Our exposure tournament hosted by Rise as One and The Basketball Factory will put our athletes directly in front of college coaches instantly. The type of recruiting support varies with age and skill level. Our coaches and administrators are familiar with the recruiting process, having served at the collegiate level in those exact same roles. We maintain strong relationships with collegiate recruiters and actively utilize our network nationally for the benefit of all our AAU players.

Your decision to continue your Basketball Career after High School is one that can only be made after much consideration and reflection. The commitment level to play at the collegiate level is extremely extensive. There is much, much more to playing in college than running out the tunnel in front of thousands of adoring fans. For those that desire to play in college, Rise as One will be very active in supporting the recruiting efforts and assisting to promote your child to increase those opportunities.

Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card online. When paying by credit card, an additional service fee is added.

The ability of Rise as One to provide scholarships or financial assistance to athletes is extremely limited. Any scholarship aid that is provided has been to those athletes who have been with Rise as One in previous seasons, and can validate their need for tuition assistance. We do not use scholarships or financial aid as a recruiting tool. If your athlete is in a situation where financial aid is a necessity, please make arrangements to speak with Rise as One administration prior to tryouts so as not to interfere with tryouts and roster selection.

Every athlete is required to purchase a uniform (jersey and shorts). The standard uniform normally costs around $70 (exact cost available at tryouts). Should you become a member of a team with more extensive requirements, you will be informed prior to accepting a roster position.

Rise as One fees cover court rental fees, coaches fees, administrative costs, trainers fee, and equipment costs.

Tuition will be payable in 1 payment, depending upon the time a player joins Rise as One. Tuition payments are non-refundable. Any payment or tuition concerns or discrepancies should be made in writing to the club director.

There may be other costs and fees associated with playing AAU basketball that are not included in tuition, they may include but are not limited to:

Tournament Spectator Fee
Travel Costs (gas/lodging/transportation)
Food During Tournaments
Fundraisers
Extra Gear/Clothes/Shoes
SUMMER & FALL

The Summer & Fall Seasons are a discounted rate from Spring due to the season being shorter. Tuition for Spring and Fall is due in full at the Registration and/or Signing Night.

Definitely not! In fact, we find that you would normally pay less, and the benefits are far, far greater! We find that having our own facility is a huge cost advantage when compared to other organizations that do not, and have to continually strive to “find and search” potential locations on inconsistent nights in creating a practice schedule. Further, this is your HOME! There is no uncertainty about practice locations, there are extra opportunities for training and open gyms to better serve you, and most importantly, for you to utilize!

There are many areas in which parents can get involved with their Team! Each Team will have a Parent Representative to address multiple organizational items. Among those will include handling administrative items, eligibility documentation, sending out communication emails, entering tournaments, tournament fee collection and other related tasks. The parent representative will be a close liaison to the Head Coach. Parent involvement that typically is conducted on a sign-up basis may include keeping the scorebook for games, organize snacks/water/Gatorade, or other similar tasks.

Parents are not required to attend all practices and tournaments. We do encourage all parents to attend as many of the games and tournaments as possible, as athletes will enjoy your support of them and their team.

Please remember no transportation will be provided by Rise as One. It is the responsibility of each family to assure that their athlete is at all events or arrange transportation, and is picked up promptly at the conclusion of practices and games.

The primary role for parents is to be supportive of their athlete and team, and be a good role model during practices and tournaments. While you may not agree with every coaching decision or every call by a referee, parents should focus on the game, supporting the team and ultimately supporting their child.

Each tryout will consist of a specific workout curriculum, which assesses athletes in fundamental skills, strength, speed, acceleration, and competitive game play. All athletes are evaluated using the same criteria and given the same opportunity to make a team, regardless of any previous experience, affiliation with Rise as One, or AAU experience with other clubs.

Once named to a roster, athletes have the opportunity to either accept or decline their roster spot. This would occur at our annual signing night. At the time of acceptance, a fee is required. If an athlete desires to try out with other teams and therefore cannot accept the opportunity presented by either Rise as One, then the athlete would be required to relinquish their roster opportunity. If, they were to decide at a later time that they did want the roster opportunity, they would be required to try out again for the team at the next tryout date (pending roster availability). This policy is in place to assure our rosters are filled, and that we are able to provide athletes on the waiting list a deserved opportunity.

