Travel Sports Truth

Basketball · Red Flags

10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything for AAU Basketball

Before committing to a club or program, ask:

The 10 Questions

  1. 1Does my child's coach hold a current Gold License, and is the circuit/event we're attending actually NCAA-certified?
  2. 2What is this coach's specific playing/coaching background, separate from licensing?
  3. 3How many years has this coach worked with this exact age group?
  4. 4What is the full, itemized annual cost, dues, mandatory exposure events, travel, gear, not just the headline team fee?
  5. 5Which specific exposure events does the program attend, and what's the actual, verifiable college-coach attendance at them?
  6. 6Is there a structured injury-prevention component to training, given basketball's ACL-risk profile?
  7. 7Is the coaching staff background-checked and SafeSport-certified?
  8. 8Can you watch a live practice before signing?
  9. 9Are private skills lessons "recommended," or quietly required to stay competitive on the roster?
  10. 10How many players from this specific program have gone on to play in college, and can that be verified independently?

Red Flags to Walk Away From

  • ✕A program that won't let you watch a practice first.
  • ✕Pressure to "play up" an age group before readiness is established.
  • ✕Vague claims about exposure-event recruiter attendance with no verifiable specifics.
  • ✕Coaches without a current Gold License at NCAA-certified events.

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We don't name, rank, or score any specific club, team, or organization. This page is general education only, always verify current details directly with USA Basketball and the NCAA.