Frequently Asked Questions
What is MP Fall Basketball?
An individual player development program — not a team you try out for. Players register on their own, train one or two nights per week — or unlimited nights on All-Access — in coached sessions built around real game reps, and compete on teams in games on weekends. Traditional AAU is built around teams and tournaments; MP Fall Basketball is built around players.
Do we need a team or a tryout to join?
No. There's no roster, no tryout, and no team assignment for weeknight training. Every player registers as an individual and is placed in a group based on age, skill level and developmental fit — and coaches adjust those groups as players grow through the season.
Will my kid be on a team?
Yes — if you choose the weekend option. Weeknight training is individual development: no roster, no tryout, and players grouped by skill and readiness so they're always matched to the right competition. That's what makes the weeknights work.
Weekends are where players get the team experience: playing together on a real team, in real games and tournaments, with a coach on the sideline and something on the line. The weekend option is three weekends across the eight-week fall season — roughly six games in total, since each weekend date is usually two games back to back. It's an optional +$120 add-on that works with a 1- or 2-night registration at any age and any location (All-Access already includes it). If you'd rather try one weekend first, a single weekend is $50.
So your player gets both — the individual development that actually makes them better during the week, and the team basketball they love on the weekend.
Who will my player's coach be?
One of the MP coaching staff — a group Coach Matt Paul has built and trained over 22 years in Philadelphia youth basketball, led by USA Gold Certified coaching standards.
Because players aren't locked to one team, they work with several of our coaches across the season rather than getting whichever coach they were assigned in September. Coaches share notes on players, so progress carries night to night — the coach on Thursday knows what your player worked on Tuesday.
Weekend teams have a coach on the sideline for every game.
Is the program co-ed?
Yes — boys and girls are welcome. Girls train and compete in girls' groups every night, and any player who wants tougher matchups — girls included — can move into mixed or older groups when it fits their game. Everyone is placed by skill and developmental fit, not just age or gender. More about girls at MP →
What are the age groups?
Puppy Dawgs · Ages 7–10 — two levels by readiness: Fun & Fundamentals (typically 7–8, half-court) and The Full-Court Step (typically 9–10, full-court).
Dawgs · Ages 11–12 — full-court games at real pace, built around fast decision-making. Weekend play is in-house games against other MP groups.
Team MP · Ages 13–17 — our competitive track. Full-length runs at high school pace, with coaches controlling matchups. See Team MP →
Where and when are sessions?
Monday · SCH Academy (Chestnut Hill, 8000 Cherokee St) — Ages 7–10 run 6:30–7:20 and Ages 11–12 run 6:30–7:25, on separate courts; Team MP runs 7:30–9:00.
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday · Gwynedd Mercy Academy (Spring House, 816 Norristown Rd, Ambler) — 7–10 at 6:00–6:50 · 11–12 at 6:50–7:45 · 13–17 at 7:45–9:00.
Thursday · Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (Chestnut Hill, 8891 Germantown Ave) — same times as Gwynedd Mercy.
Friday · The Philadelphia School (Center City, 2501 Lombard St) — same times as Gwynedd Mercy. Fridays begin September 11.
When does the season run?
Eight weeks: September 8 through November 5. Center City Fridays begin September 11. A few off nights are already built into the calendar — every registered player gets 8 full sessions per night they're signed up for. Each location publishes its own season calendar so you know exactly which nights you're in the gym.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is per 8-week session, based on how many nights per week you choose:
Ages 7–10: $195 (1 night) · $295 (2 nights) · $495 (All-Access)
Ages 11–12: $220 · $400 · $530
Ages 13–17: $300 · $500 · $650
All-Access — $495 / $530 / $650 by age — is unlimited nights at any MP gym with weekend training & games and an MP backpack included.
Weekend training & games is a separate +$120 add-on — the same price at every age and every location, because it's the same three weekend dates for everyone. A single weekend drop-in is $50. Weeknight prices are the same at every location too; what differs is how many nights each gym offers.
What is All-Access?
It's our top tier: $495 for ages 7–10, $530 for 11–12, $650 for 13–17, for the full 8-week fall session.
All-Access players can train unlimited nights at any MP gym — Chestnut Hill, Spring House, Center City, any combination, and you can change it week to week. Weekend training and games are included rather than added on, an MP Basketball Backpack comes with it, and you get 15% off every MP winter camp and clinic — including Winter Training at Gwynedd Mercy.
It's built for the family whose schedule moves, or who has a player who simply wants to be in a gym as often as possible. One thing we ask: groups do fill, so text or email us the nights you're planning to come. It keeps your spot and helps us staff the floor.
What if we pick the wrong option?
You can't, really. Start with one night and upgrade any time during the season — move to two nights or All-Access whenever you want and we credit everything you've already paid toward the new tier. You never pay twice for the same season.
And if it turns out not to be right at all: come to the first two sessions, and if your player isn't into it, email us and we'll refund you in full.
Can we watch a session before we register?
