AAU High School Nationals 2008

[zipyaj]

In the absence of news from either public sources, web sites, press releases, or even an array of keyword alerts, I am hopeful that this forum might have some answers about the results from AAU High School Nationals 2008 held this past weekend at the SGAA Dual Deck arena in Snellville, GA.

In addition to these championship results, outstanding are some other more difficult questions.

2008 Attendance...
Considering that the organizers expected school teams from Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana to attend, the results were disappointing. The schedule for this event downloaded from AAU included a mere 17 schools from four states: Colorado (1 team), Pennsylvania (2), Florida (5), and home state Georgia (9) to compete in three divisions: Varsity (4 teams), Jr. Varsity (8), and Middle School (5).

2007 Attendance...
In contrast, the second annual 2007 event held in Anaheim, CA included a field of 28 teams from six states: Michigan (1 team), Pennsylvania (1), Florida (2), Arizona (4), Colorado (8), and home state California (11) to compete in five divisions: Varsity tier 1 (6 teams), Varsity tier 2 (6), Varsity tier 3 (4), Jr. Varsity (8), and Middle School (4). It appeared then that this event was moving upward from the inaugural 2006 event held in St. Louis.

Pointing fingers about the drop in participation from 2007 to 2008 may not be entirely fair. Instead, asking fair questions and arriving at effective solutions can be far more productive.

Questions seeking answers...
Is the drop due to the increased costs of travel? Too many conflicting or closely scheduled tourney dates? AAU turnout compared with registrations for NARCh high school division? Lacking funds or fundraising efforts to afford teams to participate? The holiday weekend impact? What do the teams who traveled feel about only competing with only a small handful of teams, and in the case of Georgia, teams they just competed with in their recent State finals? How will this effect next year's turnout? Does this also bring up the need for Regional tournaments to better afford and increase participation, and to better qualify true national champions?

In this observer's opinion, a significant key to the growth of hockey, regardless of the surface, increasingly relies on the strengths and potential of its scholastic programs, particularly with the high school segment. Further, this segment is quite possibly the easiest to unify at the local, state, regional and even national levels.

Please extend me credit for your two cents on this!

Regards,
Jay Piz
Interscholastic Hockey Federation (IHF)
Irvine, CA

[old hockey mom]

I'm no expert, but I do have a son playing in a high school league at Rollin Ice (Silver Creek Sportsplex) in San Jose, CA. Rollin Ice's high school league typically has between 43 and 48 teams a season. Some are very competitive and others are beginners.

But, unfortunately I'm not surprised by the lack of turn out at this time of year. High school final exams and proms are on the calendar.

AAU and WIHA held their West Coast Nationals in Southern California last weekend. If the High School Finals would have been part of this tournament, I'm sure more high school teams would have attended. There were teams at this tournament from Northern and Southern California and Arizona. Most kids on competitive high school teams are also on travel teams. If the tournament could be where an when the travel team tournament is, I bet you would get a much bigger turnout. But, with the cost of travel, I certainly can't imagine traveling all the way to Georgia for just high school, and also missing a travel team tournament. It seems like for travel kids, travel is first and high school is second. But, if the tournaments are at the same time and venue, everybody wins.

Maybe a West Coast and East Coast final would be better??

[HockeyFan1989]

I think that the lack of attendance may be to what you said as the time of the tournament is kind of close to AAU, NARCh, and TORHS Nationals. I think there would be a higher attendance if High School Nationals were played in April, as many schools around the country have there spring break at this time. Also, I think more of a centralized location would attract more schools, such as a place like St. Louis, or Chicago. (Not that Georgia is a bad place to travel) I also believe having a few regionals in areas of the country that produce a large amount of high school teams would help promote AAU and their High School Nationals. That's my two cents

[old hockey mom]

This is a minor gripe, but it drives me crazy that AAU takes so long to post results on their website. How long does it take to just report the scores? For example, my son played at the AAU West Coast Nationals last weekend. They didn't make it all the way to the finals, but I have yet to find out who won the tournament in their division or age group. Nor can I see how the other teams from our rink fared.

Narch is so professional in getting game scores and results in. If I'm not at a tournament but want to follow along, I know that the Narch scores are updated almost immediately. AAU seems to take forever.

So, if I ever have the choice between Narch and AAU, Narch just seems to be better run and organized. Once again, minor, but just my two cents...

[zipyaj]

Dear old hockey mom;

Thanks for your nickle's worth! Here's a few pennies more...

