AAU Basketball Team Selection: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

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There are many great benefits to AAU basketball, but there also are many challenges, setbacks, and frustrations. One of the most mentally challenging parts of AAU for many players and parents is selecting the right program that will fit the needs of a child and provide an opportunity for a child to grow as a player and person. Then there is the selection of the teams.

AAU programs have many factors when selecting players for a team. They also have additional factors when placing the players selected for an AAU program on the appropriate level team. What are the deciding factors on placing a player on the top level team or the bottom level team, and all the team in between? The answer is not much.

AAU is a business, so the program directors need to fill all the spots. Not every player selected will accept the spot. They may have tried out for multiple programs and find another team is a better fit. They may come to tryouts just for the opportunity to plan. These players may have no interest whatsoever in playing AAU. And others may feel snubbed the the level team they are placed on. Parents need to remember the difference between the 8th player on the top team and the 3rd player on the 2nd team is very little.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The days between the final tryout and the announcement of teams can feel like an eternity. With social media and the digital world we live in, players will find out quickly once a few players receive and invitation. Depending on the number of teams, the top players will be contacted first and will be given a 24 – 48 hour window to respond.

Some players will choose to accept the offer to be on a team, and others will reject the offer. When a player rejects a position, the next player on the depth chart will be contacted. Once the top team has all the roster spots filled, the next team will be contacted and the process will be repeated until all teams and spots are filled.

Top Players: Nearly all competitive AAU programs seek to attract the best players in a grade. In some cases, with some programs, these players are guaranteed a spot and do not have to tryout. Most programs have a player attend at least one tryout. The coaches will select the best players to fill a roster which is typically 10 – 12 players.

These players have very little stress.

Lower Level Players: Many programs will have multiple teams, and it is clear to the coaching staff that some players will definitely be a good fit for an elite, regional, or local level. There is no question where the player will fit in.

Bubble Players: This is probably the most stressful position to be in. The question with this player is will he / she be placed on the top level team and be one of the last players on the depth chart, or will he / she be on a lower level team and have a more prominent role as a starter. As any parent, or youth coach knows if you switch the top 3 players from the lower team with the bottom 3 players on the upper team, there is probably no difference whatsoever in the season, but for those 6 players, the experiences will be different.

This might be the most frustrating position to be in, because although the coaches know this player will be an important part of the program, the player is the last to hear what team he /she is on. This will lead to days of anxiety and questioning. When the email is finally received it a complete relief. The only question is will you accept your placement?

Final Picks / Waiting List: These players are like the B list to a wedding. If others decline the invitation, the coaches will go to the B list and ask players until the rosters are filled. These spots are a great chance for a player to improve, but parents and players should understand the big picture of this player’s skill level.

All teams will handle the announcement of the teams differently, but players should know within a week.

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