AEF Academy Fall/Winter Youth Basketball Program 2023-2024
It is our mission to instill the values of Attitude, Effort, and Focus in every player to make an impact both on and off the court.
AEF ACADEMY TEAMS
The AEF Academy Fall/Winter Youth Basketball Program currently has 14 youth basketball teams this Fall/Winter season, up from just four teams this time last year! Our mission to instill the values of Attitude, Effort, and Focus in every player, along with our trained coaching staff, highly structured practices, and the incredible support we receive from our AEF families, is key to our success!
AEF ACADEMY COACHES
AEF Academy is run by Owner, President and Head Coach Andy Beck. Coach Beck has been coaching since he was 15 years old, as he began learning alongside his father when an injury kept him from playing ball in high school. Throughout his time on the basketball court, Coach Beck has coached teams of all ability levels and ages from the 3rd grade thru the 11th grade, and he currently trains an average of 70 athletes each week. It is his passion to develop players, not only to improve their game, but also to give them the resources they need to reach their maximum potential, to build the confidence from within to overcome their fears, and to create a genuine understanding of sportsmanship and teamwork within every player, both on the court and when the gym shoes come off.
At AEF Academy, it’s about our players, and it is expected that our coaches always put our players first. Our coaches go through extensive training with Coach Beck prior to signing the AEF Coaching Contract. AEF coach training not only includes the AEF drills, skillsets, and offensive/defensive team principles, but we teach our coaches how to communicate positively, how to turn a player or a team mistake into an immediate learning opportunity, and we teach our coaches WHY their role is so extremely important in the lives of EVERY player.
IF AEF is to deliver the product we promise, then it starts with our coaches, and we expect the same from them as we do our athletes. ATTITUDE. EFFORT. FOCUS.
A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.
AEF ACADEMY PRACTICES
The AEF Academy Fall/Winter Youth Basketball Program teams will practice in our NEW FACILITY, which will be located at 99th and Portal Road in Papillion. AEF practices are held two nights per week, with each practice running 90 minutes. Each team shares a court with another team of similar age/ability, which allows us to put our offensive and defensive team concepts into motion. Individual skill development is always a focus at AEF, and while each team’s head coach is heavily involved in all aspects of every practice, each court has an AEF Academy Skills Specialist running the drills, always overseeing the instruction. AEF Academy Skills Specialists are not only helping to train your athletes, but they are also constantly working to develop our coaches, always demonstrating the AEF philosophy, mentality, and energy.
Practices will begin October 9th and run through the end of February. Practice Schedules, including days, times, and locations will be posted with team rosters in August.
SUMMER ACADEMIES
AEF Summer Academies for FALL/WINTER athletes allow for additional opportunities for skill development outside of the traditional fall/winter season, enabling our players to continue to grow and develop over the summer months.
Each academy consists of a Tuesday/Thursday session, with each session running for 90 minutes. Summer Academies are included in your Fall/Winter player fees, and while they are optional, they are highly encouraged!
FALL/WINTER 2023-24 SUMMER ACADEMY SCHEDULE:
All grades below are based on athlete’s grade FALL 2023
June 6 and 8 – AT WESTSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL (8601 ARBOR STREET)
2:30pm – 4:00pm – 3rd – 5th grade
4:00pm – 5:30pm – 6th – 8th grade
June 20 and 22 – AT WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL (8701 PACIFIC STREET)
2:00pm – 3:30pm – 3rd – 5th grade
3:30pm – 5:00pm – 6th – 8th grade
July 18 and 20 – AT WESTSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL (8601 ARBOR STREET)
1:30pm – 3:00pm – 3rd – 5th grade
3:00pm – 4:30pm – 6th – 8th grade
AEF SUNDAY NIGHT ACADEMIES
Beginning in October, AEF Academy athletes will have the opportunity to attend a 75-minute academy on Sunday evenings. These academies will serve as a great compliment to team practices and tournaments, emphasizing individual skill development. This will include high level skills repetition, including ball handling, shooting, transition, and decision making. Sunday Night Academies will run throughout the fall/winter season and are included in player fees. They are optional but highly encouraged.
COMPETITION
AEF Academy Fall/Winter teams will play a competitive game schedule, with the number of games dependent on grade level. We will always place our teams in divisions where they will be challenged and have a chance to grow. As much as we all love to win, the AEF commitment to you is player development, and no player gets better when the competition is too easy. Not one.
