RECRUITMENT GUIDELINES

AGREEMENT WITH BCAM, AAU, AND MHSAA

INTRODUCTION:

For the first time ever, representatives from Michigan AAU Boys Basketball, Michigan AAU Girls Basketball, Michigan Association AAU, the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan and the Michigan High School Athletic Association met to discuss problems and concerns. This committee has adopted the name of the Michigan Youth Basketball Advisory Council. The following Rules and Recommendations were adopted to improve communications among these organizations and to establish guidelines for better working relationships. This is an effort to establish guidelines for communication and to solve problems that involve athletes and coaches who violate policies, procedures, and rules of the MHSAA, AAU and BCAM. It is the committee's hope that these Rules and Recommendations will improve the basketball atmosphere in Michigan and also improve the working relationship among these three organizations. MHSAA, BCAM, and AAU are all dedicated to improving and promoting basketball in Michigan.

RULES:

1. AAU Coaches may not initiate any personal contact with any athlete or his/her family during the MHSAA basketball season of that athlete to discuss AAU team matters or the upcoming AAU season. This includes phone calls as well as face to face contact. It is permissible to send information to the athlete but this is limited to three mailings and/or e-mails. AAU coaches and their representatives must respect the wishes of a potential AAU player. If that player or his/her parents asks the coaches or their representatives to stop contacting the player, no further contact can take place. Violation of this request will be considered a serious violation.

2. No AAU tryouts, practice or competition shall be conducted for high school athletes for the time period that starts with the first day of practice as defined by the MHSAA and ends with the last game of the state tournament Consideration should be made for the player that plays on the final weekend of the MHSAA state tournament and is being asked to attend an AAU tryout on the Sunday following the tournament.

3. Acceptance or offering of money, merchandise or favors of any kind by coaches, athletes, parents or supporters as a means of inducement is strictly prohibited and will be considered a serious offense, which may cause the player loss of high school eligibility. Also, the offer or promise of camp invitations or placement and/or travel as a means of enticement is a violation or these rules and with AAU principles. All basketball players in Michigan playing organized basketball in either the AAU or the MHSAA shall be informed of the rules and regulations of the MHSAA, AAU, and the NCAA regarding the acceptance of money, merchandise and favors. Violations will be reported to the proper authority.

4. AAU tryouts must abide by the following rules:

   1. Tryouts must be open to all players.

   2. Proper notice of tryouts (to meet the requirements of an open tryout, notice must be provided in at least two different local media, or at least twice in the same public medium). One of these ads must appear at least two weeks prior to tryouts and be mailed to the Chairman of Girls or Boys AAU basketball.

   3. There shall be no cost to tryout other than the cost for an AAU Membership Card ($ 14) and a minimum cost for expenses in renting the gym which should not exceed an amount equal to double the cost of the AAU membership. A player trying out must be given an AAU card. Once a player receives his/her AAU card, he/she does not need to pay for another card at subsequent tryouts.

   4. Purchase of shoes and other apparel and equipment (other than uniforms) shall not be a requirement for participation. Fund raising efforts by team members is permissible.

   5. When a conflict arises between a MHSAA/high school sanctioned game, practice or event and an AAU activity, the MHSAA/high school event shall take precedence.

5. Any communication with college coaches concerning AAU players must involve the player's parents and the player's high school coach. Their names and phone numbers shall be given to the college coach. This is to keep the parent and the high school coach in the "recruiting loop".

6. Until a player participates in an AAU "sanctioned event", that player has the right to play for any other AAU team.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Players are allowed to participate with the clubs of their choice. However, when AAU officials or offices are contacted relative to participation, referrals shall be made to geographically compatible clubs.

2. Players that are not currently meeting the MHSAA/high school eligibility requirements (passing four subjects) should be counseled that they will not be eligible for high school sports. If a player is considering pursuing a college education, the player should be advised to see his/her school counselor and learn what is required of a student to be eligible for entrance into college.

3. AAU coaches will not discourage players from participating in other school sports.

4. AAU and high school coaches should work to improve communication among themselves.

5. Coaches are encouraged to limit practice periods to two (2) hours in length. Practices that end past 9:30 pm should be discouraged.

MICHIGAN YOUTH BASKETBALL ADVISORY COUNCIL:

Cindy Trombly (President, Michigan AAU)

Walter Hall (Treasurer, Boys AAU) 

Tom Hursey (Executive Director, BCAM) 

Nate Hampton (Associate Director, MHSAA)

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. CONTACT THE HEAD OF YOUR ASSOCIATION, (i.e., AAU Boys' coaches contact the Chairman of the Boys AAU; AAU Girls' coaches contact the Chairman of the Chairman of the Girls AAU; and high school coaches contact the Executive Director of BCAM -- see below). You may make the contact by phone but a written report will be required. The report should be explicit with names, dates, times and places.

2. YOUR ASSOCIATION HEAD WILL FORWARD THE WRITTEN REPORT TO THE HEAD OF THE ASSOCIATION INVOLVED. The alleged violator will be contacted and appropriate action will be taken:

   1. First violation would require a warning.

   2. Subsequent violations could result in suspension from coaching for various periods.

   3. Failure to abide by rules will result in removal from the association for various periods.

3. YOU WILL RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM YOUR ASSOCIATION HEAD AS TO WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN.

Executive Director, BCAM

2296 Taos Trail

Okemos, MI 48864

(517) 580-8405