Parents may not watch tryouts. Each tryout session is designed to provide an environment to evaluate each player. Further, there is very limited space in the House of Sports, and no parents/siblings are allowed on the courts during this important time period.

We will be offering teams in the age groups of grades 2-12 seasonally. Athletes may tryout for Rise as One, regardless of previous basketball or playing experience. Tryouts are $25 when the player tryouts!

Tryouts for the teams will take place on the following dates:

September 11 & 18, 2017 (Grades 2 – 11)
December 1, 2017 (Grades 2 – 6)
February, 2017 (Grades 2 – 12)
Athletes are only required to attend tryouts until they have been accepted onto a roster. If an athlete does not make a roster, they can tryout at any and all subsequent tryout sessions.

Every Tournament has two fees: a Team Entry Fee and a Spectator Entry Fee.
The tournament host club or director of the event you are attending sets the team entry fee. This fee can range from $150-400, depending on the size, location, region and organization of the tournament. The team entry fee is paid independently and directly to the organizer. This typically must be paid in advance (1-2 weeks ahead of the event, exception being AAU state events which could be 3-4 weeks in advance of the event). In addition to the tournament team entry fee, each tournament will have a spectator admission fee. Every spectator (age 5 or 6 and above) will be required to pay for entry, and the amounts range (depending on the magnitude of the event) from $5-25. Some tournaments offer a weekend pass option, at a discount while other tournaments require spectators to pay by the day.
Many Tournaments in New Jersey charge the following (though not all):
Friday – $5
Saturday – $10
Sunday – $8
Weekend Pass – $15
Parents should expect to be required to wear a bracelet or other identifying item for the duration of the tournament if they purchase a weekend pass. Most tournaments only accept cash, so parents should plan accordingly. Rise as One has no control over the prices a tournament sets, though they are normally available to the coach prior to the tournament.

Rise as One does not provide transportation to practices or tournaments. However, as long as a parent has arranged transportation to the tournament, the athlete will be able to participate.

Rise as One will participate in tournaments locally, regionally and nationally; thus there would be some limited travel involved with these teams, but as always, electing to participate in out of state or out of area tournaments is the sole discretion of the Head Coach and Team families.

The Head Coach will determine their team’s tournament schedule. Most teams will have their tournaments spread out across the season occurring from March thru early June.

Tournaments always take place on the weekends. Tournaments can be one day, two day, or three day events. However, for the spring season, nearly all Tournaments are 2 or 3 days in duration. Each tournament makes their own schedule, and Rise as One has no control over outside tournaments, organization of tournaments, venues, or schedules. Rise as One does control the events that Rise as One sponsors.

Typically, our AAU Teams will play a wide combination of Tournaments. Because we believe in empowering each Head Coach and Team with the ability to decide which events they select to play in (rather than our organization dictate their schedule and dates), ultimately, there may be some adjustment either way to the example number provided below.
SPRING
• Rise as One (Elementary): 3-4 tournaments
• Rise as One (Middle School): 4-5 tournaments
• Rise as One (High School): 4-5 tournaments

SUMMER
• Rise as One (All Grades): 2-3 tournaments or league

FALL
• Rise as One (All Grades): 3-4 tournaments

Because of the commitment level required of an athlete with Rise as One, typically, it is difficult for athletes to participate in multiple sports. We have had several athletes that have participated in a second sport during the AAU season, and our coaches and the athlete parents have made it work, with flexibility and understanding.

SPRING%

Our Rise as One brand features our most competitive teams and expected to challenge statewide each season. Rise as One plays a challenging schedule (4+ tournaments) that comprises of Local, Regional and sometimes National Tournaments. Rise as One is offered in every age group (grades 2-12), and will practice up to 2-3 times per week, consisting of two sessions during weekends and one session on a weekday.