First, I empathize with your frustration over results! Being able to access results from this event is within the nature of this thread. With so many disparate reporting solutions used by the rink operators and event promoters, it's no wonder that results lag from event to event. However, there are many effective solutions available (and I won't make this into a commercial). By you also sharing your experience from the AAU West Coast Nationals held in Corona you may be pointing to a common issue that event organizers everwhere should pay attention to in servicing their clientele and audience alike.

Second, scheduling is a growing concern for scholastic league play. Speaking to the So. California scene, the demands placed by sanctioned Spring sports, specifically Lacrosse, are mandating changes to league schedules to become a Winter sport and complete playoffs in March (refer to CIF sports schedules). As you may be aware, the San Diego section is the only state sanctioned roller hockey league and they run their season from November to March. If, for example, high school seasons across the state were to run more parallel, and if the portending summer scheduling meeting among the major event producers in the Southwest can resolve conflicts by improved planning for 2008-09, then, perhaps, participation in high school championship events could be increased. AAU might consider going back-to-school on this one.

For sure the travel by California teams to the East coast is cost prohibitive, particularly without having some funding structure to get top high school teams to a National event. California teams have produced national champions from the past two AAU championships yet none attended this year.

As for "just high school" (comparing to travel), that's a bone I have to bury in the back yard for now, but I would like to dig it back up to chew on later.

Thanks again!
Jay

[old hockey mom]

Dear Jay,

"As for "just high school" (comparing to travel), that's a bone I have to bury in the back yard for now, but I would like to dig it back up to chew on later."

Whoops, my "just high school" comment came out wrong. I guess if we look at how many kids are involved in High School here in the San Jose area, we are probably looking at over 450 kids between the ages of 14 and 18, a much larger population than travel kids of that age group. So, I stand corrected, it isn't "just high school" as a second class citizen.

However, of all of our 45 teams or so, only about four or five are competitive enough to potentially want to travel and compete on a higher level. (Our division 1 teams.)

Maybe some of the more mid level teams would be willing to travel and compete, but they may not want to be in "junior varsity." Many of these teams have seniors on them, and Jr. Varsity seems to stir up images of Freshman and Sophmores only. I think Division 1, 2 and 3, or Plat, Gold, and Silver may better describe an appropriate breakdown.

Thanks for your hard work on this.

[CUDangled]

In defense of the delayed results...you have to remember that some rinks don't have internet access available. So lets say your team is done on Sunday, but the tournament runs until Monday. The promoters then have to jump on a plane and fly home. It could easily be Tuesday night before they even have a chance to start entering the results.

On the flip side, should the promoter invest in a online stats program (insert brand name here) they would then have to pass the cost onto the consumer and they would have to raise their rates, which we already complain about being "too high".

I know we run into this all the time with the college league. People want to see the results, but dont' want to pay increased league fees to support online/immediate access at the facilities that don't have internet hook ups.

[old hockey mom]

Dear CUDangled,

Thanks for the reminder that not everyone has the same technology and/or budget as Narch and State Wars. My son played State Wars last year and his friends at home followed along every game. (And gave him cr*&*&p when they didn't see him get any points in a game.) It makes it fun for the kids.

Also, I'm sure that we have to remember that running tournaments isn't always a full time job for many people involved in the tournaments. We couldn't survive without the many volunteers this and any kids' sports have.

[CUDangled]

I think it is more of an issue of "pleasing the masses" vs. budget/technology. The technology is easily available to anyone who wants it...I just feel that the masses would rather keep the entry fees down, rather than track stats at home. Even though I agree it is really cool to track the progress from home when you are interested.

With gas creeping above $4.00/gal this summer, would you rather pay $15 more per person for the event and have the stats? Or put that money in your gas tank?

Just my $0.02...I could be wrong.

[TourBandits]

Varsity:
4th: Park Vista Cobras 0
Bronze: Brookwood 1

Silver: McIntosh 1
Gold: Walton 6

Junior Varsity Tier II:
4th: Duluth Wildcats 3
Bronze: Lewis Palmer 5

Silver: Jupiter 2
Gold: Loganville Red Devils 4

Junior Varsity Tier I:
4th: Lassiter 2
Bronze: Columbus Explorers 4

Silver: Palm Beach Central Broncos 4
Gold: Hampton Inline Hockey 6

Middle School:
4th: Duluth Middle School 2
Bronze: McConnell Rams 7

Silver: St. Francis 3
Gold: Woodlands Middle School 6

We tried to post the scores live, but had some issues with the website. The scores and the pictures will be posted on the AAU website as soon as the problems are fixed. If you have any questions regarding the event please post them here and I will do my best to answer them. Overall it was a nice event even with the low number of teams.

Thanks,

Jon Roux

[zipyaj]

Jon;

Thank you taking the time to gather and post the results of this event, and welcome to the IHC forum!

Best regards,
Jay