Do AAU tryouts happen in Jan/Feb? Are there tryouts now (fall)?

[Anonymous]

I was looking for teams for my middle school child and see we missed a bunch of tryouts in late August. I thought the tryouts were in the winter (Jan/Feb).

[Anonymous]

Spring/summer is the main season an tryouts are in the winter. Most teams play fall and may pick up a player or two. Fall is much more relaxed and local- call around and see if you can get an evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Pay to play goes all year round, and that's what you are looking for. Where do you live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pay to play goes all year round, and that's what you are looking for. Where do you live?

We live by Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pay to play goes all year round, and that's what you are looking for. Where do you live?

Most of the good and top-tier Maryland-based teams, and some Virginia teams (NoVA94, Family Over Fame), hold late summer/fall tryouts because their seasons stretch from fall through mid-July (after national tournaments end). Those teams play leagues, tournaments and circuits like MADE Hoops. Virginia AAU teams (5th-8th grade age ranges or high schoolers) tend to wait until the end of FCYBL season or end of HS basketball season to recruit since it is difficult for players to plan around so many game schedules.

The top tier teams (Team Takeover, Team Durant, DC Premier, Washington Warriors) are not pay to play. It's questionable whether some of the lower tier teams are pay to play because expenses for tournaments and practice spaces have risen so much in past few years. Or, if the team is not coached by a player's dad, the expense to hire a trainer/coach will seem like pay to play due to the added staffing costs. The only pay to play teams I can think of are ProSkills and PPA which (I think) require a year-round commitment/contract and monthly payments.

--former AAU team manager and parent of a top tier team player

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pay to play goes all year round, and that's what you are looking for. Where do you live?

Most of the good and top-tier Maryland-based teams, and some Virginia teams (NoVA94, Family Over Fame), hold late summer/fall tryouts because their seasons stretch from fall through mid-July (after national tournaments end). Those teams play leagues, tournaments and circuits like MADE Hoops. Virginia AAU teams (5th-8th grade age ranges or high schoolers) tend to wait until the end of FCYBL season or end of HS basketball season to recruit since it is difficult for players to plan around so many game schedules.

The top tier teams (Team Takeover, Team Durant, DC Premier, Washington Warriors) are not pay to play. It's questionable whether some of the lower tier teams are pay to play because expenses for tournaments and practice spaces have risen so much in past few years. Or, if the team is not coached by a player's dad, the expense to hire a trainer/coach will seem like pay to play due to the added staffing costs. The only pay to play teams I can think of are ProSkills and PPA which (I think) require a year-round commitment/contract and monthly payments.

--former AAU team manager and parent of a top tier team player

Op here. I have heard the term pay to play. We would love to pay to play. My kid did not a make team last year so not every kid makes a team as people on here imply. We were offered a spot on a developmental team but we decided to do skills training instead.

[Anonymous]

This kid is not making any of these level teams, so kind of not relevant. If you know any of the monthly contract style teams in his area, that would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

NP, here. I have a 6th grader who wants to get into AAU circuit. What is the best way to go about it? We got into this late and don't know where to begin.

[Anonymous]

My son played for a younger Washington Warriors (mentioned above) team last year. We paid 1 fee at the beginning of the season that covered gym space and basic costs. It was not a large fee. We played in a about 10+ tournaments between Nov 2023-July 2024. We did not have to pay to enter these tournaments (as parents), but we did pay for our own travel and accomodations. We received uniforms, and a few pairs of tennis shoes throughout the year from Adidas. Tryouts for these level teams are August/September, but I have seen some kids come on later in the season depending on the teams needs. AAU tryout schedules may be different. If he is just getting started, I think a skills program, or even a higher level rec "travel" program would be best to start with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son played for a younger Washington Warriors (mentioned above) team last year. We paid 1 fee at the beginning of the season that covered gym space and basic costs. It was not a large fee. We played in an about 10+ tournaments between Nov 2023-July 2024. We did not have to pay to enter these tournaments (as parents), but we did pay for our own travel and accomodations. We received uniforms, and a few pairs of tennis shoes throughout the year from Adidas. Tryouts for these level teams are August/September, but I have seen some kids come on later in the season depending on the teams needs. AAU tryout schedules may be different. If he is just getting started, I think a skills program, or even a higher level rec "travel" program would be best to start with.

Thank you. This is really helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pay to play goes all year round, and that's what you are looking for. Where do you live?

Most of the good and top-tier Maryland-based teams, and some Virginia teams (NoVA94, Family Over Fame), hold late summer/fall tryouts because their seasons stretch from fall through mid-July (after national tournaments end). Those teams play leagues, tournaments and circuits like MADE Hoops. Virginia AAU teams (5th-8th grade age ranges or high schoolers) tend to wait until the end of FCYBL season or end of HS basketball season to recruit since it is difficult for players to plan around so many game schedules.

The top tier teams (Team Takeover, Team Durant, DC Premier, Washington Warriors) are not pay to play. It's questionable whether some of the lower tier teams are pay to play because expenses for tournaments and practice spaces have risen so much in past few years. Or, if the team is not coached by a player's dad, the expense to hire a trainer/coach will seem like pay to play due to the added staffing costs. The only pay to play teams I can think of are ProSkills and PPA which (I think) require a year-round commitment/contract and monthly payments.

--former AAU team manager and parent of a top tier team player

ProSkills is definitely pay to play.

PPA is not, at least not their Green Premier teams.