Youth Basketball 21 Created

[Mike Flynn]

I was a part of an historic conference meeting in Las Vegas over the weekend. Twenty-two of the top people on the boys and girls side of basketball met to create this new, national non-profit company to deal with the multitude of issues confronting non-scholastic basketball. What made it historic was this was the first time both side of basketball, regardless of shoe company affiliation or not, that everyone met to discuss the issues confronting our sport. It was a home run as some of the most powerful people on the boy's side were in attendance. Look for more information in the coming days and weeks. While YB21 won't re-invent the wheel, it will look to make changes and recommendations with the Certification process and the NCAA recruiting calendar.

[bake34]

MIke,
Will the NCAA extend the observation period or are they going to shorten it during April or July?
Also, since there are so many tournaments going on by a lot of clubs or areas; will they try to reduce those too?

R. Becker

[Mike Flynn]

It's taken a while to get back to this question as the NCAA D1 Observation weekend is now over. There has been a lot of NCAA possible legislation discussed for next year some of which is based on the whims of a few powerful coaches with nothing less than a monarchial viewpoint towards opportunity for girls. I know there is discussion to shorten the NCAA summer for girls as some of the same noted entitled coaches want less work for themselves and less babysitting. So, the concept of 7-5-7 has been hitting the streets. I heard it last summer. For me, this is a disgrace for the game and a continual abuse of this concept for the benefit of college coaches, not the game. The new group YB21 will be fighting all of this with a new calendar concept for both boys and girls. As for the number of events, just cut the days and they you'll cut the events. Simple math of days decreased for less opportunity for girls to compete and be seen. There must be a better way. We will propose a new season observation calendar so that the game has opportunity that workks for all, not just the elite coaches and the players they follow.

[Mike Flynn]

I've posted three articles that have been put out by the NCAA and ESPN over the past two days which will have a major impact on non-scholastic youth basketball. There's a lot of issues hitting the fan and it has the youth basketball community in heated discussion on the fate of a lot of things. The rules impact those people and individuals who are not a part of the mainstream of youth basketball. Some of the rules are being put in place to cut down on the advantage crafted out by some colleges. You may want to read these and become educated on what is going on in the press and really behind the scenes so that when people ask you, you'll know what to say besides the normal NCAA propoganda.

[nmolly]

Woohoo!

Anyway been a while but just wanted to say keep the fight going we need the summer circuit for these girls as there's no way the high schools can do that, a lot of girls would get missed, just think of all those girls who are not on the top recruiting high schools who did great this summer.

[Mike Flynn]

I would suggest going over to my blog on BlueStarbb.com (above) and read the three stories that I posted on the site along with the commentary that went with each story. All three are just a puzzle piece of the massive spin machine from the NCAA-influenced media. The commentary should give all just a part of what we are facing in the youth basketball community.

[Mike Flynn]

It's a new year and with that came the bally-hoo over the possible NCAA rule that has been dubbed the "Tom Insell" rule where no more than three players from a bordering state can play on a travel team in that state. Well, the last time I looked our flag wasn't totally red containing a star or hammer on it. It boggles my mind how college coaches would demand parents adhere to this rule limiting the choice of their child's opportunity to play basketball but want to recruit players far beyond the same bordering state rule. Also, this rule did not get passed and into effect right now as predicted by even some of my close friends. Right now the RULE doesn't NOT COUNT. Players can play like they have in the past. The WBCA supported the rule as some of their coaches "complained" about a team having too many players. Well, they don't complain about Geno or Pat getting all the talent and have to change the rules to prevent that do they? The comment was that this was a "preventive" move. Preventing what? The money of the men's game is not here and never will be. Second, the rule was pushed because the few powerful coaches don't want to speak, talk or have to be nice to anyone they feel has players in which they do not have a good relationship. The want the easy, kiss-my-a.. relationship to be in play with a higher authority to compain to if they don't get their way. This is the kind of atmosphere the women are creating to mirror exactly where the men's game is. College coaches do not want what's best for the game or best for the kids. Opportunity should be theirs and their along to make as much money as humanly possible regardless of the chances and dreams they steal from kids with these kinds of rule. I will skp my soap box tirade about the lack of voice of the mids in fighting the few, monied millionaires big time coaches who want this rule. Don't get made I wrote this, just do what's right for the game.