Basketball - where next, Finished REC, invited to tryout AAU

[Anonymous]

DS11 is not the best but pretty good and wants to improve. He was invited to tryout for an AAU team. There is barely any info on their website. Are there other teams he can tryout for? Or are there other ways he can improve. Already know about Evoball.

[Anonymous]

I just posted. I have a son similar in age. He is too good for rec but does not seem good enough for AAU or at least the AAU teams he has tried out for.

[Anonymous]

Pp here. I have learned that many of these teams have basketball academies so they have clinics where kids can improve their skills. I’m still learning myself. The websites are terrible. I am going from teams my son hears about, what I have found on here, google searches and a few parents. I wish there was a clear website with tryout info. I missed a bunch of tryouts that happened this week that we had no idea about.

[Anonymous]

Welcome any info others have to share on this! It seems hard to find.

[Anonymous]

This area is sorely lacking in opportunities for kids who finish rec season and just want to keep playing. The jump to AAU is tough-both for players and families. I'd look for AAU programs with C teams or that are developmental. Make sure you check them out before paying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This area is sorely lacking in opportunities for kids who finish rec season and just want to keep playing. The jump to AAU is tough-both for players and families. I'd look for AAU programs with C teams or that are developmental. Make sure you check them out before paying.

What AAU teams have B and C teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This area is sorely lacking in opportunities for kids who finish rec season and just want to keep playing. The jump to AAU is tough-both for players and families. I'd look for AAU programs with C teams or that are developmental. Make sure you check them out before paying.

What AAU teams have B and C teams?

The question is which don't?

[Anonymous]

I am only familiar with the girls side of AAU and most of the clubs have a B team and some have C teams. Examples:
Hurricanes
Classics
tru2form
GTS
Lady Attack
Maryland Sting
Elevate Elite
PV Thunder
D1SA
Vogues

Unclear if elite teams like Takeover and Durant do.

Point being most do. The problem is that some B team are equally as competitive (elevate and hurricanes and GTS)

It's very hard to find low key Rec extensions in the spring but the demand is there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I have learned that many of these teams have basketball academies so they have clinics where kids can improve their skills. I’m still learning myself. The websites are terrible. I am going from teams my son hears about, what I have found on here, google searches and a few parents. I wish there was a clear website with tryout info. I missed a bunch of tryouts that happened this week that we had no idea about.

Do you know if any of the NoVa ones do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I have learned that many of these teams have basketball academies so they have clinics where kids can improve their skills. I’m still learning myself. The websites are terrible. I am going from teams my son hears about, what I have found on here, google searches and a few parents. I wish there was a clear website with tryout info. I missed a bunch of tryouts that happened this week that we had no idea about.

Do you know if any of the NoVa ones do?

Hurricanes has a developmental Friday night program for boys and girls K-5th. https://www.virginiahurricanes.net/spring2024-youth-baskebtall-program

[Anonymous]

Tryouts are money grabs for the most part. Lots of rec league players believe they are special enough to make a team, but that's rarely the case. The reality is that a lot of club players move up in age and get a spot on the team. The clubs have to replace those who don't show the drive or those who decide to move to a different club (either because it is more competitive or because they want more court time). I would try to figure out which are the least competitive clubs and hope to get a spot there. You can try out for a more competitive club just in case, but at the end of the day you will realize that was a waste of time and money. You may decide to do it anyway just for the experience if your player doesn't get easily discouraged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS11 is not the best but pretty good and wants to improve. He was invited to tryout for an AAU team. There is barely any info on their website. Are there other teams he can tryout for? Or are there other ways he can improve. Already know about Evoball.

You can always go to the tryouts, and walk away from them if you don't like them. We did the same after learning it the hard way... For *most* of these clubs, the teams are already established (they are looking to add 1-2 players max - usually bigs) and the tryout is simply a money-grab. Nova94, Fairfax Stars, Nova Bulls, CYA are more established orgs at the elementary age levels in this area and all are coached by someone with a kid on the team. Would prefer to work with a trainer/real coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts are money grabs for the most part. Lots of rec league players believe they are special enough to make a team, but that's rarely the case. The reality is that a lot of club players move up in age and get a spot on the team. The clubs have to replace those who don't show the drive or those who decide to move to a different club (either because it is more competitive or because they want more court time). I would try to figure out which are the least competitive clubs and hope to get a spot there. You can try out for a more competitive club just in case, but at the end of the day you will realize that was a waste of time and money. You may decide to do it anyway just for the experience if your player doesn't get easily discouraged.

This is likely different for a kid who was specifically invited to a tryout by a coach. My kid was invited to all the tryouts he attended, and always made the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tryouts are money grabs for the most part. Lots of rec league players believe they are special enough to make a team, but that's rarely the case. The reality is that a lot of club players move up in age and get a spot on the team. The clubs have to replace those who don't show the drive or those who decide to move to a different club (either because it is more competitive or because they want more court time). I would try to figure out which are the least competitive clubs and hope to get a spot there. You can try out for a more competitive club just in case, but at the end of the day you will realize that was a waste of time and money. You may decide to do it anyway just for the experience if your player doesn't get easily discouraged.

This is likely different for a kid who was specifically invited to a tryout by a coach. My kid was invited to all the tryouts he attended, and always made the team.

Experiences may vary. Imagine about 80 players in a rec league invited by the coach to participate in the club tryouts. Not all of them signed up (but quite a few) and only four of them made it into club teams. You may have a point regarding those specifically invited (we never got a personal invitation to any tryouts).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I have learned that many of these teams have basketball academies so they have clinics where kids can improve their skills. I’m still learning myself. The websites are terrible. I am going from teams my son hears about, what I have found on here, google searches and a few parents. I wish there was a clear website with tryout info. I missed a bunch of tryouts that happened this week that we had no idea about.

Do you know if any of the NoVa ones do?

Hurricanes has a developmental Friday night program for boys and girls K-5th. https://www.virginiahurricanes.net/spring2024-youth-baskebtall-program

I signed my kid for that as well. Seems like fun. Kid did not want to play AAU this spring but will next year.