Should you play Club/AAU ball or stick with the high school team?

Why not do both, if you're looking to play at the next level, it's now almost essential.

It's amazing that club teams in various communities around the country have a difficult time working with the local high school coaches. Adults placing kids in the ugly positions of having to choose between one or the other. One argument between many high school coaches, and private trainers and/or AAU/Club coaches, is over the player's practice time. I think all involved want the players to improve. High school coaches want their players to fit in to the team concept, to elevate the team to league and state prominence. Trainers and club coaches want the players to do well, help their team, get a scholarship so they can take credit for the player's development and improvement. Both high schools and club coaches hope that outsiders see the success of the program and want to play and/or train with them. Both are good and both can work for you.

Parents, always wanting more for the darling daughters, sometimes finding themselves frustrated with the way that the local high schools are handling there daughters, and choose to go to the local club teams. Because of the various restrictions on high schools, most communities have just one or maybe two schools that are constantly competitive and a large number schools that struggle to find there way, so parents look around for greener pastures. Sometimes they find better, sometimes they don't. No matter how you feel one thing's for sure, AAU/Club teams have a niche in almost every community. They are her to stay. It's all about finding the right one for you. The advantage of playing with good club team's are playing with and against more competitive players and playing in the college viewing tournaments. (find out more, ask around)

There are many communities that have enjoyed huge success because of the work of the local club team. Spokane and the Inland Empire has enjoyed great success because of the club team "Spokane Star's". The picture above shows the Star's club president with a few of his players that have attended Arizona State University on a basketball scholarship. Many high schools surrounding the Spokane area, have their players training with the "Star's" and the schools have enjoyed unparalleled success in the high school state tournament. State champions at all divisions seem to be a constant coming out of the Spokane area. Including but not limited to the back to back state 4A champs Lewis & Clark. And not only have the teams enjoyed success but over 150 players, over the past 20 or so years, have achieved D1 scholarships including University High School player and now University of Tennessee starter Angie Bjorklund.

It's time here in Southwest Washington we started working together, helping our local student athletes achieve personal basketball success, of which I believe the local high schools will gain be successful. This is the goal behind "Premier Elite". After the '08 - '09 high school season, we will be holding tryouts for the high school level, two teams. We hope you'll consider being a part of the 2009 spring and summer team. Also this December we will be putting together a 8th grade team. Future correspondence will be posted concerning tryouts. Let's make our community the next big thing for girl's basketball in the state.