How to Evaluate Colorado Youth Basketball Programs

There are a lot of club basketball, AAU basketball and youth sports programs out there, but they are not all the same. It is important for parents to properly evaluate if a program is the right fit for their child and family. The four most important points we feel parents should evaluate are:

• Track Record of Player Development and Success
• Culture
• Affordability and Fees
• Whole-Child Development Programs

Below are some details regarding each of those four points.

Track Record of Player Development and Success

Does the program have youth basketball programs, beginning at a young age, that provide opportunities to improve at various stages of development? Many organizations just try to put together teams made up of players who have been recruited to win games. Premier takes an active role, beginning at the age of 3, to develop players on the hardwood to be the best they can be through our Little Ballers Program, Camps and Skills Training.  We believe that nearly anyone can recruit and put together a team, but it takes an organization and coaches that truly are invested in the youth in the communities we serve to be successful. A good question to ask is, “How long, on average, have players been in your program?” Our players participate in our program on average 5+ years!

Does the organization have great coaches and a history of developing players that have attained a high level of success? It is important to evaluate if a program has developed players that have reached a level of success that your child wishes to reach. In the last 6 years, Premier players have achieved an unprecedented level of success with 67 All-State players, 76 collegiate scholarships, 13 Power 5 Conference selections, 4 Gatorade Players of the Year, 2 Brand Jordan All-Americans, 1 McDonalds All American and 1 USA National Team Player. Additionally, it is important to look at what the organization has done in the most recent years in order to determine if they are continuing to produce high level players.

What does the program provide off the court to support your child’s goals? Premier provides extensive recruiting and training services for our athletes to reach their collegiate playing aspirations through our Get Recruited Program. The program provides detailed information on what needs to be done at various stages of a players career in order to reach their goals.

Culture

Does the program instill a positive culture for its players and families? Does it provide clear behavior and commitment expectations? You can read about our parent and player expectations at the links below.

• 10 Expectations of a Premier Parent
• Player Commitments and Expectations

A good question to ask is “What is your retention rate?” Premier is proud to say that 95% of our players return year over year to our programs.

Affordability & Fees

It is important to understand the fees and costs associated with participation. Does the program clearly post/provide information on their fees? If you can’t find information on fees on their website, RUN! Premier provides clear and understandable information on fees and what they go towards. We pride ourselves on being the most affordable program in the Rocky Mountain region for the value we provide, which averages less the $10 per session hour.

Does the organization provide streamlined fundraising opportunities to lower costs? Premier provides detailed fundraising options through our Team Fundraising Program. Read more about it here.

Does the organization have scholarship opportunities?  Does the organization have specific processes and guidelines for evaluating who receives a scholarship?  Premier offers over $30,000 inn scholarships annually and has easy, streamlined processes for determining scholarship approval.

Programs that support Whole-Child Development

Basketball is just a game, but the life lessons that can be learned through participation in youth sports are much more important than what goes on between the lines. Does the program you are looking into provide charitable activities for players to participate in? Does the program consistently promote teamwork and sportsmanship? Does the program provide nutritional and performance information and opportunities? Premier does it. Check out our Personal Development page to see what opportunities are provided to our athletes.

We hope that you find these points useful in future evaluations of not just basketball programs, but all youth programs!

 

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