I saw someone mentioned CYO a while back. Would you still say it's a step above rec? We have a kid who likes basketball, but does not spend a lot of time on it due to other sports. Made a select/county team last year, but did not make the cut this year with the org fielding one less team than before. Has been invited to join a CYO team and trying to decide if that would be a better experience than the town rec league.

[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, "all star rec" is pretty much completely inaccurate.

It is really hard to make most FCYBL teams! The small size of basketball rosters and the limits with the zip codes means kids only have so many options. There were 70+ boys at the CYA tryouts we went to, for two teams.

Its better than AAU in a lot of wa
ys because the league is very organized with a regular season, a tournametn, MVPS etc, very inexpensive, most of your games are very even because they have divisions, referees always show, and you play in nice gyms.

How do you think any of those teams would do against Durant or Takeover or New Word? Stars are at least eybl, but the cavs and nova94 are not great clubs

Are you saying there are only two categories of talent: Durant level and "all star rec"? GMAFB.

All star rec is literally what county is. It's a club based on a small geographical footprint fielding the best kids they can find in that area plus two additional kids. Regional teams, i.e. team Durant, are going to be much better than the kids you find at FCYBL tryouts. The bigger clubs like Durant and Takeover all have kids in nova playing for them, they just aren't playing FCYBL

DARREN HARRIS PLAYED FCYBL.

And Darren Harris played with Takeover at the same time he played FCYBL.

True

Anonymous wrote:It starts as young as you want to start and gets progressively more serious as you approach high school. AAU is really short hand for travel and there is no AAU league. AAU in this area ranges from glorified rec to kids who will end up playing professionally. Some clubs are year round, others aren't, but the main season is spring and early summer. In Virginia, there is also county basketball in the fall from 5th though 8th grade which is like all star rec. There is also CYO though churches which is above rec and below travel. I said depends and usually a lot because basketball is the least organized of any sport. Teams play in random tournaments every weekend and there are no real leagues

Nailed it. There are many teams, the teams are all over the map. Skill levels. Some kids starting earlier later.

As in all sports there is a certain socioeconomic function, but in basketball the this is much broader than say swimming as the game is accessible to everyone. They stratify here also, but they just go about it a little differently. It's mostly about finding a group of kids that yours like to play with. Try to stay away from the quick and dirty tournaments in the bad gyms where they don't call fouls or stop the clock.

CLUB COACH HIERARCHY

THE SALARY-ONLY CLUB COACH (money-maker)
Motive: This is a job, pure and simple — no kids, no volunteerism, just a paycheck.
Behavior: Minimal investment beyond what gets paid; churn-and-burn approach.
Warning: If you want loyalty or mentorship, shop elsewhere. Not necessarily evil — just transactional.
Quip: "Professional clock-puncher with a whistle."

THE POWER-PLAYER CLUB PARENT (kid not very good, controls starters)
Motive: Social status and lineup control, not player development.
Behavior: Plays favorites, manipulates playing time, excuses poor performance.
Warning: Morale killer; expect quiet resentment and fewer tryouts for fairness.
Quip: "Runs the team like a monarchy, crowns their kid anyway."

THE REDEMPTION-SEEKING CLUB PARENT (fixes their own regrets)
Motive: Re-living and correcting their teenage athletic failures, likely never played HS or College sports.
Behavior: Pushes too hard, over-coaches, emotionally invested in outcomes.
Warning: Kids often end up with burnout or confused confidence.
Quip: "Living their highlight reel — on their kid's time."

THE TOP-PLAYER CLUB PARENT (kid is a star; likely former pro/college athlete)
Motive: Make the team better and show their kid leadership and sacrifice.
Behavior: High standards, invests time/money, generally team-first messaging Warning: Can put personal needs behind team needs, but usually constructive.
Quip: "Tough love with a recruiting profile."

THE GRANDPARENT CLUB COACH (misses coaching; donates time/money)
Motive: Coaching their Grandchildren and joy of mentoring and staying involved in the game they love.
Behavior: Generous with time, money and network.
Warning: Might rely on old-school methods; generally harmless and beloved.
Quip: "Wisdom, treats, and occasional philosophical speeches about life lessons in sports.

THE LEGACY DEVELOPER (coached their kid to college, helped 20+ players, donates time/money) — Top of the heap
Motive: Player development and team success; looking for outcomes in character development Behavior: Invested, selfless, creates pathways to college/next level, financially generous.
Warning: High standards — but earned.
Quip: "Part coach, part talent machine, part unpaid guidance counselor."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of the travel/club sports our DS has participated in, basketball was the worst in terms of organization, communication, team make up etc and felt like a total money grab. We’ve had experience with a few different organizations. Gym space in constant flux, Refs not showing up, coaches not showing up, kids bailing/being added to the team over the course of the season, extra fees to watch the games, schedules for the weekend coming out Thursday night (if we’re lucky) and then either far away or spread out across the day (early Saturday morning for first game, second game not until late afternoon) etc.

Can you please share what league this was or where it was?

That's the thing about basketball, there aren't really centralized travel "leagues" like other sports have. All the teams just operate independently and pick and choose what tournaments to play in.

