A Parent's Guide to AAU Basketball
Mohawk Valley Edition · One-pager · mvebasketball.com · 315-570-3540
What AAU actually is
AAU is the Amateur Athletic Union — the umbrella for travel / club basketball. It is not a league. Clubs form teams and travel to weekend tournaments (typically 3–5 games in two days). Quality varies because the club sets roster size, practice, and coaching. In Central New York the main season sits after school ball: generally March through late May, some teams into June. A good program never asks a player to skip school ball.
What a season actually costs
Published numbers only. The 2027 spring fee is announced with tryout dates — it is not published yet, so it is not printed here.
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
| Spring AAU 2027 | Fee announced with tryout dates. Not published. See mvebasketball.com/tryouts. |
| What’s in the fee | Tournament entry, gym rental, coaching. Travel, hotels, food, and gym admission are extra. Six tournaments per team. |
| Saturday skills | Last block (summer 2026, finished): $15 middle school / $20 high school per Saturday. Next-block dates unpublished. mvebasketball.com/training |
| Hosted tournaments | $185 per team, boys grades 5–Varsity, two games guaranteed. Dates unpublished. mvebasketball.com/tournaments |
| If money is the issue | MVE offers scholarships. Email info@mvebasketball.com until a request form exists. No player is turned away. |
The time it really takes
Generally one or two weeknight practices, set after teams are picked. Six tournament weekends per team — not every weekend, but when there is one, plan on the whole day (pool play Saturday, bracket Sunday). Gas, hotels, food, and spectator admission are usually on the family.
12 questions to ask any program
- Who exactly will coach my son's team?
- Where does my fee go — and how much do the directors keep?
- How many players will be on the roster?
- How many tournaments, and how far is the travel?
- Is there a playing-time philosophy?
- How does the club screen coaches and train them, and how many adults are at practice?
- What happens if he misses a weekend?
- Is financial assistance available?
- Where do your alumni end up?
- How do you communicate with parents?
- Do you support school ball and other sports?
- What is your refund policy?
Where Mohawk Valley Elite stands
- Certified 501(c)(3). EIN 99-0948552. Fees go to tournament entry, gym, and coaching.
- Rosters 8–10. Never more than 10. One coach, one team.
- School ball and other sports: yes. Season is built around that.
- MVE offers scholarships. Email info@mvebasketball.com until a request form exists. No player has been turned away over money.
- Grades 5–11 (12th invite only). Season: early March into late May.
- Playing time: everyone plays. Not every player gets the same minutes.
- A missed weekend is fine. There is no refund for it. There are no refunds.
- Not every coach holds an AAU certification or a paid AAU background screen. Before the upcoming season, every coach will complete a free youth-athlete safety training course.
- MVE uses its own software to reach parents and players. Other family members can be included.
- A player with a suspected concussion is removed from play and may return only after written clearance from a healthcare professional. When in doubt, sit them out.
- Medical and emergency information, the code of conduct, and the media and photo release are part of registration.
Mohawk Valley Elite Inc · mvebasketball.com · 315-570-3540 · info@mvebasketball.com · Full guide: mvebasketball.com/parents-guide · This handout does not invent unpublished dates or the 2027 fee.