The Cross Over Movement is a community grassroots effort led by youth coaches and parents to put the youth back in youth basketball and create a more balanced, better organized system of development based on the model outlined in the book Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development.

The foundation of The Cross Over Movement is a belief that youth sports should be athlete-centered and emphasize fun, learning and development ahead of winning.

This is not a socialistic, get rid of trophies, competition is harmful to kids agenda; instead, it is a philosophy of youth development aimed at providing a better experience for all youth athletes and laying the foundation for improved elite player development.

Currently, from pee-wees to the pros, American basketball lacks organization and leadership and savvy businessmen and sneaker companies fill the gap, creating personal wealth at the expense of basketball and traditional youth sports.

At the elite level, adidas-sponsored teams are prohibited from playing Nike-sponsored teams and shoe companies invest millions of dollars recruiting players to their teams.

At the youth level, coaches use a "Peak by Friday" mentality rather than preparing players for a life of basketball and building skills gradually.

The argument is not whether Lithuania or Spain develops better players than the United States; The Movement is dedicated to insuring basketball players in the United States develop in the best possible system based on a philosophy of Long Term Athlete Development.

The Movement advocates a youth basketball system based on fun, learning and development.

To learn more about the principles behind The Movement and the model on which it is based, buy Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development and visit the blog and forum.

To support the Movement, please go to the Forum and register.

Spread the word to coaches, parents and league administrators so we can put the youth back into youth basketball.