Katie DeBaker

AAU should be fun! I’ve been thinking about that a lot during tryout season. Don’t let a 10-year youth basketball journey become miserable because everyone is chasing a “maybe” scholarship. Yes, compete. Yes, train. Yes, set big goals. But don’t lose sight of why your kids fell in love with the game in the first place. Find a team that enjoys competing TOGETHER… and just as importantly, enjoys being around each other. Be part of something you don’t want to leave. When the season ends, you should miss the people more than the schedule. Enjoy the road trips. Laugh in the hotel lobbies. Celebrate the little wins. Handle adversity together. Become better teammates. Make memories your family will still be talking about 20 years from now!! If a scholarship comes, that’s incredible. If it doesn’t, your kids can still walk away with confidence, resilience, lifelong friendships, and lessons that extend far beyond basketball… oh, and still play at a non-scholarship level! A college scholarship is a possibility. Childhood is a guarantee. Don’t sacrifice one chasing the other. The scholarship might last four years. The memories, relationships, and experiences your family creates along the way will last a lifetime. Choose accordingly.