Long term effects of summer circuit takes its toll with ACL injuries

[Coach.Shu]

Interesting topic from Nick at 

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I completely agree that with girls - playing year round any sport is too much on their body and leads to injury.

"Over the course of the season, ACL injuries have hit the girls’ basketball world hard and have sidelined the top talent in the Metroplex this season and in the state.This past week, another top talent was sidelined as De Soto’s Sa’Myah Smith, a four-star recruit and the top-ranked player in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, is out for the remainder for the season.

Smith picked up this injury in the championship game of the Sandra Meadows Classic against Duncanville back on December 28.

It is rare to see top players get hurt by one injury but one a question that may be repeatedly asked is if there is any rest for players coming into the high school season after the summer circuit.

Many basketball players nowadays play year-round, if they want to be seen as a top talent or a rising star in their respective team but now, if you don’t play club, travel or any kind of AAU basketball in the summer, your high school career is all that you have in order to have a lasting impression on the recruits.

Some long-time basketball fans can recall three years ago where there was a big discussion on whether summer leagues in the basketball community was harming the game and taking a toll on players.

But in the present day, the summer circuit is big and unfortunately, overshadows high school careers with the “exposure,” brand being a big part of why.

The summer circuit may be good for the media exposure but in the long term, it can take a toll on a player’s body in order to stay fit for the high school season, the career that should be the main part of a player’s career when having exposure in the basketball season.

It is very unfortunate that in today’s world where social media is everything that all a player needs is a summer league highlight reel from what they did in the course of the summer season and that is the main key for them to get prime exposure.

All players should focus on their high school career, as we all focus on what a player does in high school, not in the summer. If summer ball might be a thought for you to expand your game, explore other options as long-term health for your high school season could be affected."    Nick Alvarado

[$$Buckets$$]

I think that summer basketball can be a blessing and a curse.  In this day and time IMO summer play or AAU is highly beneficial in the recruitment of players because colleges arent beating down doors of high schools looking for talent unless they have already evaluated the player during the viewing periods at a NCAA certified tournament.  But how a lot of AAU organizations do things is NOT beneficial.  A lot of people out here use summer basketball as a money grab or a way to chase clout by being able to say that they had such and such on their team.  Yes playing in front of scouts during the NCAA viewing periods is what you need to do, but those are only a couple of weekends in April May and few days in July.  Playing in 12 to 15 tournaments is excessive!  When you look at the number of games that these players are playing it is amazing!  They play anywhere between 30 to 40 games in a high school season then turn around and play up to 60 games during the summer thats 80 to 100 games played in less than a year with NO rest in between.  That is way to much and the results that it brings is injuries.  Then on top of all of these games you have certain media outlets telling you that you need to come to this "elite" camp so that you can be evaluated or ranked.  When you get there all it is is nothing but some "trainers" putting you through some drills then the players play up to 6 games in front of these basketball "gurus".  All this does is put even more miles on a players body.  

Players must be able to get adequate rest!!  And honestly that is not being promoted by a lot all they tell you is that you have to be at this event or that event.  Honestly speaking tho AAU does provide the best way for a player to get exposure, but they must know that not EVERY team gets that exposure.  Just because the tournament flyer says that college scouts will be there doesnt mean that these scouts will be at courts to watch you play.  I think that both players and parents must do their homework before embarking on the path of playing in the summer on an AAU team.  Dont just fall for the hype of nice looking uniforms and team shoes!  Parents must also MAKE sure that their players get adequate rest.  What worked for me is making sure mine had weeks where she was not allowed to pick up a ball or even be in the gym.  Especially after that last viewing period in July I didnt let her touch a ball till school starts, she wasnt allowed to do anything but to be a kid lol.  Remember that YOU have ALL of the control over your player not that AAU guy.  Adequate rest and maintenance is essential for a player to get through the grinds of basketball and is very important for injury prevention.

[WOSgrad]

ttt