road to recovery and we continue to send thoughts and prayers his way as more is learned in the days and weeks to come.  Jon Hart is a former student-athlete in the GPAC before assuming his current role at DWU.  His father, Curt, is the Athletic Director at DWU and his sister Amanda is a GA Coach for the Tigers women's basketball team and former GPAC intern.  Thank you Jon for sharing your story and reflections with us on our Blog.

The date of Oct. 26^th has always been a day very familiar to me, as it is my father’s birthday. Now that date holds an additional meaning that will stick with me. 

I had just finished up a successful day of walking the fields pheasant hunting with a group of friends. We were a few birds short of our limit with the sun beginning to set. We decided to take the rural roads home with the hope of spotting a few more birds to cap off the day. Unfortunately we ended up seeing one bird too many.
  
As we were traveling down a gravel road (in basically the middle of nowhere) we spotted a rooster in the ditch on the right side of the road. I was seated in the backseat behind the driver of a four-door pickup. We stopped the truck in hopes we wouldn’t spook the bird before we could walk the ditch to flush him out. As I exited the truck and made my way towards the ditch, my friend driving was just getting out of the vehicle. As he stepped out of the vehicle he grabbed his gun with his right arm. As he tried to close the door with his left arm, his right arm wasn’t fully out of the vehicle and the door jerked his right arm back causing his finger to slip and pull the trigger. The gun discharged and I was standing roughly ten feet away as the shell struck the inside of my left ankle and partially exited the outside of my foot.

It took me a few seconds to realize what happened. I looked down at my hunting boot and obviously knew I had been shot. We drove to the closest highway and met an ambulance which took me to a hospital in Parkston, S.D. Shortly after that I was airlifted to Sioux Falls, S.D., roughly 70 miles away. To make a long story short, I underwent multiple surgeries from a plastic and orthopedic surgeons. The accident resulted in me spending eight days in the Sioux Falls hospital.

Those eight days in the hospital put so many things into perspective. After my first surgery I woke up to 172 text messages from family, friends, colleagues, and strangers. Like any ordeal you expect your family and friends to be there for you. I can’t even begin to explain how helpful and supportive those two specific groups were for me. 

Outside of my close family and friends I received an overwhelming amount of support from colleagues of Dakota Wesleyan University and the entire Great Plains Athletic Conference. After receiving many visits, gifts, cards, phone calls, and messages, I thought to myself how fortunate I am to be working with so many great people. Where else would you receive visits from the league commissioner, athletic directors, coaches, and student athletes from within the conference?

Working within the GPAC has been a phenomenal experience for countless reasons and the support I received after my accident is a perfect example. I realized how special our conference was while I was a student athlete at DWU. Being a sports management major, I paid close attention to how the GPAC conducted itself and hoped I could continue to be a part of it once I graduated. Now as an administrator I get to work behind the scenes and see why we are so successful. It starts with the people. We have so many great people working within the GPAC who strive to improve their program, school, the conference and the NAIA.

When attending national NAIA meetings I am always proud to say Dakota Wesleyan is a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The entirety of the GPAC staff, schools, academic and athletic programs set the bar for everything the NAIA stands for.

Currently, I am still not able to bear weight on my ankle/foot. I get around from point A to B with the help of family and friends and also with a knee scooter. I am hoping to be back on both feet within the next few weeks. It has been a rough couple months, but the support of my family, friends, DWU and the GPAC have made things much easier. So, I wanted to take this blog entry as an opportunity to say “thank you”. Ultimately, our member schools share a unique bond and I am very humbled to be a part of it.

-Jon Hart

Learn more about Jon Hart HERE

Follow him on Twitter @jonnyhart5

 

Finding Joy in the Journey - Drew Olson, Concordia University

This week's Blog entry comes from Drew Olson, the head women's basketball coach at Concordia University.  He discusses growing up wanting to coach basketball and finding Joy in the Journey at Concordia.  Thank you Drew for your thoughts and perspectives!

I knew I wanted to coach basketball when I was 4 years old.  I grew up in the Millard South High School gym watching my dad coach the girls’ basketball team and seeing the energy he put into every practice and game.   I developed my love for the game while watching thousands of games at all levels and talking X’s and O’s with my brother Jarrod.  My passion continued as I had the opportunity to play one year at Hastings College for Mike Trader, four seasons with Grant Schmidt at Concordia University, and then coach three years at Bellevue University while assisting Todd Eisner. 

Now in my ninth season at Concordia University, I have the greatest job in the world.  Not because I get to coach the greatest game, which I do, or because I have fun, hard-working players, also true, but because I am in a position to impact others in a positive way and be a servant-leader for Jesus Christ.  I am blessed to be able to coach at a Concordia where sharing my faith is welcomed and encouraged.  It’s a special place when your coaching peers have the same values that you do and are in this profession for the same reason you are.  My faith has been strengthened by fellow coaches, by players, by students.

I feel this same way throughout the GPAC.  Often times, pre-game conversations with the opposing coaches are about family and values.  I have really enjoyed getting to know other coaches in the GPAC.  Though we definitely are competitive and want to win in those 2 hours of battle, the time shared before, and the moments after the game are of mutual respect and friendship.

One of the challenges of coaching at this level is recruiting.  I believe this has become even more difficult the last few years with the increasing number of AAU teams and the pressure put on high school athletes to play at the highest level.  I understand having the dream to play at the D-1 level (I wanted to play for Duke) but I now know the value that the GPAC can have on student-athletes.  Student-athletes at this “small college” level have an awesome overall experience.  They are put in a faith based environment with smaller class sizes.  They have opportunities to compete (some can compete in multiple sports) and learn through athletics.  And they can do this while still competing at an extremely high level.  The GPAC is one of the toughest leagues for many sports, but especially for women’s basketball.

Coaching at Concordia and in the GPAC is an awesome challenge.  It has so many good coaches.  Every night is a battle which makes the season a grind and very stressful. My wife often asks me why I coach because she sees the insanity of the occupation.  We all have the goal to win a national championship, but the majority fall short and end the season with some form of disappointment.  But even for that team/coach that wins the ultimate prize, you have to return to the grind of the next season.  Your satisfaction is never content, never completely fulfilled.  Part of our job is to win and it’s easy to get lost in the season and where your focus should be as a coach.  Don’t focus on the ultimate goal, but focus on the process.  Take pride in the little steps your players and your team make throughout the season.  Enjoy the small victories.  Enjoy the relationships that you are building and the impact you are making.  Enjoy each day you get to spend doing what you love.  The main thing I have learned in this profession is to find joy in the journey.

n you and those around you.

-Drew Olson 

Learn more about Drew Olson  HERE

Follow him on Twitter @CoachDrewOlson

Keep checking back for more "Reflections from the GPAC Bleachers" and follow the GPAC on Twitter @GPACSports or on the web at www.gpacsports.com