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 The Stars Program |
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The Crystal City Stars Program
Crystal City Stars National Girls AAU Basketball Club
Phone 607-769-5530 / Fax 607-962-3230 atoppi55@aol.com
The Crystal City Stars National Girls Basketball Club is one of the premier AAU programs in the Northeast. Over the past 17 years, the Club has earned an excellent reputation among AAU and college coaches for fielding highly competitive, talented and well coached teams. Our National program is committed to the female student athlete and gives each player the opportunity to:
• Play against the top AAU programs in the country.
• Travel, enjoy experiences and make life long friends.
• Get high exposure for many college coaches.
• Become a great player!
Goals
The main goal of the Crystal City Stars AAU Girls Basketball Club is to give each player in our program as much exposure to as many colleges as possible and to make each young female a better player. My goal is to see that each player gets contacts to whatever colleges they are interested in and a possible athletic scholarship.
Coach
The club founder and coach Armando Toppi, has over 20 years of high school on AAU coaching experience. He has a tremendous amount of recruiting experience. Coach Toppi and the Stars program has helped 55 players get DI and DII basketball scholarships, a valuable resource for parents and players.
Team
The Stars field a National team for players ages 15 and 16. A player’s age as of JANUARY 1st determines the age level she will compete in. However, 17 year olds who are in their junior year of high school may play at the 16 year old age level.
Tournaments
The Stars team will compete in ten tournaments, 45 games in six different states. We will finish our season at two of the top National tournaments in the country. The Blue Chip Invitational at Penn State and the US Jr. Nationals in Washington, DC. This is the largest open college evaluation period in the country, with over 400 DI and DII college coaches. Our program offers the highest possible exposure for women’s college basketball coaches, (30 games during the college evaluation period). Players attending exposure tournaments will have a team handout containing player profiles with detailed academic and athletic information, team schedule and links to our team website.
Practices
The Stars practice once a weekend in Corning, NY starting the first weekend in March. Practice provides time to development individual skills and team concepts. Defensive and offensive strategies are covered. Players are expected to attend all practices and learn the system during this time.
Playing Time
Every Stars player is a contributing member to the team. Each player is challenged in practice sessions and is provided opportunities during games to display her basketball skills. All players receive playing time; however, some players might receive more playing time than others. The amount of time that a player receives is determined by several factors such as match-ups, foul trouble, attitude, attendance at practices and games, work ethic and attendance of college coaches who are evaluating a player.
Exposure
Many girls have aspirations to play college basketball. The Stars provide those girls who wish to pursue basketball in college numerous opportunities to demonstrate their basketball abilities at AAU tournaments attended by hundreds of college coaches and recruiters. Since 2000, 28 Stars players have earned scholarships at Division I and II colleges and universities. In addition, many players have gone on to great careers at the Division III level.
Costs
The Stars charge an annual player participation fee of $700.00 that is used for tournaments fees, gym rental, insurance, equipment, AAU club fee, all postage, faxes, phone calls to college coaches and other basic operating cost to the program. This fee is payable at the time a player is selected to the team. The cost of travel to tournaments (transportation, meals, and lodging) and the AAU fee of $14.00 is the responsibility of each player. If the cost of participation is a concern, the Club Director may be consulted concerning alternative financial arrangements.
The Stars serve the Southern Tier of New York State, though players may come from outside this area. The club is registered with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) as part of the Niagara Association.
“Don’t be just another player, be one of the STARS”
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