Greenwich Stars Basketball John Raybin Terrible Basketball Program Greenwich Connecticut

My son played for the Greenwich Stars and he had to bet to come out of the game, you want to know why?  "Cause HE CAN PLAY"  just because somebody pays money doesn't mean their child should be able to be in the game and mess it up for the real players. Instead of being mad at the Star, why don't you learn a lesson, that you can't always pay your way through life.

I'm really find it "BIZARRE" that there are "supposed" parents out there rebuking our families experience with GS.  Again if your so happy with the organization, please don't hesitate to write a positive review somewhere, but who tries to refute someone else's experience except for someone who has somehing to gain by doing so.  Please give me a break.

This organization will ruin your son or daughters confidence in very short time.  We could not wait for our season to end and spent more than 3 months repairing the damage that Mr. Raybin and his fine coaching staff inflicted.    The signs were all there and we missed it.  A big red flag... any organization that has to offer a 30% website discount to attract players is looking to generate revenue vs. improve your childs skills.   Stay clear of this one. 

The Greenwich Stars are an important part of my son's life. My son loves playing basketball for the stars. Over the last two years, he's played with them in the fall, winter and spring. His game has improved dramatically and we owe it all to this fantastic organization.

The coaches are great! They are excellent coaches who don't yell or scream. They make the game fun, and they win a lot! Most importantly, John Raybin and his coaches go out of their way to help my son improve and be a better player. John is an incredible communicator and we love his emails and constant attention to every detail. I only have positive things to say about The Greenwich Stars.

There is nothing positive to say about this organization. Coaches have no idea how to coach. Whoever is a good coach ends up leaving because john Raybin runs a horrible organization. He will take any boys who try out so they can pay 1000 dollars and lose most games.     if you criticize him he will have your child sit on the bench. Most kids only play one year with him because the parents find out fast what kind of program he runs. John Raybin should not be allowed to run a team. He doesn't know how to interact with children in a positive constructive way. Save your money and go to a different league!  By the way John, my son is playing high school ball even though you benched him because I spoke up. Just remember, what comes around goes around!

One of the best decisions we ever made was to join The Greenwich Stars. We think they have the best coaches around. Coaches Henry, Spencer and Andrew are not only great teachers, but they care about all of their players. John Raybin's communication with the parents is outstanding. We had been with another basketball organization before joining The Greenwich Stars, and no one compares to The Stars! Go Greenwich Stars!!

My son has played with the Greenwich Stars for the last three years. He loves his coach and teammates. Everything about the Greenwich Stars is 1st class. John Raybin is at every practice and game and oversees the best organization around. Three of my son's best friends have registered for the coming season and can't wait to start with the Greenwich Stars. We love the Greenwich Stars!

Beware of this "c" level orgranization.  The experiences shared on this bulletinboard by past members of the Greenwich Stars are true and recently experienced by our family.  Regretfully, we were duped by this circus of a business disguised as a basketball development program.  What we thought we were getting and what we ended up with, were not remotely close.  

Our childs experience included nepotism, favoritism and poor coaching during practices and games.  An AWFUL experience!  Our child learned nothing about basketball during their time with this misfit program.  We wish that we had read the earlier postings on this bulletinboard prior to wasting nearly $1300.  The coaches do not have any decision making power with their teams.  Coaches are shared amongst multiple teams during tournaments, which limites the quality of competition by requiring the coach to be in the same gym for all of his teams.  Its crazy!  You'll see the same below average teams during most tournaments.  Mr. Rabin makes all of the decisions regarding playing time.  Observe him.  He will cover his mouth when giving directives to his coach before and during games.  Mr. Raybin covers his mouth so no one can read his lips regarding the directives he is giving his coaches. Paranoia!   

The Greenwich Stars program is a money grab at every level. Our coach had fine qualities including swearing, threatening playing time and temper tantrums while being completely micromanaged by his boss, who will promptly take your money within 24 hours of notification of your child making a roster, to then open up tryouts for 3 additional weeks.  Really?  No legitimate, respectful program operates this way.

Family?  Who's family? Our family doesn't treat each other like this. Team tryouts are free and early in the season for a reason.  It's all part of the BIG con.  Intelligent parents, when you hear "Jack is a terrific player and terrific kid, you made the (insert color) team".  Run!  Put your credit card back in your purse.  If there is one lesson we learned, there are dozens of quality Fall, Winter and Spring basketball programs in Westchester and Fairfield counties to join, have fun and learn the game of basketball.  A simple google search will save you months of aggrevation and money.

There's a reason that very few, if any Greenwich families select the Greenwich Stars.  It takes one season to figure out what many others before us have learned the hard way. This place is awful!  We'll never be going back. 

