SKY HOOPS :: REACH FOR THE SKY!

AAU Athletics serves as a tournament style extension of each sport's regular season. This allows athletes to compete against other athletes of the same caliber. In boys' basketball, the desire to compete at the highest level has resulted in the formation of many new programs in recent years.

The Sky Hoops Basketball Club promotes primarily to the Central/Metrowest area of Massachusetts.

The Sky Hoops Basketball Club organization stresses the development of individual basketball skills as well as team concepts. This skill development will be emphasized through an aggressive commitment from the coaches and the players. The collaboration of our coaching staff, our players and their parents will serve as the foundation on which our organization will continue to be built.

For many of us involved in the Sky Hoops Basketball Club , THERE WILL BE NO COMPROMISE, in our efforts to help each participant to be all that they can be.

This year there will be AAU team tryouts during the months of Feb/Mar 2007. September 1, 2007 is the determining date for all age categories.

AAU age rules seem much more complicated than they really are. Basically, two criteria are taken into account -- age and grade. (Note: the following applies to boys' basketball only; girls' basketball uses January 1 as a cutoff date.)

Age. It is important to remember that a player's AAU age and his actual age are two different things. AAU age is measured by a player's age next September 1. Consequently, whenever September rolls around, all players in an age group advance by one year. If a player will turn 12 between now and next September, he is considered 12-and-under for AAU purposes, and may not play on an 11-and-under team, even though he is presently 11 years old.

Grade. There is, of course, an exception to the above rule, and it is based on a player's current grade in school. An 11U team is considered a 5th grade team; 12U is a 6th grade team; etc. The AAU "grade exception" allows a child who started school late to play on the same team with his classmates, so that a player who would ordinarily qualify for a 13U team but is still in 6th grade can play on a 12U team. There are limits to this exception. A player can play down no more than one age level (thus preventing the occasional 17 year-old fifth grader from running away with the MVP award!), and a single team can have no more than 3 of these grade exceptions.

Please note that there is no restriction to a player playing up, since a younger boy on an older team is not considered an advantage.

Still confused? Hopefully, the following table will provide an example to clarify things for you:

AAU Age/Grade Qualifications - Boys' Basketball
Age-based determination			Grade exception
If you were born on or after:	And are in the following grade (or higher)	The youngest team you may play on is:	If you are in the following grade (or earlier):	You qualify as a grade exception for:
9/1/92	5	11U	4	10U
9/1/91	6	12U	5	11U
9/1/90	7	13U	6	12U
9/1/89	8	14U	7	13U

The principle segment of the AAU season is from the middle of March until the end of June. The commitment during the spring constitutes one to two practice sessions each week. Tournament involvement varies from team to team, depending on the commitment of the players and the coach, typically 6-8 weekend tournaments including the State Tournament, 1-2 days/tournament, 2-4 games per tournament are played.

The participation fee for the year beginning in March will be approximately $450 plus a $75 refundable (when uniforms are returned in current shape) uniform deposit due, by the first practice. The following items are covered by this fee:

Overhead expenses such as first aid items, telephone calls, coaches stipend,
printing and mailing, coaches shirts and gym fees for the weekend gym use.

The fees for additional tournaments after the first 8, will be calculated on a per tournament basis. They will range from $40.00 to $65.00 depending on whether the tournament is local or overnight. Coaches expenses are once again, factored into these fees. Coaches' expenses include mileage and hotel room accommodation.

After the Spring AAU season, we may have a Fall league that starts around the 3rd weekend of August and continues through the end of October. Last year we had a 7th and 8th grade division.

Every player is guaranteed playing time every game. How much playing time a player receives is dependent upon that players commitment to practice. Some teams use the "5 in / 5 out" method. No player will play less than 25% of any game.

The commitment to being a Sky Hoops team member means being available for at least 80% of the practices. Most coaches demand this minimum attendance. Some demand more!!! Most coaches will be somewhat flexible in scheduling practices for the multi-sport athlete.

Remember, that player development happens as a result of participation in drills and practices, as well as the tournament games. The best players are usually those that are equally committed to each of these segments of player development.

Most teams will try to carry a minimum of 12 players. After player selection, soon thereafter, the practices for each team start during the month of March.

Information for the organization is processed through the use of this website. Every Sunday the necessary details for the upcoming week are updated. Practices are generally scheduled at the same gym on the same week days at the same times for each team.

Please remember if you become involved in what we do here with the Sky Hoops Basketball Club , that your accomplishments are more than likely a reflection of the amount of effort extended by each of you. Our philosophy is to provide a vehicle for all of the boys to expand their horizons both as players and young people.

We are dedicated to providing this environment for every committed player, regardless of their level of talent. The correlation between work ethic and success is not always dependent on the gifts that each of us was born with. To this "end" we all must continually strive.

Sincerely, Rick Linet

BECOME A SKY HOOPS Basketball Club Sponsor!

FUNDRAISING:

In order to reimburse players' costs, players can obtain copies of sponsorship letters to give to local businesses. We will ask sponsoring businesses to contribute up to 4 different levels of donations.. In exchange for their sponsorship, businesses can receive names, logos on our website, schedules, team pictures, and plaques. The best place to find business sponsors is through approaching places where you regularly do business. Family members who own or manage businesses are also a good resource. This has been a very effective fundraiser for AAU teams who have given it some effort.

Get Your Sponsor Letter By Clicking on this link: Sky Hoops Basketball Sponsor Letter 2.doc

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