Based on early season results and overall season expectations, our coaches and administration may adjust an individual teams’ tournament schedule to ensure an appropriate level of competition is being maintained for growth and development.

SUMMER%

Rise as One teams will practice twice per week, consisting primarily of two weeknight practices (though Saturday sessions may be available). Summer teams will compete in 2-4 local/regional tournaments or league, with most teams staying within a 2 hour radius of The House of Sports.

FALL%

Rise as One teams will practice up to 2 times per week, consisting primarily of two weeknight practices Fall teams will compete in 3-4 local/regional tournaments, with most teams staying within a 2 hour radius of the The House of Sports.

All teams will have designated individual team practice sessions. Our facility we utilize multiple courts, which allows more than one team practicing at the same location & time. During the season a coach/coaches may elect to conduct open scrimmages with other teams from our association to enable them to work on deficient components to improve. Occasionally, our teams will accept an invitation to scrimmage with other association teams at an outside location. In those situations, approvals and insurance documentation must be in order prior to any activity.

During the Spring Season, each team is scheduled for practice sessions up to 2x each week. With more practice and training, our players improve dramatically and have impacted scholastic programs throughout the Northern New Jersey area. Two sessions are scheduled on weekends for the first month of the season and one session is scheduled on the weekday.. Each team will be scheduled, and expected to take full advantage of these 2x a week practice opportunities unless a Tournament Game conflict would arise.

Each team will practice at least twice each week (or more) at The House of Sports Facility.

We expect to field 15+ teams across all age groups in the Spring of 2017. Each program will offer a varying level of competitive schedule, practice and training expectations and commitment level.

For the Summer Season, we expect to field 5-8 teams, while the Fall Season we expect 8-15 teams.

On all Rise as One rosters, there are limitations to the quantity of players permitted per team. Typically, a roster would comprise of 10-12 players, but ultimately the Head Coach will determine decisions relative to the team roster size.

YES! Outside of basic team practices, each Rise as One team will have the weekly option of speed and strength training with Professional Speed and Vertical Trainer Steve Leo and other Parisi Staff. Additionally, exclusive Early Spring workouts led by our skills trainers will be offered on Sundays throughout the season, and will begin in November for all athletes named to Rise as One from our early tryout sessions.

Yes, we continue to facilitate professional growth and enrichment with all of our Head and Assistance Coaches. An integral component to our formula provides for substantial mentoring and training by our experienced collegiate level staff. Coaches receive training on practice planning, skill developing drills, game strategy, leadership development, enhancing a player’s confidence, and injury prevention. Our Rise as One Coaches also serve in the community offering clinics and educational opportunities free of charge.

All of our head coaches and specialized trainers involved with Rise as One have been thoroughly reviewed and approved by our staff. All have previous coaching/playing experience at the scholastic, collegiate or professional level and have accepted their role with Rise as One with the full understanding and agreement of our mission and organizational goals.

Many of our coaches have been with us for several years, and repeat in all of our AAU seasons. You will find available biographies on the the Rise as One website additional coaches for our teams will be posted on our website once their acceptance becomes confirmed.

Yes, Rise as One does have permanent professionals that impact the organization and serve in a variety of ways and committees. You may obtain more information on specific roles within the website.

