Summer Youth Basketball Programs

AAU

• The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) provides an opportunity for competitive travel basketball teams for youths of all ages. These teams can be run through a well-known AAU program, specific to a particular state or city (Examples include the Gauchos of New York City, The Connecticut Gold of Connecticut, BABC of Boston) or by a particular group or sponsors (Tim Thomas Playaz funded by pro basketball player Tim Thomas). These teams compete in tournaments all across the country and most also compete in the National AAU tournament held in Florida each summer. These teams can be expensive, often costing as much as $2,000 per player for registration, uniforms, hotels and travel. But as a general rule, AAU basketball programs can provide some of the best competitive basketball in the country during the summer. Many of the top players in the country compete in their age bracket for an AAU team.

Camps

• Summer basketball camps provide kids a place to get away from home for a few days or a week and expend some of that pent up summer energy. Camps range in just about every factor imaginable from price, to length, to the ability of the campers that attend. Most all basketball camps will offer a fun and safe environment where kids will learn more about basketball and improve their skills while teaching hard work and team work. Some camps are more tailored as a summer getaway. These camps are normally at big colleges and universities and offer overnight stays for the campers. An example of such a camp is the Jim Calhoun Basketball Camp, held on the campus of the University of Connecticut. Campers who opt to stay overnight have a full schedule every day that includes meals, games, practice time, lessons and lectures from college and pro players, as well as times to go swimming and relax in the dorms. Other camps that are offered through a town's recreation department or the the YMCA may be more focused on players who just want to spend a week going to a place (normally from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or some variety of hours) where they can run around, play basketball with their friends and learn from local coaches.

Clinics

• Basketball clinics can be broken down into two categories; clinics and showcases. A basketball clinic is generally an event that's held on a weekend for a day or two that is being put on by a local basketball personality. It may be something as simple as a former pro or college player who holds a clinic at the local high school gym on a Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. These types of clinics are normally for ages 7 through 15. They are designed for kids to spend a few hours learning the game from a former coach or player who has reached a pretty decent level of notoriety in basketball. They are fun and informative and as much as the experience is playing and learning basketball, it is also meeting the basketball personality and getting a picture and an autograph.

  The other type of clinic, is really more of a showcase. These clinics are designed for top-level high school basketball players to showcase their skills for college scouts and coaches. They normally are by invite only but sometimes they do allow players to pay their way in without a invitation. These showcases are typically a full day event that feature drills and games for the players to show their skills.