NOVA AAU TEAMS (Nova94, Fairfax Stars, NovaCavaliers

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know where these teams practice? and how often they practice?
We live in Arlington and can't tell how far you'd have to go for practices.

[Anonymous]

Nova Cavs used to practice at Marshall HS and other Fairfax schools a few years ago. My son hasn’t played for them in a few years. I think NOVA 94 is Reston/Herndon. Not sure where in Fairfax the Stars practice. We live in Arlington and it’s really hard unless you have a carpool or a very flexible job.

[Anonymous]

Practice locations for teams are based on availability of full court gyms (county or private), coach preference, and (maybe) residence of team members. And gyms can change mid season. Focus first on finding the best fit team with a good coach you believe will develop the whole team and treat your kid fairly (enough play time).

(Says NoVA parent with kid who ended up leaving one of the teams above for better opportunities and more play time with a stronger PG county based team)

[Anonymous]

Nova94 may practice anywhere between Ashburn and Arlington. Depends on what specific team. Ask the coaches.

[Anonymous]

DP, I find the websites for most of these teams pretty lacking. Many are advertising tryouts but don’t post expectations for practices, games, how long the season is, etc. It makes it difficult for multi sport kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP, I find the websites for most of these teams pretty lacking. Many are advertising tryouts but don’t post expectations for practices, games, how long the season is, etc. It makes it difficult for multi sport kids.

They don't want multi sport kids. The game schedules are unpredictable and last minute. They move practice nights and locations around depending on gym space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP, I find the websites for most of these teams pretty lacking. Many are advertising tryouts but don’t post expectations for practices, games, how long the season is, etc. It makes it difficult for multi sport kids.

They don't want multi sport kids. The game schedules are unpredictable and last minute. They move practice nights and locations around depending on gym space.

Most of the best athletes play multiple sports. If you look at any truly talented athlete, they did not specialize at 10 years old.

[Anonymous]

If you want all that information, I recommend going to their open gym sessions. But PP is right, they don’t love multi sport kids.

[Anonymous]

Hurricanes is an Arlington based team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP, I find the websites for most of these teams pretty lacking. Many are advertising tryouts but don’t post expectations for practices, games, how long the season is, etc. It makes it difficult for multi sport kids.

They don't want multi sport kids. The game schedules are unpredictable and last minute. They move practice nights and locations around depending on gym space.

It depends on the coach. Lax and soccer players tend to have better court vision at younger ages because those sports spread out while BB is still a fight under the hoop at younger levels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP, I find the websites for most of these teams pretty lacking. Many are advertising tryouts but don’t post expectations for practices, games, how long the season is, etc. It makes it difficult for multi sport kids.

They don't want multi sport kids. The game schedules are unpredictable and last minute. They move practice nights and locations around depending on gym space.

Most of the best athletes play multiple sports. If you look at any truly talented athlete, they did not specialize at 10 years old.

So these coaches and orgs don’t care about what is best for your own personal kid. Keep that in mind. They want to win games and they want everyone present at every practice and game, even if your child doesn’t get off the bench. Only you have your child’s best long term interests in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hurricanes is an Arlington based team.

Hurricanes is all girls. Nova Cavs is boys. I had assumed OP was looking at boys teams.

[Anonymous]

Even the younger AAU teams expect dedication to basketball as number one priority--attending every practice--in spring season. My son dropped select soccer for Rec (because he was allowed to skip those practices and still play). We made every practice but got dinged for being 15-minutes late (to a 2-hour practice) because our commute from work-school-practice (in Herndon or Chantilly) took so long. The other parents all worked from home or lived close by so their sons had definite advantage to score brownie points with coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even the younger AAU teams expect dedication to basketball as number one priority--attending every practice--in spring season. My son dropped select soccer for Rec (because he was allowed to skip those practices and still play). We made every practice but got dinged for being 15-minutes late (to a 2-hour practice) because our commute from work-school-practice (in Herndon or Chantilly) took so long. The other parents all worked from home or lived close by so their sons had definite advantage to score brownie points with coach.

And after all that dedication, the cuts are brutal. Coming from soccer, the expectation was that the overwhelming majority of the top team would make the top team again the next year and the rest would make a team. Moving to basketball, massive turnover seems more the norm

[Anonymous]

A two hour practice for elementary age kids is excessive.