With the onslaught of new teams that pop up every year, movement of old teams to new programs, and player movement from one team to the other. D1spects has come up with some keys that every player,parent and coach should know.

10. What is your ultimate goal or purpose for being on a team? This is an important question because that allows you to assess what type players you need and whats the best tournaments you play in . Are you playing just to get some reps in so your player can hopefully make the High School team or are you trying to get your players college scholarships. If your trying to get scholarships or both , then this article will suit your needs.

9. Understand the difference between playing in YBOA, AAU, and Exposure Events. Every one seems to get confused when it comes to what the AAU really is. AAU is an an organization which fields high level tournaments in which many of the top teams choose to play in to determine a true national champion. AAU has sanctioned NCAA showcases and National championships in which college coaches can attend. AAU is also the name that many of choose to call what we do, However , the real exposure comes from being involved in the summer circuit which is a series high level tournaments in which recruiting services, beat writers, and college coaches (During hot periods can attend) MDC Classic, Bob Gibbons, Boo Williams, Peach Jam, Adidas Super 64, Norman Parker Summer Showcase, or Reebok Big Time (Vegas) are all high level exposure tournaments for 14-17U, where players get consideration for McDonald's All American, Naismith Awards, college scholarships, national rankings. If your coach doesn't know about these tournaments or doesn't plan on attending any of these then he may not be qualified in assisting you with your ultimate goal of playing at the next level. YBOA is more suited for recreational league teams and school teams. YBOA is beneficial for getting some "work in" but YBOA does not offer exposure events. In my experience , higher level travel teams are overly scrutinized and penalized for recruiting high level players when they participate in YBOA . In other word, YBOA is more suited for your neighborhood team. So if your not sure whether your team or player is ready for high level of play then you may want to play on a YBOA team or Div II AAU.

8. Beware of Daddy Ball: First of all we applaud all parents and coaches that get involved in youth sports. However , If your considering on playing on a team in which the Coach has a child that plays the same position as you, or the son calls the Coach "Dad" versus Coach , then beware that your minutes may be limited or the coaches son may not have to abide by the same rules as you do. We are not saying that these teams do not have the potential to be good, we are saying know what your getting yourself into.

7. When picking a team, dont pick a team because your buddy or friend is on that team. Pick a team because of the level of players that it has on it and it affords you the opportunity to play. If you see a team that has 15 players on it , then know that some of the players are there for financial reasons and may see limited action. Pick a team or a program because it meets all of your needs and will help you make your ultimate goal of playing on the next level , whether its the middle school , high school , or college team. Pick a team that has a competitive schedule and playing against the best competition.

What program your player is in is important as well. There are a handful of programs in the state that have created resume over time in which college coaches have become familiar with due to longevity, shoe company affiliation, college level recruits that have come through the program. Having the basics like a program and team website are helpful in assisting with college. Be sure to do your research on a program , team or even its coaches. If they have been around for 5 plus years then your probably in good shape. Ask questions about there former recruits and if they play in events where there is some level of exposure.

6. Starting on a team is not as important as you think. A college coach or a basketball expert can look at a player 3 minutes and know whether or not an individual can play. Playing 32 minutes a game over a 50 or 60 game AAU season just adds wear and tear on the body and if your playing that many minutes odds are your team is not that good any way. A good team has two players at every position and players that can do more than one thing. Meaning , a player is more valuable to a team if he can play more than one position. Again , beware of the teams that over recruit at on position or there are 15 player son the roster. Only five can play at a time. Good teams have at least 12 players on them.

5. Getting Googled ... Believe it or not , when your player or team is on a program website that doesnt have a website or plays in tournaments in which games are not covered, then your player is not on the map. We at D1spects insure we go the extra mile to write about the high lights and all tournament teams for all of our events. The tournaments listed in #9 can help you get Googled but you have to play and make a statement to get credit.

4. Get a personal trainer early: A lot of times we as parents get the perception that just playing a lot of games during the season will make my player better. This is totally wrong. If you notice that your player has talent , then getting with a personal trainer early and working on fundamentals will help your player more in the long run. Don't wait until you player gets to the 9th grade to start with a trainer. If they have potential , the investment in your player will take care of its self over time.

3. Beware of fly by night camps: Camps that are not NCAA sanctioned or has credible writers will not do you much good. A lot of these camps are positioned just to make money. If you see of the same top players in these camps over and over then your not doing yourself any justice. Top players do not pay to get in these camps and the camp supervisors always show these players favoritism when it comes to ratings and camp all star teams.

2. AAU and YBOA coaches do not get paid for coaching at this level. They do it because they enjoy it and 9 times out 10 really want to help kids. If your planning on joining a team, it cost money to for uniforms, gym time and tournaments. Make sure your coach or team has an aggressive fund raising plan or is independently wealthy and can fill the gaps that the registration fee doesn't cover. (Just joking an the last wealthy part). Parent be prepared to pay from $300 to $800 per season depending on the caliber team and it's schedule. Essentially, everyone needs to do there part to help make the season a success.

1. Don't take money from any one to play AAU basketball. If a coach offers you money to play then you place your player at risk of losing his or her amateur status and can have a negative impact on your college eligibility. Don't be the parent that is looking for a hand out for your player to participate on a team. Coach's talk and people talk... No need to create a bad reputation over misinformation and gossip.