1. What is AAU? The Amateur Athletic Union is a national organization dedicated to amateur sports and physical fitness programs.
2. What is the FIRM Athletic Club Basketball? It has become one of the biggest organizations for travel basketball in NEPA. The FIRM A.C. was created 11 years ago for the G.A.R Boys to continue play after the season. The following year another team was added, giving the FIRM a 18u and 5th/6th Grade Team. The following year the FIRM slowly started to build and has now become a well known organization in PA for boys and girls.
3. How does my son or daughter get on a FIRM A.C. team? The FIRM A.C has open tryouts and each player has a chance to make one of the teams. No player is guaranteed a spot on a team. He or She is encouraged to make all the tryouts so that the coaches can evaluate her/him fairly. Coaches may also use other settings where they have seen the player as a part of the evaluation process.
4. How many teams are there? FIRM A.C. usually has 1 maybe 2 teams per age group that are selected by the ability level during the tryouts. When some age groups have several great players, the FIRM looks into creating another team.
5. How is the age group determined? www.aauboysbasketball.org for boys and www.aaugirlsbasketball.org for girls
6. What happens when tryouts conflict with other games? FIRM A.C does not allow high school varsity players still participating in season to participate in tryouts. All other players are expected to take advantage of all the tryouts for their age group. The FIRM will not have tryouts for boys in grades 9 thru 11 and girls 10 thru 12.
7. What is involved in the commitment to a FIRM A.C. team? It is expected that a player will make all the games and practices. All players are allowed to miss 2 practices and 1 tournament only. On an average most teams only have 10-15 practices and 5 to 8 tournaments, so it is important not to miss. Tournaments and practices will start at the end of March and go thru June for most teams. The season will extend for all older teams and elite younger teams. Players that miss more than 2 practices and 2 tournaments will be dismissed from the FIRM A.C. with no refund!!!!
8. Is there fund raising available? Each team has to do 1 mandatory fundraiser, which is FIRM DAY. FIRM A.C. does offer extra fundraising activities to help off set expenses. Email walkr6@aol.com for more details.
9. Why don't I get ANY refund if I don't like the team my daughter or son makes or if they stop playing during the season? SEE REFUND POLICY
10. What other costs are a part of playing for FIRM A.C.? Other expenses include travel expenses and hotel fees if the team stays overnight. If the team decides to play in another tournament the team is responsible for paying for that event.
11. What are the FIRM A.C.'s goals? To have fun and to encounter competition at another level. To play against players that have different abilities and different styles of play. More importantly to grow and become a great player in the future. For all the older teams our goal is to get them to play at the next possible level.
12. Why do some teams travel to more events out of state? There are thousands of tournaments along the east coast, some that are better than others, some that are more organized, more competitive, and some that have coach's or scouting services in attendance.
13. Why do older teams travel to Summer Events? The summer period is geared to D1 College coach's that are now allowed to attend sanctioned events. The summer period is a time in which we should be together as a full team and ready to compete to advance to championship rounds.
14 What can the FIRM A.C. offer me? We have more than 250 college coach's connections, we offer a ton of off-season programs and we offer your name to college coaches first as recommendations.
15. I have more questions or problems, who do I contact? Isiah can answer more questions via email then phone. So many phone calls come in because of tournament registrations and other matters, so it is hard to return everyone's phone call. Please send an email to walkr6@cs.com or ford.darnell@yahoo.com.
