Youthbasketball123 is a website designed to provide ideas, drills by grade, books, teaching tools, basketball jokes, guest blogs, basketball quotes, and so much more.
For many years, I have observed AAU basketball from a distance. It seems to be a little like the never ending treadmill… like George Jetson said “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!” Once a player and his family jump on the AAU treadmill, it is very difficult to get off. It can feel chaotic, overwhelming, and impossible to stop.
That being said, this post is an attempt to prepare a player and family for each month of the AAU season.
Fall AAU Season
September
Cost:
Practices
Games
Travel (18 miles round trip) 36 miles
Commuting time 2 hours
August 17th – September 13th (28 days) AAU Individual Preseason This is the period between the final tryout and the 1st practice.
Week #1 September 9th – 15th: Tuesday & Wednesday: two 90 minute practices (either 6:00 – 7:30 or 7:30 – 9:00) No Games.
Week #2 September 16th – 22nd: Tuesday & Wednesday: two 90 minute practices (either 6:00 – 7:30 or 7:30 – 9:00) This is the 1st tournament weekend. It is time to see how the coach and team performs for the 1st time together. Players get comfortable playing with referees and good competition.
Week #3 September 23rd – September 29th: This is the 2nd tournament weekend. Players have had a weekend to learn the new system, get the rust off, and hopefully develop a little team chemistry. Player need to continue to put in time alone improving.
October
Cost $267.80 September 1st, $267.80 September 15th
Travel (18 miles round trip) 36 miles
Commuting time
Practices 0
Games 0
Week #4 October 1st – October 2nd: Zero Gravity New England Recruiting Report Approaching the midpoint of the AAU season. Players need to “just keep working” as they prepare for the 1st day of the high school season.
Week #6 October 8th – October 9th Zero Gravity Mass Madness
Week #7 October 15th – October 16th Zero Gravity Fall Brawl
Week #8 October 22nd – October 23rd Zero Gravity Battle for the Belt South
Week #8 October 29th – October 30th Zero Gravity Halloween Hoopfest
November
Travel (18 miles round trip) 36 miles
Commuting time
Practices 0
Games 0
Week #8 November 5th – November 6th Zero Gravity Wheel of Champions
Week #9 November 12th – 13th Zero Gravity Fall Finale & Pre-Season Tune-up Clinic
Week #10 November 19th – 20th Pre-Season Tune-up Clinic
Week #11 November 26st – 27th Pre-Season Tune-up Clinic
Summer AAU
- Play in AAU “Live Period” Showcase Tournaments:
August
Cost: $25 tryouts
2 tryouts (1.5 hours) 3 hours
Travel (18 miles round trip) 36 miles
Commuting time 2 hours
Practices
Games
1st – September 6th (August 9th & 16th 8:00 – 9:30): This is the fall AAU tryout season. Each club will have different dates for tryouts and different fees. The typical fee for a tryout is between $25 and $50. Tryouts typically are two 1 – 2 hour sessions. The sessions are usually one week apart to allow a chance for players to attend one if they have other summer commitments, such as work or family vacations.
It is important to research the teams to understand the quality of coaching, success with developing high school varsity players, and for the RARE few, helping develop college players, primarily Division III.
We looked at 5 high school programs in Massachusetts. Here were the fall 2022 tryout dates:
Program #1: Tuesdays: August 9th & August 16th 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Program #2: Sunday August 28th & Tuesday September 6th 6:30 – 7:30
Program #3: Wednesday, August 10th 8:45-10PM & Sunday August 14th 3-4PM
Program #4: Thursday, August 4th 7:45-8:45pm Tuesday, August 9th from 8:00-9:00pm
Program #5: Tuesday August 23rd & Thursday 25th 7:30-9pm
How many players attend a fall tryout? This also will depend on the AAU program. Some programs have multiple teams, while others will only have one. Some players who have been in the program may not have to attend a tryout.
How many spots are open? Each fall is the start of a new AAU season. Depending on the program, the entire team may be open, or teams that value loyalty there may be only a few spots.
Should a player tryout for more than one team? If a player has never played AAU before, the answer is probably yes. If a player has a relationship with a program, at the end of a season, a discussion can be had with the coach to see if the coach feels the player would be a good fit in the future.
August 16th – 22nd (7 Days) AAU Basketball Team Selection: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part: The moment between the last tryout and the final player accepting a team spot can seem like and eternity. Be patient, don’t worry, and no matter what happens, be ready to work on your game.
Tryouts are also a great chance to play against good competition, so even if a player does not plan on accepting an invitation to join a team, it can be a good opportunity to grow as a player.
- Individual Workouts
- Strength and Conditioning
- Summer School Work / Read
- Enjoy the end of summer. There are fewer camps offered in August. Depending on my schedule, I might try to get the boys together 1-2 times for pick-up.
- Skills & Separation
August 1st – August 7th: Tryout #1
August 8th – August 14th: Tryout #1
August 15th – August 21st Tryout #1 AAU Individual Preseason Players should put in the time to improve the skills before the official start of the AAU season.
August 17th – September 13th (28 days) AAU Individual Preseason This is the period between the final tryout and the 1st practice.
Season Costs: Team Fees: Spectator Fee: Gas: Meals
2 tryouts (1.5 hours) 3 hours
Travel (18 miles round trip) 36 miles
Commuting time 2 hours
Practices
Games