GAMES
The number of games varies based on grade level:
- 3rd grade – 30-35 games (sample: Conqueror League plus 8 tournaments); 1 travel tournament
- 4th/5th grade – 36-42 games (sample: Conqueror League plus 10 tournaments); 1 travel tournament, with some teams traveling twice
- 6th/7th/8th grade – 42 – 50 games (sample: Conqueror League plus 12 tournaments); 2 travel tournaments
For tournaments that require travel, families are responsible for getting their athletes to tournaments, as well as for their accommodations and meals. AEF believes there is an unmatched value in the opportunities for players AND parents to bond during these trips and will set up hotel room blocks for each traveling team. It will be the responsibility of the parents to book their own rooms. Please note that staying at the team hotel is not a requirement, but it is encouraged!
AEF ACADEMY TEAM PLACEMENT
AEF Academy currently has OPEN ENROLLMENT for 3rd – 8th grade boys and girls for the 2023-24 Fall/Winter Season.
All players are expected to attend the AEF Player Evaluation and Team Placement Camp Academy AUGUST 1ST & 2ND, after which athletes will be placed on level-appropriate teams. Team Rosters will be posted August 8th.
AEF ACADEMY PLAYER FEES*
AEF Academy athletes will proudly wear our Spring/Summer 2023 uniforms for the Fall/Winter 23-24 season, which many of our players will have already purchased. Therefore, the fees below DO NOT INCLUDE the price of a uniform, which will be an additional $160 for the jersey, shorts, and shooting shirt. Payments may be made in one, two, or three payments, with the first payment due at time of registration.
- 3rd Grade - $1,000
- 4th/5th Grade - $1,200
- 6th /7th / 8th Grade - $1,400
* All AEF Players also receive:
- 30% discount on ALL additional AEF Programming, Small Group Sessions, Academies, Etc.
- Families with multiple players receive $50 discount/player for each season with multiple athletes
- Optional membership to One Gym in Elkhorn (located at 20920 California Cir Ste A600) for just $100/month
AEF Legacy Team Players should NOT attend the AEF Academy Team Placement Academy in August but are welcome to attend the Summer Academies for an additional discounted fee.
AEF LEGACY TEAMS will consist of players and coaches who are part of a pre-existing team and will operate under the AEF Academy umbrella. In order to ensure the AEF Academy values and coaching techniques stay in alignment with our mission of player development both on and off the court, AEF Legacy teams will always have an AEF Academy Professional Skills Specialist running the same drills at each practice station as the AEF Academy Teams and they will follow the AEF Academy practice plan. All the above features of the AEF Academy program are included in the AEF Legacy Team Program, with the exception of the AEF Summer Academies and the AEF Sunday Night Workouts. However, these are available to all AEF Legacy team members at a discounted rate, and all AEF Legacy team are very welcome to attend!
AEF Legacy Team Coaches have the option to choose between the following two packages for their team. Please note the prices below DO NOT INCLUDE UNIFORM, which will be an additional $160 for the jersey, shorts, and shooting shirt.
AEF Legacy "LayUp" Package
($1,000/player)
- 34 - 40 games (sample: Fall & Winter Conqueror League, plus 7 tourneys)
- Two 90-minute practices per week from October 2 - Feb 29
- An AEF Skills Coach on your court at each practice running each station
- An AEF Skills Coach on your bench a periodically throughout the season, and at specific games requested for team and/or coach development purposes
- Coaches must wear AEF coaching apparel during games (provided by AEF)
- EF handles all administrative tasks, including collecting player registration fees, uniform fees, league and tournament registration, including all conflicts submitted at time of registration, and setting up hotel blocks for your team when travelling. Legacy team coaches are responsible for submitting team conflicts to the tournament director after initial registration has been submitted.
The AEF Legacy "Jump Shot" Package
($1,100/player)
- Includes all “Lay-Up” Package benefits and consists of 40-46 games.
* All AEF Players also receive:
- 30% discount on ALL additional AEF Programming, Small Group Sessions, Academies, Etc.
- Families with multiple players receive $50 discount/player for each season with multiple athletes
- Optional membership to One Gym in Elkhorn (located at 20920 California Cir Ste A600) for just $100/month
AEF LEGACY PAYMENT
To secure your athlete’s place in on AEF LEGACY TEAM, a non-refundable first payment of $300 is required. Participants may choose to pay in full at time of registration, or the balance can be paid in additional installments.