{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Mike Weaving \u2014 Should You Join the AAU Basketball League?","description":"Mike Weaving is the Head Coach for the Sickles High School Men\u2019s Basketball Program in Tampa, Florida. Mike has over 13 years of coaching basketball at the Middle and High School Levels and is currently in his Fourth season with the Men\u2019s high school team. Mike received a BS in exercise science and an MS in coaching.   In this episode, Mike talks about some of the pros and cons of AAU Basketball and why a youth athlete might join a league that has had a bad reputation over the last few years. Is AAU worth it for an aspiring athlete? Mike answers these questions and more.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Unfortunately, AAU has a lot of controversy. [3:35] Why does AAU have such a bad reputation? [6:05] Athletes and parents need to be really mindful of why they\u2019re playing at AAU and what some of their goals are. [7:05] What are some of the benefits of joining a league like this? [9:30] What kinds of questions do scouts ask the coaches before bringing on a kid? [11:10] What age should your kid ideally be before they join the AAU?   VertiMax VertiMax on Facebook VertiMax on Instagram VertiMax on YouTube VertiMax on LinkedIn VertiMax Certification Education SicklesHoops on Twitter   Tweetables: \u201cKids have to be mindful of who they\u2019re playing for and why that person is trying to coach them, and what they\u2019re trying to get out of it. Is it in the best interest of the coach or the kid?"   "There are a lot of super talented kids out there that unfortunately don\u2019t make it because they throw all their eggs in the wrong basket."   ","author_name":"VertiMax Vive","author_url":"http:\/\/www.vertimax.com","html":"