What Factors Should You Look at When Deciding to Play For a Coach?

​AAU season is about to get started and players and parents are deciding which team they should play for.  The question is which program should you invest your time in if you have multiple options.  Whether your child is just starting to play basketball or your child has already been offered by a number of colleges, deciding the correct AAU team is very important.  Here are four points that you should take in consideration when deciding which AAU team your child should play for.  Although this post is discussing AAU teams these concepts can be applied to any program on any level.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

• How well does the AAU program develop their players?  Is the coach more focused on playing games or making sure their players know how to play basketball the right way?  Is the coach pushing your child to get better or are they allowing your child to develop bad habits, which could lead players to getting cut when they try out for their high school basketball team?  This should be the most important factor for parents who have young players.  Coaches who are able build a strong foundation for their players are priceless.  The focus should not be wins and losses but how much your child is developing as a player.  As the player gets older, this focus should still be a focal point, but is not as important since the player may have a trainer or coach who is strong in that department.

 
ACCOUNTABILITY

• Does the coach hold his players consistently accountable?  Does the coach hold players to consistently practice and play at a high level?  Does the coach help make their players better people, by encouraging them to making better decisions, and holding themselves accountable when no one else is looking?  I witnessed a player during an AAU practice run from free throw line to free throw line, when he was supposed to run baseline to baseline.  He did this every time they had to run and no one confronted him on his effort.

 
LEVEL OF COMPETITION

• Player’s skill versus the level of competition.  This is one of the factors that go unnoticed for a number of parents.  Is your child playing against topnotch competition for their age and skill level?  If your child is just learning how to play basketball, you may not want to put them with the more experienced players.  If your child is dominating the level they are on, you should consider moving them up and or changing leagues.  One of the biggest problems parents face is the reality their child was cut from the high school basketball team after averaging 20 points during their AAU season.  What happened?  The problem most likely is that they were playing on a level or league that had weak competition.  Once a child is in high school, playing with sponsored teams affiliated with Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas are an indicator that shows they are playing against high-level competition.  Keep in mind this does not mean uniforms that have Nike, Under Armour or Adidas on them.  These companies have their own leagues and makes sure the leagues are filled with four to five star players.  This normally means that you as a parent do not have to come out of pocket for trips and tournament costs (for your child).  They will play in tournaments where notable college coaches attend and your child will have an opportunity to be seen by an endless number college coaches.  The level of coaches that attend the AAU games will help you see what level your child maybe able to play on the collegiate level.  For more information about choosing an AAU basketball team.

 
SYSTEM

• Does the coaching style and system of the coach fit for you as a player?  If you can shoot, but cannot handle the ball, does the coach run screens for you?  The coach loves to apply full court pressure, but you are not a good defender, how much time will you be able to earn?  The coach runs a number of plays; can you remember them and execute them during the game?  Are you able to execute in a half court set?  Are you able to succeed in high paced system?  Does the coach expect you to execute his system while applying basketball IQ?  Who are you fighting for time for and will you have the opportunity to earn minutes?  These are an example of a number of questions that need to be answered before deciding who you will play for.

 
The new AAU season is upon us and players will be competing for spots on various AAU teams.  Make sure that whichever team your child plays for it is the right fit and most importantly it is preparing them to be successful when it is time to play high school basketball.  The AAU season is often looked at a time where players can show they can play.  The high school season is the time where players show they can play in a system, while being a student and maintaining their grades.  Both concepts need to be mastered in order to earn an athletic scholarship.