1on1 Milwaukee's Mission: Define “Win”

At the high school level, the mission of our AAU program is to help every player in our program find the right university to play college basketball at.

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While we value competition and always play to win, our primary focus is exposure—putting players in front of the right college coaches for them. This includes identifying the appropriate level of play, academic programs that align with their future interests, and the best financial fit, with the goal of maximizing scholarship opportunities.

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Winning tournaments is exciting, but our true definition of a “win” is seeing our players receive college interest, earn offers, and continue their basketball careers beyond high school.

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1on1 Milwaukee's Basketball Philosophy: How We Train and Style of Play

1on1 Milwaukee began as an individual skill development program with a focus on player growth and building in-game confidence. Due to growing interest, the program naturally expanded into an AAU organization. We kept the name “1on1” because we believe true team success starts with each player committing to their own development. When players improve individually, the team improves collectively.

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Our practices are intentionally designed to balance individual skill development with game concepts. The first hour of every practice is dedicated to skills and drills—ball handling, finishing, shooting, footwork, and decision-making. The final 30 minutes are reserved for live scrimmaging, where players are encouraged to apply newly learned skills in game-like situations.

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When it comes to game play, we emphasize “free play.” While each coach may have a few set plays or quick hitters, our overall goal is to avoid turning players into robots. As we prepare athletes for the college level, we believe players must learn how to create for themselves. We maintain structure and guidelines, but we also allow players to showcase their offensive abilities. As players get older, they are encouraged to lean into what they do consistently well. When college coaches are watching, players need to play to their strengths and demonstrate reliability in their game.

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Defensively, coaching styles may vary. We give coaches the flexibility to teach different defensive concepts because we believe players benefit from learning how to adjust. As athletes move forward, they will encounter different systems, philosophies, and expectations—adaptability is a critical skill at higher levels.

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Through this approach, we believe our players are well prepared for success at both the high school and collegiate levels. They develop a strong understanding of the game, learn how to make reads, play with confidence, and adapt to any system they are asked to play in.

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Playing Time: Fair But Not Always Equal 

Playing time and starting positions are earned. Consistent attendance, effort, attitude, and performance in practice all factor into these decisions. If a player consistently misses practices or games, this may impact their role. If a player misses a lot but still can perform the way coach needs them to its the coaches decision to still play them. Final decisions regarding lineups and starting positions are always at the discretion of the coaching staff.

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Each year, we host tryouts to place players on the team where they will receive the most opportunity to play and take on meaningful responsibilities on the court. While every effort is made to place players at the appropriate level, there are times when a player may be placed on a team that is either above or below their current development level. We reserve the right to move players during the season if we believe it is in their best interest.

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The maximum amount of players on a team is ten. We do not place athletes on teams simply to fill roster spots. Our goal is for every player in the program to grow, and that growth requires real court time and responsibility. That said, the amount of playing time a player receives is directly connected to the commitment, effort, and consistency they bring throughout the season.

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Commitment Level: Practice & Tournaments

At the high school level, we expect athletes to be fully committed if their goal is to play college basketball. Consistent attendance at practices, games, and tournaments is essential for individual development, team chemistry, and a successful season. Growth becomes difficult for both players and teams without a shared level of commitment. Simply put, what players put into their season is usually what they get out of it. If an athlete misses most of April and May, they should not expect significant exposure or attention from college coaches in July.

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We often encounter scheduling conflicts due to participation in other sports. We understand situations where one sport is ending as our season begins, and in many cases athletes are able to attend at least one practice per week during that transition period. We fully support and encourage multi-sport athletes. However, we do not encourage participation in multiple sports throughout the same season. Based on our experience, overlapping commitments over an extended period frequently lead to physical and mental burnout.

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Repeated absences or a lack of understanding of team concepts due to missed practices may impact playing time during games.

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Coaching Staff: Qualifications and Background

Our goal in selecting our coaching staff is to prioritize qualified female coaches whenever possible. While we are not opposed to male coaches, we believe there is tremendous value for our female athletes in learning from women who have walked the same path they aspire to follow—playing basketball at the next level.

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Every head coach within our program has played basketball at the collegiate level, bringing firsthand experience, knowledge, and perspective to player development. This background allows our coaches to teach the game with an understanding of what it takes to succeed beyond AAU basketball.

 

While we are not against parent coaches, we make a strong effort to avoid them whenever possible, as we believe this is often best for both the athlete and the team. In situations where a parent does serve as a coach, it is because we trust they are capable of coaching the entire team fairly.

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The maximum amount of teams we allow a coach to have is two. If both teams are playing at the same time it is up to the coach to decide what team they will take. Usually older teams take priority. We will always have a 1on1 coach fill in.

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Our coaching staff is committed to providing a positive, supportive, and development-focused environment where all players are challenged, encouraged, and held to high standards.

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Expectations for Players: What You Put Into the Season Is What You’ll Get Out of It

Players who want to get the most out of their season must take ownership of their journey. Growth, opportunity, and success come from effort, responsibility, and communication.

 

Player Expectations:

• Be accountable for your commitment and preparation

• If you are going to miss a practice or game:

  • Update GameChanger and personally message your coach with the reason...NOT MOM OR DAD!

• Player websites must be completed before the season begins

• Clean up social media and use it intentionally and productively—college coaches are watching

• AAU comes first then your high school stuff

Additional Expectations for Older Players:

• Email college coaches before each tournament and invite them to your court

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Expectations for Parents & Guardians:

We expect all parents/guardians and family/friends to represent our program with professionalism and respect at all times. Parent behavior matters, and we have passed on players in the past due to parent conduct. This is especially important for families whose daughters aspire to play at the next level.

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Our program places a high priority on culture, accountability, and ensuring players have a positive experience. Parents are expected to follow all program rules. Failure to do so may result in removal from the team without refund.

 

Parent Expectations:

• No coaching from the stands

• No harassing or questioning referees

• No approaching coaches before, during, or immediately after games

  • A 24-hour rule applies to all game-related concerns

• If concerns arise, parents must request a call or meeting with the coaching staff

• Parents are not permitted in practices or lingering in the lobby

• Players must be picked up on time from practices

  • Please do not enter the building—players will be dismissed and sent out

• Parents are responsible for completing GameChanger availability so coaches can plan accordingly

 

 

Why Make the Investment:

We believe our AAU program is a valuable investment because we are fully committed to helping players reach the college level. Everything we do is intentional and centered around putting athletes in the best position to continue their basketball careers beyond high school.

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Our staff has extensive knowledge of the recruiting process and understands how to help players maximize both athletic and academic scholarship opportunities. We have built strong, trusted relationships with college coaches, and our reputation matters. When we advocate for a player and encourage a coach to take a closer look, they listen. Being part of a program with strong connections and credibility is crucial in today’s recruiting landscape.

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We also believe the environment we create prepares players early for what life will be like at the next level. Expectations, accountability, communication, and competition are all emphasized. As a result, a large majority of our players who go on to play college basketball remain at their universities for all four years—an indicator that they were placed in the right situation from the start.

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