Anonymous wrote:If it weren’t for Dads who do you think would be coaching youth sports? Single childless men?

Yes, my son’s AAU coach is a paid single childless man that played basketball in HS and college.

This discussion is so strange to me. My kid’s AAU teams were always coached by people who also coached HS or (when he was young) MS coaches. He never had parent coaches on any team.

Anonymous wrote:If it weren’t for Dads who do you think would be coaching youth sports? Single childless men?

When the game gets more competitive, there are coaches without kids on the team.

If it weren’t for Dads who do you think would be coaching youth sports? Single childless men?

We had one dad coach--on an FCYBL team--who did not favor his son. That was so refreshing. I should have appreciated him more at the time.

"Daddy ball" is rampant in the younger teams especially (and uncle ball, best friend's dad ball, etc.). My son or his friends experienced it with the well-known teams such as Nova94, Fairfax Stars and Nova Cavs. Most of these teams are coached by the dad and his friend who also has a son on the team, and both sons will typically play at least 75% of each game, despite being tired or playing in a blowout.

That said, one of my son's former coaches from an above-mentioned team, did NOT start his son or play him much more than the bench, becuse he was not good enough compared to his teammates.

Anonymous wrote:VA Elite isn’t going to take anyone unless they’re a standout player from another team, and they’ll try to recruit those players one way or another. They do this year‑round so they can market themselves as an elite organization in Northern Virginia - until they face genuinely talented teams in other circuits and end up getting destroyed.

Are you kidding? VA will take anyone who is willing to pay those outrageous prices. A couple years ago they may have been looking for elite players to play alongside Jordan Scott, but he’s gone now and the con game will be back in full force.

VA Elite isn’t going to take anyone unless they’re a standout player from another team, and they’ll try to recruit those players one way or another. They do this year‑round so they can market themselves as an elite organization in Northern Virginia - until they face genuinely talented teams in other circuits and end up getting destroyed.

VA Elite also has good training, but more on the expensive side.

Anonymous wrote:What AAU teams are good for player development. We are talking about one of the lower grades

Each team is different and alot depends on coaching.
In your area you can check out nova94, Fairfax stars, the Fairfax police club, and nova Cavs. Those teams have good coaches for a lot of their teams, but not all their teams.

The Va playmakers, Rauch Kings, and CTS have good coaches and good trainers with their programs.

What AAU teams are good for player development. We are talking about one of the lower grades

Anonymous wrote:I found out that two dads in my neighborhood with sons are going be deciding and coaching the AAU team for the grade that their sons are in. This is CYA
How does that work? Can they be unbiased when assessing their sons and their sons friends? My son wants to do AAU but I am hesitant now if the tryouts are just going to be for show and they have the teams picked

What grade is this? I wouldn't be as concerned as younger levels but might at older levels.

Doesn’t hurt to tryout. The area you live has a bunch of other options if things don’t work out with CYA, which isn’t known for player development nor would I recommend.

I would try out some other places.

I found out that two dads in my neighborhood with sons are going be deciding and coaching the AAU team for the grade that their sons are in. This is CYA
How does that work? Can they be unbiased when assessing their sons and their sons friends? My son wants to do AAU but I am hesitant now if the tryouts are just going to be for show and they have the teams picked