Frequently Asked Questions....
- What is AAU... ?
- What is THE SPARKS ... ?
-
How does my
daughter get on a SPARKS team?
- How many teams
are there?
- How is
the age group determined?
-
What is involved in the commitment to a SPARKS team?
- What about
the time involved?
-
What are the costs of playing for
THE SPARKS?
- Are there fundraising
requirements?
- Any other Questions?
What is AAU?
The Amateur Athletic Union is a national organization dedicated
to amateur sports and physical fitness programs. Many sports are
represented. Look at our links page for websites that will explain
the various national and local organizations.
What is The
Sparks?
Now in our sixth year, THE SPARKS is a girls sports club
dedicated to helping our members develop their skills in order to
play their game at the highest level. The name originated when we
were solely a girls basketball club and we adopted the name from
one of the most successful women’s professional sports franchises-
The Los Angeles Sparks. See Our History for more details.
Register with us and come to the tryouts. THE SPARKS holds its
basketball tryouts in early/mid February and each player at
tryouts has a chance to make the team. No player is ever
guaranteed a spot on a team. She is encouraged to make all of the
tryouts so that coaches can fairly evaluate her.
There is usually one team per age group that are selected by
their ability during the tryouts. Coaches may also use other
settings where they have seen a player as part of the evaluation
process.
The age as of December 31, 2005 is the age group for that
player.
It is expected that a player will make all the games and
practices. There are always conflicts but absences are disruptive
and are unfair to the players’ coaches and teammates. A player
must be able to attend the Regional tournament to qualify their team
for Nationals. See our link on Team Expectations for more details.
What
about the time involved?
There are at least two practices during the week and on the
weekends from late February through early June. Teams will play in
7 tournaments on the weekends. Should a team qualify for
Nationals, practice and games will run into July. For our older
teams, they will be provided the opportunity to enter college
showcase tournaments in the Summer.
There is a one time registration fee of $20 per player which
helps to defray the cost of tryouts. The fee for 2006 will be
discussed with you when your daughter is selected for a
SPARKS team and will include the cost of the players
uniform, the cost of 7 tournaments, coaches fees and expenses,
equipment and gym rentals. Should the team qualify for Nationals,
there is a considerable expense of travel and hotels should
parents and other family members attend the National Showcase
events. Players are required to attend Nationals should their team
qualify.
THE SPARKS requires that each team sponsor one
fundraiser for the club each year to help defray our operating
costs (like this website, cost of insurance, etc.). In addition,
teams that qualify for Nationals must participate in the National
tournament. Fund raising is used as the primary source of funds to
pay for the Nationals fees and coaches expenses associated with
participation at these events as these expenses are the
responsibility of the individual team.
The website should be able to answer most of your questions. If
not,, please feel free to call us anytime at 610-692-2553 or email
us at
Sparksaaubball@aol.com.
Copyright © 2005 [SPARKS AAU BBALL]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
07/25/07.
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