AAU Basketball FAQs

Teams will be formed based on the grades that players are in for such season; there are very limited age restrictions, but generally teams will be formed based on what grade the player is in for that season. Summer league, players will play in their “rising grade”, (the grade in which the student will attend at school the upcoming school year).

Yes. SYA’s mission is to to develop Centreville/Clifton/Fairfax area basketball players. Therefore SYA will only allow “out-of-zip” players to participate on our teams on a case by case basis with the approval of the SYA Travel Commissioner.

All players interested in trying out for one of our AAU basketball teams need to register for Summer AAU basketball tryouts. Once evaluations are completed, selected players will be sent instructions on how to complete the AAU registration. Register for AAU tryouts.

Each team will determine if they plan to play in any tournaments that involve traveling and overnight stay. Please contact the coach for your child’s team to understand travel plans. 

Coaches will execute well planned and coordinated practices that focus on both individual skill building as well as team progression. Practices will be intense and involve high levels of efforts from all players. Players will develop their game by building confidence in a low pressure but high intensity competitive activities including scrimmages. Coaches will also put a heavy emphasis on the non basketball related expectations. Hustling on and off the court, listening to all coach instructions even when not being talked to directly, supporting and encouraging teammates, as well as thanking coaches after each practice and officials after each game are examples of these focus areas.

Although training will be included in practice sessions, teams will also have access to additional trainings focused not only on basketball but agility and endurance as well. Many of these trainings will include players from across teams and different age and gender. In addition to physical training, our coaches put an emphasis on mental training as well utilizing game films to help players see what they are doing well and where they have opportunity areas to improve. Players will be asked from time to time to review videos from games or other basketball related material and to provide feedback to coaches on what they learned.

AAU teams will practice two-three times a week, with occasional weekend practices and play in weekend tournaments. Number of tournaments that teams will play in will vary from team to team. The tournaments will be local with possible regional travel depending on the team.

No. Players are selected based on ability. The AAU program does everything possible to make the selection process as fair as possible. All positions on all rosters are open to all competitors on a season-by-season basis.

Offers will be emailed to parents if their child makes a team. For athletes who do not make the team, parents will receive and email from the coach. Offers are by far the most difficult part of the season for both the players and coaches.

There are no participation requirements for AAU. Playing time will be determined by the coach based on practice participation and effort as well as performance in games. 

AAU teams will typically have 10-12 players.

Teams will be listed each season when tryouts are occurring as well as the contact information for the coach.  If you are interested in coaching an AAU team, please register.

Please contact SYA Commissioner Justin Leiser.