Basketball - School vs. Travel

As a coach of both high school and travel basketball, I often think about which scenario is the best for the kids. Travel ball provides a high level of competition, which can help a player develop their skills. However, coaches on the travel circuit are often little more than glorified recruiters. Many coaches build teams around their sons, and focus more on personal ego, instead of player and team development.

It always brings a smile to my face to see the 4th and 5th grade teams walk into the gym with full warm-up gear, team shoes, and travel bags. I would much rather see the coaches focus more on the basketball aspect and less on the fashion show.

There is an interesting article from a couple years back about a 3rd and 5th grade travel team in Texas. You can take a look at the article from the Dallas Morning News.

While the example given in the article is taken to the extreme, it raises the point I most often think about. Does travel basketball take away from high school ball? When a player has spent their entire life being pampered, what do they have to look forward to? Often times, their eventual varsity team won't be able to provide the same perks they received from their 6th grade AAU team.

In the end I believe travel teams can serve a purpose. If the team is assembled for the right reasons it can be a great place for a player to learn and play against tough competition. When the team turns into an all star squad playing only for individual recognition, that's when the trouble starts.

If you have any thoughts on the subject, feel free to comment or drop me an email.