Why Play AAU Basketball with the Saratoga Sparks?
The Saratoga Sparks are very excited about the upcoming AAU season. Player registrations have been rolling in and the Sparks Board of Directors and coaches are working hard to make the upcoming season even more special than last season… and that will be a challenge.
We would also like you to consider the following facts about our organization:
The Sparks are non-profit AAU organization
Teams are formed using a group of evaluators for equal opportunity among all players at tryouts for team placement.
Currently, the Sparks have numerous coaches with college and varsity high school coaching experience.
Sparks alumni have continued their basketball careers at the collegiate level. Our organization has helped to prepare many players to compete at the Division I, II and III levels and our placement efforts have continued to increased every year.
In recent years Sparks players have been named to the NewChannel 13 All-Star Team and most of last year’s Class AA NYS Finalist team sharpened their skills as both Saratoga Sparks and individuals. Most importantly… fun, over the last decade Sparks players and families have forged friendships that have lasted far beyond basketball.
Program/Tryout FAQs:
1. Team make-up: The standard team consists of 10-12 players. 7th Orange, 8th Orange, and our High School Elite team will be comprised of 10 players. All other teams may need adjusting based on overall numbers of players.
2. Saratoga Sparks fee: It is based off of a standard 12 player team and covers gym time and tournament entrance fees. 7 tournament are included. It does not cover the cost to travel to and hotel stays for away tournaments.
3. Practices: We practice two times a week.
4. Tryouts: We highly encourage players to make it to both tryout days. Should conflicts, injuries, or sickness prevent your child from attending either or both days please note it during registration if known. If injured, players should have medical clearance to tryout. Should your daughter only make one of the days, the evaluators will do the best to ensure she is placed on the appropriate team. If your daughter is prevented from attending both sessions, we will rely on previous Sparks board members’ knowledge of her skills – past season AAU or travel seasons – to help us in the evaluation. Neither of these scenarios is ideal, but we strive to ensure players are matched to the correct team.
