Club Team Tournaments are Glorified "Scrimmage Games".

Parents beware! In recent years, a disturbing trend has emerged in youth basketball, where large clubs are joining forces to host their own weekly tournaments, which are essentially glorified "scrimmage games" between the participating club teams. The main goal of these events is to cut down on costs associated with attending real tournaments. While saving money might seem like a win for club owners, it's happening at the expense of player development—and that’s a problem.

These "scrimmage tournaments" lack the structure and intensity of true competition, which is where real growth happens for young athletes. Instead of facing a diverse range of opponents, players are often matched up against teams they’ve seen in practice, leading to predictable, low-stakes games. The absence of a competitive environment robs players of the opportunity to learn how to handle pressure, make in-game adjustments, and develop the mental toughness needed to succeed at higher levels.

Even more concerning is that these clubs are charging their own parents to watch these scrimmage games, creating a situation where families are paying for a subpar experience. This trend puts profit and cost-cutting above player development, which should always be the top priority in youth sports.

True development happens when athletes are pushed out of their comfort zones, face real competition, and learn from challenging experiences. Clubs need to refocus on creating opportunities that foster growth, not just on minimizing costs. Parents should demand more for their players—real tournaments with real competition.