Anonymous wrote:Of the travel/club sports our DS has participated in, basketball was the worst in terms of organization, communication, team make up etc and felt like a total money grab. We’ve had experience with a few different organizations. Gym space in constant flux, Refs not showing up, coaches not showing up, kids bailing/being added to the team over the course of the season, extra fees to watch the games, schedules for the weekend coming out Thursday night (if we’re lucky) and then either far away or spread out across the day (early Saturday morning for first game, second game not until late afternoon) etc.

Can you please share what league this was or where it was?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, "all star rec" is pretty much completely inaccurate.

It is really hard to make most FCYBL teams! The small size of basketball rosters and the limits with the zip codes means kids only have so many options. There were 70+ boys at the CYA tryouts we went to, for two teams.

Its better than AAU in a lot of wa
ys because the league is very organized with a regular season, a tournametn, MVPS etc, very inexpensive, most of your games are very even because they have divisions, referees always show, and you play in nice gyms.

How do you think any of those teams would do against Durant or Takeover or New Word? Stars are at least eybl, but the cavs and nova94 are not great clubs

Are you saying there are only two categories of talent: Durant level and "all star rec"? GMAFB.

All star rec is literally what county is. It's a club based on a small geographical footprint fielding the best kids they can find in that area plus two additional kids. Regional teams, i.e. team Durant, are going to be much better than the kids you find at FCYBL tryouts. The bigger clubs like Durant and Takeover all have kids in nova playing for them, they just aren't playing FCYBL

DARREN HARRIS PLAYED FCYBL.

And Darren Harris played with Takeover at the same time he played FCYBL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, "all star rec" is pretty much completely inaccurate.

It is really hard to make most FCYBL teams! The small size of basketball rosters and the limits with the zip codes means kids only have so many options. There were 70+ boys at the CYA tryouts we went to, for two teams.

Its better than AAU in a lot of wa
ys because the league is very organized with a regular season, a tournametn, MVPS etc, very inexpensive, most of your games are very even because they have divisions, referees always show, and you play in nice gyms.

How do you think any of those teams would do against Durant or Takeover or New Word? Stars are at least eybl, but the cavs and nova94 are not great clubs

Are you saying there are only two categories of talent: Durant level and "all star rec"? GMAFB.

All star rec is literally what county is. It's a club based on a small geographical footprint fielding the best kids they can find in that area plus two additional kids. Regional teams, i.e. team Durant, are going to be much better than the kids you find at FCYBL tryouts. The bigger clubs like Durant and Takeover all have kids in nova playing for them, they just aren't playing FCYBL

DARREN HARRIS PLAYED FCYBL.

He’s overrated. He is an excellent shooter, but that’s it. His defense is weak and everything else about his game is mediocre. He has done well and I hope he has plenty of success.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, "all star rec" is pretty much completely inaccurate.

It is really hard to make most FCYBL teams! The small size of basketball rosters and the limits with the zip codes means kids only have so many options. There were 70+ boys at the CYA tryouts we went to, for two teams.

Its better than AAU in a lot of wa
ys because the league is very organized with a regular season, a tournametn, MVPS etc, very inexpensive, most of your games are very even because they have divisions, referees always show, and you play in nice gyms.

How do you think any of those teams would do against Durant or Takeover or New Word? Stars are at least eybl, but the cavs and nova94 are not great clubs

Are you saying there are only two categories of talent: Durant level and "all star rec"? GMAFB.

All star rec is literally what county is. It's a club based on a small geographical footprint fielding the best kids they can find in that area plus two additional kids. Regional teams, i.e. team Durant, are going to be much better than the kids you find at FCYBL tryouts. The bigger clubs like Durant and Takeover all have kids in nova playing for them, they just aren't playing FCYBL

DARREN HARRIS PLAYED FCYBL.

Of the travel/club sports our DS has participated in, basketball was the worst in terms of organization, communication, team make up etc and felt like a total money grab. We’ve had experience with a few different organizations. Gym space in constant flux, Refs not showing up, coaches not showing up, kids bailing/being added to the team over the course of the season, extra fees to watch the games, schedules for the weekend coming out Thursday night (if we’re lucky) and then either far away or spread out across the day (early Saturday morning for first game, second game not until late afternoon) etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the sketchiest about it?

Every tournament is a championship or invitational or 37th annual even if three teams comprised of rec players show up

Yeah, the tournaments are a total money grab. Lot of similarities to travel baseball, which my kids have also done, though basketball may be more of a rip-off? Anyway, I view it as an opportunity to get better in the off season. If you have a good local league or just access to competitive open gyms or neighborhood basketball, you wouldn't need it. I'm not operating under the delusion that my DS will get "noticed" or "recruited" at one of these "showcases." The reality is that if they're on the verge of not making the team and play other sports, those who are playing year round may lap them bc they're doing this stuff in the off season. I'm talking about the HS level here.

Like most other youth sports, everything has become organized, structured, and costly.

If a team seems to be struggling to get regular gym practice space, its a bad sign.

Also, the usual set up is you pay by the month for the team. So if people don't like the situation/coaching/their kids playtime, they bail for another team. So there is a constant churn of players in and out.

Anonymous wrote:What’s the sketchiest about it?

Every tournament is a championship or invitational or 37th annual even if three teams comprised of rec players show up

Anonymous wrote:What’s the sketchiest about it?

For my kid, it was being instructed by his coach to take a fake job over the summer that paid him to sleep and train.