NOVA AAU TEAMS (Nova94, Fairfax Stars, NovaCavaliers

[Anonymous]

Coaches will try to organize regular practices at a regular location but you never know. There will be changes. They'll try to make them central for the entire team but you may have two kids from Arlington and 2 from Herndon, so....

Games are all tournament based, and while your coach may lay out a tournament schedule at the beginning of the season, it may change. It will change, actually. And you don't actually know your game times until usually the Thursday before the Saturday-Sunday tournament.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. There may not even be a consistent practice location. You won't get the schedules for tournament games until basically the day before. Coaches expect kids to attend every practice and every game. *They do not care about your child as a whole person, only as a basketball player.*

If both parents work, its very difficult schedule wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A two hour practice for elementary age kids is excessive.

2 hours twice a week, sometimes cut to 1.5 hours. Yes and DS doesn't have time to eat dinner beforehand or he will barf during the rigorous practice.

[Anonymous]

Can someone speak to the turnover on teams? If your kid was cut, did you know prior to the tryout? Or were you under the impression all was well?

[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.

The "season" varies but expect most AAU teams to play and practice year round starting at 11/12U, otherwise they will not be competitive. Spring is the prime AAU basketball season but it stretches into summer if team attends national tournaments. Some teams slack off in fall and winter but still practice together at least once a week and play fall and winter leagues and tournaments or bump games. Coaches in NoVA expect some team members will play FCYBL or school teams in winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the turnover on teams? If your kid was cut, did you know prior to the tryout? Or were you under the impression all was well?

The coaches are always hoping more talent shows up at tryouts.

How was your kid's playtime during the games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the turnover on teams? If your kid was cut, did you know prior to the tryout? Or were you under the impression all was well?

If the coaches invite new talent to practices during the off season, give the new players more attention and play time, expect your DC may be cut or become a bencher. We saw the writing on the wall for DS, so we started shopping for new teams this fall and are now evaluating better coached and higher skilled teams for him. He already was accepted at one of the new teams but we are checking out a few more before making a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the turnover on teams? If your kid was cut, did you know prior to the tryout? Or were you under the impression all was well?

The coaches are always hoping more talent shows up at tryouts.

How was your kid's playtime during the games?

Part of the starting 5; always gets lots of playtime--but so does everyone else. But just not the strongest kid on the team (though a reliable scorer) but nothing indicates they'll get cut. Very well liked by teammates and coaches etc . I just don't want to be blindsided and all this chatter of turnover has me nervous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone speak to the turnover on teams? If your kid was cut, did you know prior to the tryout? Or were you under the impression all was well?

The coaches are always hoping more talent shows up at tryouts.

How was your kid's playtime during the games?

Part of the starting 5; always gets lots of playtime--but so does everyone else. But just not the strongest kid on the team (though a reliable scorer) but nothing indicates they'll get cut. Very well liked by teammates and coaches etc . I just don't want to be blindsided and all this chatter of turnover has me nervous.

I think its pretty unusual to cut the starters so he should be fine unless there are significantly more talented new players at the tryouts.

[Anonymous]

Also, this is really basic but make sure the taller parent takes the kid to tryouts.

[Anonymous]

The kids who hit puberty earlier get the spots until the later maturing kids catch up and often times bypass them. It's a "life is unfair" lesson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, this is really basic but make sure the taller parent takes the kid to tryouts.

This only applies for tryouts to new teams. Not tryouts for the same team--where coaches know the parents lol.

[Anonymous]

My son is the shortest player on the team but one of the fastest. Great on rebounds but average scorer. I expect he may be cut in favor of taller players.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately the coaches expect the smallest kids to be fast so that is kind of a baseline expectation.

[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.

The expectation at this level is that you are at every practice and every game and every unless you are sick. Even if you are injured(if you can physically sit and watch) you should be there observing.