AAU Basketball is an organization that sanctions tournaments for AAU basketball teams all over the United States. AAU Basketball is very well known in the youth travel basketball arena. AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union.
AAU also oversees programs for other sports in addition to basketball. AAU’s basketball program has been around for a long time and maintains a fairly organized system. They have a large operation and their program requires each player, coach and volunteer to be registered as a member.
In my experience the AAU program is fairly organized. It is likely the largest sanctioned basketball organization. AAU is a popular name in other sports as they sanction sporting events for a variety of other youth and adult sports. They are organized and professional and I have had some positive experiences with them as a youth travel basketball coach and parent.
If you are reading this article it is likely that you are considering travel basketball and looking for more information. I have written a series of articles all about travel basketball and invite you to check them out here and here.
In this article, we will delve into what AAU basketball is by discussing its history, structure, the types of tournaments, membership requirements and inner workings of AAU Basketball.
History of AAU Basketball
AAU has been around since 1888 according to their website. Through the years they added various sports and have been organizing basketball tournaments since the early 20th century. AAU prides themselves in setting “standards” and “uniformity” in sports. In fact, one thing I admire about AAU is their uniformity. Much of the AAU tournaments my team participated in were hosted by AAU and I always noticed consistency in their operations.
Overview of AAU Basketball
Competitive Structure:
AAU basketball offers a competitive structure where teams from different regions and states compete against each other. This competitive environment allows young players to hone their skills and gain valuable experience.
Tournaments and Events:
AAU organizes a multitude of tournaments and events throughout the year. These events provide opportunities for teams and players to showcase their talents and compete at a high level. Some of these tournaments, like the AAU National Championships, are highly prestigious and attract scouts and college recruiters.
Here is a list of the different types of tournaments sanctioned by AAU according do their website:
- Tournament series and leagues
- Super Regional
- Invitationals
- Disney Classics
- District Championship
- Regional Championship
- National Championship
- Internationals/World Championship
- USA Basketball
- Super Showcases
Player Development:
AAU basketball prioritizes player development. Coaches within the AAU system often focus on improving players’ basketball skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. This emphasis on development helps players prepare for higher levels of competition, including college and beyond.
Exposure:
AAU basketball has gained a reputation for being a platform where talented players can gain exposure. College coaches frequently attend AAU events to scout potential recruits, making it an essential stepping stone for players with aspirations of playing at the collegiate level.
Diverse Age Groups:
AAU basketball encompasses a wide range of age groups, from elementary school to high school and beyond. This inclusivity allows players to progress through the program as they age and develop their skills.
Structure
AAU is organized with a board of leaders that is divided into several different sports. Each of these sports have their own leaders. The different categories of sports is further broken down into districts.
Districts:
AAU Basketball and the other sports have four different districts which cover a specific region of the United States. The director oversees all basketball activities in their area.
Tournament Directors:
There are various tournaments all over the United States at any given time. Tournament directors host tournaments and likely also manage a team or club in the area. They have contacts at various facilities and use volunteers from their own programs. Most tournament directors are not employed by AAU.
Membership Requirements:
I like how AAU Basketball sets up their membership system. Most sanctioned basketball organizations require players to be registered but AAU takes it a step further.
Each player pays and registers themselves individually. They are required to document the player’s date of birth. This deters unethical coaches from playing with older players. However, this will still happen from time to time.
You must be a paying member to participate as a player, coach and even volunteer. AAU has the two following types of memberships available.
Athletes-
The athlete membership is available to athletes only.
Non Athletes-
Coaches, team parents and other volunteers can purchase a non-athletes membership. This allows them to sit on the bench during games to support the coach and team. Each team is authorized between three and four non-athlete memberships. Admission to tournaments is included in the non-athlete membership which can be very cost effective for your volunteer.
Club levels-
AAU also offers club level memberships for their teams. This is for clubs with multiple teams who also host tournaments.
Insurance
Each membership provides players with the opportunity to add on a small dollar amount of insurance. The cost is approximately $2 per player and covers an adequate amount of liability insurance.
Eligibility
AAU is primarily age based for both boys and girls. The rules are specific and listed in their rulebook which can be found on AAU’s website.
Rulebook
AAU’s rulebook is very similar to other organization’s rules but in my experience AAU has the best set of rules.
Age/Grade Verification Tools
Basketball tournaments have improved their ability to verify ages over the years. AAU Basketball is currently using National Sports ID. However, this feature may not be available at all tournaments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The costs associated with AAU varies so much. An average team likely spends about $10,000 per year. This might seem like a large amount but when you divide it by ten or more players it will be much more affordable. Here is an article with a breakdown in costs associated with travel basketball.