As I've stated previously.  If you are so enamored with Mr. Raybin's practices, by all means feel free to write him a positive review, but do not try to refute another parents experience as you where simply not there.  Claiming that his organization is the "only" organization that cares is preposterious.  My son has been in many leagues since and there are plenty more reputable than the Greenwich Stars and my sons morale, progress and enjoyment have been proof positive for us that we made a great decision to leave GS when we did.  John Raybin treated my son and ran that league in a fashion that is characteristic of most selfish and narcissistic behaviors plaguing our society today.  Playing favortes and favors that reward him and his organization not the the kids.

As I've stated previously.  If you are so enamored with Mr. Raybin's practices, ( if you are indeed a parent) by all means feel free to write him a positive review, but do not try to refute another parents experience as you where simply not there.  Claiming that his organization is the "only" organization that cares is preposterious.  My son has been in many leauges since and there are plenty more reputable than the Greenwich Stars and my sons moral, progress and enjoyment have been proof positive for us that we made a great decision to leave GS when we did.  John Raybin treated my son and ran that league in a fashion that is characteristic of most selfish and narsisstic behaviors plaguing our society today.  Playing favortes and favors that reward him and his organization not the the kids.

I find it "bizarre" that a parent (if in fact you are indeed a parent) would refute my experience with the Greenwich Stars?  Where you there?  How can you judge my experience as "bizarre" just because yours was not?  How faulty that logic seems. Is it possible after a number of bad experiences Mr. John Raybin has decided to manage his reputation a little more closely?  If so, I hope its becuase of parents like me and other who have coorborated his business practices and if indeed that is the case, a simple thank you would do.  Please if your experience is so wonderful, feel free to post a a postive review but do not try to comment on something you obvisiouly know nothing about.  I'm quite happy your children are enjoying themselves - thats what it should be about and thats what I will always defend as a parent.

Sincerely,

a concerned parent

The complaints on this page seem utterly bizarre to me. My husband and I couldn't be happier with The Greenwich Stars. Our son has played with The Greenwich Stars for 2 seasons and he loves it. His skills on the court have improved and he's made some good friends. The whole environment is positive and fun. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this organization, and every other parent I've spoken to feels the same way.

I've just read the complaints about the Greenwich Stars on this page, and I don't agree with any of them. I don't agree at all. My son has been on the Greenwich Stars for 3 seasons. He loves the program and so do we. John Raybin runs the Greenwich Stars and he is fantastic - organized, honest and a great communicator. John is at all the practices and games, which I find amazing. He truly cares about the players and families. He has incredible professional coaches. They have all been with him a long time.

Coaches and players that stay season after season tells you a lot about an organization and the Greenwich Stars. I introduced the Greenwich Stars to my son's 2 best friends last year, and they love the organization also. I just registered for the Spring season and so did my son's friends. I had heard about the Greenwich Stars through friends and they told me to go see a practice and that we would be blown away. I took my son and we were instantly impressed by the coaches. They are that good. This is the only basketball program that truly cares about the players. We love the Greenwich Stars.

my 12 year old son made the team. We were told how good he was and that he made the "A" team.  He was so excited, attended every practice, and rarely played.  john raybin, league owner, bussed in kids who he felt would win a title for th Greenwich stars.  They rarely showed up for practice. Bjornsti would walk the parent crowd every practice stating " no practice no play.". And "it's duly noted whose here this week for practice and they will play".  He takes your money, and instructs the coaches who to play and who not to.  If you don't feel a player is good enough for the A team, don't choose them, build up their hopes, have them attend every practice, and don't let them play.  There were even two occuranges where the coach had my son "check in" to play only to pull him back to the bench.  This program is a lie and the owner is a cheater.  Anything to win in his mind regardless of what it does to the majority of his players.  

This league boasts itself as the best league around.  Don't believe them for a second!  They will accept any kids as long as you are willing to pay the 1000 dollars for either the winter program or the AAU program.  The coaches do not give instruction to the players.  If they like you, you will get to play. If they don't, they will sit you on the bench. It was so gut-wrenching to see how these coaches made some players feel so bad.  Coaches not only didn't help players, but they alsowould  get frustrated if the team lost. I actually witnessed a coach slamming his clipboard down because his team was playing so poorly. Perhaps if he really knew how to instruct, the kids would have done better. They even brought up a player two years younger than everyone else, because they thought he would help the team win.  The owner John Raybin, can not handle any constructive criticism.  He will defend his coaches and basically tell parents that the organization is one of the best and he knows what he is  doing.  If you call him more than once to complain, he will not return your calls. I noticed that by the end of the season, he was never around and I assume this was his way to avoid parents and complaints.  Many youngsters do not return after playing a season or two with this league.  For AAU, he actually had a player on the team who had never played in an organized league before.  AAU is for basketball players who are highly skilled, so this showed all of us that he just takes anyone to fill a team.  There are better leagues out there which are run more professional and in the best interest of the youngster.  Do not believe any of the advertising!  This is a horribly run organization and shame on the owner for using kids to fill up his wallet!