NaimaRa and Family

07/04/2026

Two weeks. July 9-12 and July 16-19.

Those are this year's NCAA live evaluation periods, the windows when college coaches are out watching travel ball in person. If your family has a tournament on the calendar during either window, you already know what that means: travel, lodging, maybe a few extra fees you weren't expecting this month.

Here's the encouragement: you don't have to have this fully figured out today. You just have to start the conversation with your family this week: what's coming, what it costs, and how you're covering it.

If you want a simple way to walk through that conversation, faith and finances together, drop a comment, and I'll send you what I use.

07/03/2026

Start the sinking fund before the bill, not after.

Here's a small shift that makes a big difference for travel sports families: instead of one big "sports budget" line, build a sinking fund for each predictable cost: tournament fees, hotel blocks, gear, camps. Even $25 a week set aside for "July travel" means the bill doesn't ambush you in July.

It's not about having more money. It's about giving the money you already have a job before you need it.

What's one upcoming cost you could start a sinking fund for this week? Tournament fee? Camp deposit? Hotel block? Tell me in the comments, I read every one.

07/03/2026

Independence feels different when you know you’re not doing it all on your own.

If you’re spending today in a hotel room between tournament games instead of relaxing at a backyard BBQ, you’re not alone. So many of us are right there with you this time of year.

You don’t have to be the only one juggling the family calendar, budget, and prayer requests. The Family Stewardship Meeting System brings everyone together: faith, finances, and your family’s athletic schedule, all in one monthly meeting. It’s just $37 for an instant download; print it tonight and get started this week. Learn more here: https://alignfamily.org/family-stewardship-meeting

God has given your child a special gift, and your role is to help nurture and manage it well. If you want to see how the system works, just comment “SYSTEM,” and I’ll send you the link.

The Family Meeting 12-Month Planner gives your household a faith-centered system for finances, goals, and prayer all year long. Printable. Ready today.

06/11/2026

Hey! Hey!

You all know I have been on this AAU journey with my family for a while now, and one of the things that used to stress me out every single season was sitting down to figure out the budget. Registration here, hotel there, gear, meals, training fees… it adds up fast and the season does not wait for you to get ready.

So I built something.

I created a FREE AAU Budget Calculator because I needed it myself and I knew I was not the only one. You plug in your numbers and it shows you exactly what the season is actually going to cost before you are already in the middle of it.

Luke 14:28 says “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost?” That verse hits different when you are a sports parent. Planning is not a lack of faith. It is faith in action.

No more guessing. No more hoping the account covers it. Just a clear picture so you can go into this season with intention.

It is completely FREE. Just enter your email and it comes right to you.

Grab it here: https://alignfamily.org/sport-budget-calculator

If it helps you, please share it with another sports parent who needs it. We are all in this together!!!

Now let's go get some OFFERS and play ball!! 🏀

Sport Budget Calculator for families aligning their faith, finances, and future. This Calculator will help your family create a budget for your children’s sports seasons.

05/29/2026

Learn how unified prayer and fasting align co-parents in separate households before committing to an AAU season. The HEARTH prayer framework for families dealing with co-parenting and athletic investment.

05/22/2026

If your child plays elite AAU basketball, this is for you.

I'm Naima-Ra, and I've been exactly where you are. As the parent of a D1 prospect navigating the recruiting pipeline, I watched families spend $20K-plus per year on AAU without a real plan. Many felt blindsided by the costs. Some had uncomfortable money conversations at home. Too many wondered if they were making the right financial choice.

Here's what the real costs look like in 2026:
Team fees run $1,750-$3,750. Travel can hit $4,800-$12,000. Add private training ($1,500-$3,600), showcases and college camps ($400-$2,400), and you're looking at $9,170-$23,840 per year.
But it doesn't have to feel overwhelming. The families I work with who feel most at peace are the ones who get clear on the numbers early, align around their why, and plan with intention.
That's exactly what our free AAU Sports Budget Checklist helps you do. It breaks down every expense category, helps you identify your priorities, and gives you a framework for family conversations about money.

Get the checklist at alignfamily.org/resourcelibrary

What questions do you have about budgeting for elite youth sports?

Drop them in the comments.

05/08/2026

05/05/2026

I did not know what elite AAU basketball was really going to cost until I was already in it.

04/25/2026

Can we talk about what AAU basketball actually costs? Because nobody tells you the full number until you're already in it.

Most families go in eyes wide open about the love of the game — and eyes wide shut about what it costs to stay in it. Program fees. Hotel blocks. Flights. Game-day meals. Gear that has to be just right. Speed trainers. Recruiting profiles. Film subscriptions that appear on the calendar without warning.

By the time you add it up, the average AAU family is spending anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000+ per season. That's not a scare tactic. That's the reality of supporting a D1-bound athlete.

I put together a full cost breakdown so you can go into next season with your eyes open and a plan already in place.

If this hit close to home, drop BUDGET in the comments and I'll send you our free Family Budget Meeting Guide. It walks your family through how to sit down together, map every cost, set a real cap, and make this a stewardship decision — not a reaction.

Your child's gift deserves a prepared family behind it. 🙏

👉 Visit alignfamily.org for more tools built for faith-based athlete families.

04/07/2026

https://alignfamily.org/blog/2026/4/6/how-much-does-aau-basketball-really-cost

A Nike EYBL and Under Armour AAU mom shares the real numbers behind elite girls' basketball — team fees, travel, private training, and what not to cut.