Guest Writer: A Parent's Guide to Choosing an AAU Team

#3 posting 10.30.2007
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Today, in this article I am handing off to a guest writer. Today's subject is

A PARENT'S GUIDE TO CHOOSING AN AAU TEAM
Now that summer’s over and the school season is upon us, you may think it’s okay to forget about AAU. Not really. Auditions for AAU teams are right around the corner, and your daughter may be lucky enough to either have the talent to be recruited, or have an interest in playing AAU in the summer. But like everything that involves your kids, you may want to take a reality check about what she (and you) honestly want from your AAU experience. As you will soon see, there are lots of things to think about when you pick an AAU team. Here are my handy tips from years of experience watching from the bleachers , sitting behind the steering wheel of a rental van, or catching a plane with four 6’ tall kids carrying their basketball and uniform in a carry-on.

Define Your Objective and Budget: What does your player want from AAU? Exposure on a national stage? Added team building with her high school program? A chance to play with different girls and experience a different coaching style? There are teams for every objective, and they are often priced accordingly. Many team fees can range from $350-$950. And that doesn’t count the cost of travel. Look at the schedule of games. Out of town? Out of state? That’s going to take time and money. Not just for you and your kid. But how will it affect the siblings, and the other parent? Is your employer understanding? Will your daughter realize it will take away from precious summer and social time? All of these things should be considered as you decide if you want a high-profile team as opposed to a local or high school team

Look at team websites. You’ll find a handy list of team links on the right-hand side of this blog: You’d be amazed how many people will be checking that team site at some time throughout the summer. Websites have become a great tool for college coaches, along with interested family members. Look at the information, review the season schedule and check the roster profiles. Is everything easy to find, with team policies and fees stated out in the open? Good sign. Are there a lot of typos..especially with player names? Bad sign. If they pay that little attention to the spelling of your kid’s name, how can you guarantee they will take that much care when the real thing is sitting next to them on the bench? Many of the high school age rosters are now featuring detailed bios on players. That’s a nice thing to have, especially as a resource for the college coaches. But see above note on typos. Profiles are great, but if there are typos, let the buyer beware.

Coaching: Who is being hired by the AAU programs to coach? Some high school coaches also coach AAU. Some AAU coaches only coach during those sanctioned programs. Don’t feel bad about asking around regarding coaching styles or the coach’s references. This is your kid; you would do the same researching a new car.

Fees: See note above regarding your budget. Fees vary as much as the number of exposure events in July. Make sure you are comfortable with what you are paying, and go ahead, ask the program director to see the financial statement They don’t have to show it to you, but how they react may give you a clue where the bulk of the money is going. Don’t expect that a high fee guarantees a Division One scholarship. There are many cases of players being discovered while at high school, or at a college camp. Your child may get high exposure, but always remember her skills will also be evaluated amongst those other high profile players. And ask if there are scholarships. Some programs want to offer low-income kids a chance to be part of their team and may offer scholarships to skilled players who otherwise may not be able to afford the team.

Uniforms: Do the colors complement your player? Okay, maybe that is a bit much, but hey, it’s a long summer. I’m a big believer that if you look good, you play good. That said, pay special attention to the logo on the sponsored teams. Nike and Adidas have found AAU basketball to be an important place to sponsor teams, tournaments and players. So if your daughter is being recruited by one of those sponsored teams, you will probably take part in a couple of those brands’ sponsored tourneys. Elite teams may also get free shoes or gym bags. Don’t expect it, but be prepared to have to use those freebies during said sponsored tourneys. Something to know if you daughter requires a certain type of shoe.

Fun Factor: You may think the memories remaining for an AAU team involve games and winning shots. Sure, that’s part of it, but you would be surprised how many special moments happen while teammates are packed in a car trying to figure out the map to find a gym. Or during jokes played in a hotel lobby, or even waiting in line for yet another table for twenty-five at an Applebee’s. You will be sitting next to a lot of these folks all summer, and will be amazed at how close you will all get. Make sure the program believes in the fun factor, too.

What’s the Catch? Every program has one. Is it high profile, but has no promise of equal playing time? All-star players, but practices are two hours away? Lower fees, but a limited number of events out of town? Flashy uniforms, but no real reputation amongst college coaches? Mostly school teammates, but fewer showcase tournaments? Just know the info ahead of time, and you can prevent any confusion once you are in the thick of the season.

Get some references: $350-950 is a lot of money, and giving up your summer as well as disrupting your family is a big deal. Do your homework. Talk to your child’s school coach and get their feedback. Playing AAU means improvement for the school season, so coaches will usually be positive. They may also help you decide which level is the best for your kid, or help give advice on certain coaching styles. Talk to parents/players from the past season. Now that the euphoria of the final games from last summer is over, or the grind of endless travel has died down, you can hear the real truth.

Get Ready to Have Fun! Basketball is still just a game. Enjoy being able to watch girls becoming better athletes. Be a positive influence whenever you can. One college coach told me she will make special notes on which parents are being unruly and uncouth during games, or which players throw their water bottles at their parents to have them filled. How you and your daughter carry yourself will be on display as much as her crossover dribble. At the end of the day, it’s important to have a great time, and have realistic expectations for what AAU could mean regarding a potential college opportunity. That will take care of itself.

From Guest Writer Seashells and Balloons

Thanks to the guest writer for the column.

Next up: Moorhead vs Albany later today, unless other news breaks.