Coach Kevin Houston – Executive Director, & Coach Mentorship

Kyle Kielty – General Manager, Tournaments Director and Administration

Casey Ryan – Marketing, Recruiting and Public Relations

AD Roberts – Director of Development

A Great Question we receive all the time. We differ from other AAU Programs in many ways.
A Teaching Academy
First, all Rise as One team programs understand and fully commit to being a teaching academy for the development of your child. The Basketball gym is our classroom, and in all aspects of what we do, lessons of work ethic, commitment, integrity, discipline, character, respect for one another, cooperation and accountability all in part contribute to our foundation of the full development of the best student-person-player an individual can become. We strongly believe that these life-long traits are tremendous differentiators from every other AAU Organization in the country.
Club Leadership%
Our organization began in 2002, was founded by Coach Kevin Houston, a former collegiate and European Coach with over 10 years experience at a variety of high levels. He continues to remain as the Executive Director supervising the Club growth and movement of the student-person-player development. Additional permanent staff has recently been added to ensure a professional leadership team that is dedicated and committed to the holistic development of every young player. Our esteemed leadership is comprised of basketball and business professionals from within the New Jersey region. It is committed to ensuring the sustainability and continuity of our mission.
Our Home Facility
In 2007, The House of Sports Facility is a 12,000 square foot multi court basketball training facility in the heart of Northern New Jersey. The location, owned and operated by The House of Sports will provide a consistent home for the AAU program. An impressive modern, state of the art basketball facility. By operating and maintaining our own facility, this provides an unparalleled advantage for our AAU participants of ensuring a positive, quality, and safe location for their basketball development. Moreover, our players tend to use the facility as their “base club” ; a place to congregate, hang out with friends, play games and foster friendships. Finally, having our own facility allows us to purchase and maintain state of the art technology equipment that is unparalleled in New Jersey. All our players have the opportunity to utilize the revolutionary training concepts, multiple Shoot-a-way Gun apparatus to impact repetition and perfection, Noah Shot Analyzer and many more.
Highly Competent Training Staff%
A tremendous advantage our players have is consistent close training and feedback with The Basketball Factory Trainers contracted to work with our teams. The Basketball Factory trainers will impact all teams through an unparalleled vertimax and resistance-training curriculum. Athletes will impact their strength, power, vertical jump, speed, acceleration and quickness with this advanced intensity driven training.
More Practice = More Improvement
Finally, our teams are scheduled for practice sessions up to 3x each week. With more practice and training, our players do improve; they do get better. Two sessions are scheduled on weekdays and one session is scheduled during the week. Saturday sessions are ultimately at the discretion of the Head Coach, as each weekend practice session will only be held on Saturday dates when they are not playing in a Tournament. Each team will be scheduled, and expected to take full advantage of these 3x a week practice opportunities unless a Tournament Game conflict would arise.

Rise as One is committed to developing the holistic student-person-player through a structured environment. Our goal is to teach young athletes respect for themselves, others, and their community by instilling the values of honestly, responsibility, and teamwork. We strive to create a safe, exciting, and disciplined setting in which our athletes can reach new heights in the game of basketball while becoming good citizens and role models for their schools, peers, and community.

Yes, while athletes may not play at a lower age level than their eligibility would allow, they may be able to play at an older age. We believe in continuing to challenge players to bring out their best abilities, which does include, at times playing ahead of their true age group. Those scenarios would require consensus agreement with the coaches, parents and the Club Director.

Our teams are based on current 2016-2017 grade in school. There are other rules regarding age and birthdays, which permit athletes who have a very late birthday (after September 1) to potentially play “down” a grade. It is always permissible for anyone to play “up” a grade level if they are of the skill level to contribute in that age group. Our staff will ensure that each team and player will be in the appropriate age group.

SPRING SEASON
The Spring AAU season with Rise as One differs slightly for each grade and team level. However, most teams will follow a similar season pattern:
• Elementary Grades: March 3 – Early June
• Middle School Grades: March 3 – Mid June
• High School Grades: March 3 – Mid/Late June

Rise as One offers options for both boys and girls. For boys, we will offer team opportunities for those athletes in grades 2-12. For girls, we offer team opportunities for young ladies in grades 2-12. In most age groups, multiple teams could be formed representing the Rise as One program.

AAU stands for “Amateur Athletic Union,” a nationwide non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting athletic and fitness programs in over twenty plus sports. AAU basketball is most commonly referred to as competitive, intense basketball. It typically features various organizations that create teams in multiple age groups designated by grade and gender. These formed teams will typically compete and practice outside of the scholastic basketball season. It is much different than a recreational youth basketball league. AAU Basketball is intense, competitive play, and teams compete in weekend tournaments across their region, state, and the country.

Yes, while athletes may not play at a lower age level than their eligibility would allow, they may be able to play at an older age. We believe in continuing to challenge players to bring out their best abilities, which does include, at times playing ahead of their true age group. Those scenarios would require consensus agreement with the coaches, parents and the Club Director.