Yes, and we'd encourage it. Email matt@mattpaulbasketball.com and we'll tell you which night and gym is the best fit to come see. Stand on the sideline for one session — ten minutes in the gym tells you more than any page on this site.
Is there a discount for more than one player?
Yes. Registering more than one player? Use code MPFamily at checkout for $50 off. One discount per family, Fall 2026 season. Three or more players — email us and we'll take care of you.
Can we mix nights across locations?
Yes. If you're training two nights a week, they can be at different gyms — Monday at SCH Academy and Wednesday at Gwynedd Mercy, for example. Tell us your preferred nights and locations when you register and we'll confirm your schedule by email. If the combination you want isn't showing at checkout, email matt@mattpaulbasketball.com and we'll set it up with the correct multi-night pricing.
If your schedule moves around, All-Access solves this outright — unlimited nights at any gym, no combination to pick and nothing to sort out at checkout.
Can we just drop in for a night?
Yes — drop-ins are welcome any night, at any gym. $30 for ages 7–12, $45 for ages 13–17. Please email or text ahead so we know you're coming and can hold a spot; groups do fill up, and we'd rather not turn anyone away at the door.
Worth knowing: if you think your player will come more than six times, the 8-week session costs less than paying per night — and registered players get first claim on their spot.
What if we miss a night?
Email or text us and we'll almost always get your player into another night that week — including at a different gym. Your registered nights are what we plan around, so a heads-up is all we need. What we can't do is unannounced switching, since a group that's full stays full.
What happens on weekends?
We train during the week and play on the weekend. Weekend sessions put MP players on teams for in-house competitive games and tournaments — real games, close to home, with control over matchups, playing time and coaching.
How many weekends is it? Three weekends over the eight-week fall season — not every weekend. Each weekend date is usually two games back to back, so a player finishes with roughly six real games on a coached team.
It's a window, not a lost Saturday — you play and you're done, rather than checking in at 8 AM for a 4 PM tip-off. Puppy Dawgs and Dawgs play in-house games in Chestnut Hill or Spring House. Team MP plays local games and AAU tournaments, including at Shoot Hoops in King of Prussia, where a day can run longer and include more games. Dates go out at least two weeks ahead, scheduled around fall soccer and flag football.
Games are held Saturdays or Sundays — in-house games in Chestnut Hill or Spring House, and tournament play at Shoot Hoops in King of Prussia. You'll have dates at least two weeks in advance, and we schedule around fall soccer, flag football and other sports.
What weekend play looks like depends on the age group. Puppy Dawgs (7–10) and Dawgs (11–12) get in-house training and games — MP teams against MP teams, in our own gyms in Chestnut Hill or Spring House, with our coaches running both benches. Team MP (13–17) plays local games and AAU tournaments, including at Shoot Hoops in King of Prussia.
Either way it's part of the same +$120 weekend add-on, which you can attach to any registration. Prefer to try one first? A single weekend is $50.
Is this considered AAU?
Sort of — and it's worth understanding what “AAU” actually means, because the label gets used loosely. Strictly speaking, AAU is a sanctioning organization, and most weekend youth tournaments run under it. So when MP players compete in weekend tournaments, yes — they're playing in AAU tournaments.
But MP Fall Basketball isn't a traditional AAU club program. Traditional AAU is built around fixed teams and a tournament-every-weekend calendar. MP is built around players: training during the week, games on weekends, and select local tournaments when they serve development.
What's the difference between Team MP and Team MP AAU?
Same competitive track, different seasons. Fall Team MP (ages 13–17) is open registration — no tryout, no evaluation, everyone plays. Team MP AAU is our evaluated travel program, returning Spring 2027 with assessment dates announced this fall.
If your player wants an AAU roster spot in the spring, the best preparation — and the best way to be seen — is playing this fall, where our coaches watch them compete for eight straight weeks instead of one afternoon. See Team MP →
We have kids in different age groups — how does that work?
Easily — and it's one of the best parts of the program for families. You register from one parent account: add each child as a player and sign each one up for their age group in the same checkout, and use code MPFamily for $50 off.
Because all age groups run at every gym every night, one trip covers everyone. Mondays at SCH Academy are especially simple: ages 7–12 all start at 6:30 on separate courts and finish within five minutes of each other, so it's one drop-off and one pickup.
Why do 13-year-olds train with high schoolers?
Because that's the game they're about to walk into. A 13-year-old is a year from a high school tryout where the competition is 16- and 17-year-olds. Nothing accelerates a young player like competing against older ones — and it's not sink-or-swim: coaches group players by skill and control the matchups, so a 13-year-old earns tougher runs as they're ready for them. More on Team MP →
What's included with registration?
All new Fall players receive an MP reversible pinny. 2026 Summer League players: your Summer League pinny works for Fall — hold onto it. An MP Basketball Backpack ($60 value) is always included with an All-Access registration. Two-night families also receive one if they register by August 29.
Is there anything after the fall season?
Yes — winter training is coming to Gwynedd Mercy Academy, and Fall players get first access to registration before it opens to everyone. Details will be announced this fall. Team MP AAU returns for Spring 2027.
