You might know about the AAU if you or someone you know plays sports. It’s one of the best places to compete against the top athletes in your state outside of school. But if you’re first discovering the AAU, you might have questions like what does AAU mean? And what is it other than a way to play sports? Below is a rundown of everything there is to know about the AAU.
What is AAU?
AAU stands for the Amateur Athletic Union. It’s a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that offers kids and teens a way to compete against the best athletes across 41 sports programs.
The AAU has almost 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers in 56 U.S. Districts. Their motto is “Sports For All, Forever” because they believe everyone should have the option to play sports and be physically fit. Their mission is to offer sports programs for people of all ages so anyone can learn good sportsmanship.
In fact, the AAU and the National Fitness Foundation (NFF) announced a historic collaboration in 2019 to support and expand youth sports and athletics participation in the United States. The AAU now manages the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP), which aims to modernize fitness education in physical education classes by emphasizing student health, goal setting, and personal progress. The AAU is the only organization in the country that manages youth sports and fitness programs in and out of school.
Today, the Amateur Athletic Union hosts the AAU Junior Olympic Games, one of the country’s most significant multi-sport events. They also host the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships. This volleyball event is the largest in the world, with more than 2,700 teams competing yearly.
What sports are offered in AAU?
The sports offered in the AAU are:
| Baseball | Field Hockey | Karate | Surfing |
| Basketball | Football | Kung Fu | Swimming |
| Baton Twirling | Futsal | Lacrosse | Table Tennis |
| Bowling | Golf | Paddleboard | Taekwondo |
| Cheerleading | Acrobatic Gymnastics | Pickleball | Target Shooting |
| Chess | Rhythmic Gymnastics | Powerlifting | Track and Field |
| Dance | Ice Hockey | Rugby | Trampoline & Tumbling |
| Diving | Inline Hockey | Soccer | Beach Volleyball |
| Esports | Judo | Softball | Indoor Volleyball |
| Fencing | Jump Rope | Sport Stacking | Wrestling |
What is the AAU age limit?
The age limit depends on the group/division you want to play in. It may also depend on the sport. Athletes wishing to play boys’ basketball in the seven and under group can’t be any older than seven on August 31, 2023. For athletes playing in the 20 and under group, they can’t be any older than 20 on August 31, 2023.
How does the AAU pick coaches?
The AAU has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance since 2010 to provide all coaches with the proper education. All AAU coaches must pass a background check and take mandatory coaching classes. These classes are:
- LEVEL 1: Double-Goal Coach I: Coaching for Winning and Life Lessons
- LEVEL 2: Double-Goal Coach II: Culture, Practices, and Games
- LEVEL 3: Double-Goal Coach III: Developing Triple-Impact Competitors
You must check out prospective coaches before joining a team or allowing your child to join a team. Getting to know coaches before play can give you a sense of their coaching style and whether the team will be a good fit.
Who can host AAU events?
To host an AAU event, you need to get written approval. This is also called a sanction. To obtain written permission, you must fill out the AAU Sanction Application Form and pay all fees. You also must check that all participating athletes are AAU members.
Pros and Cons of AAU Teams
There are many pros and cons to playing on AAU teams:
Pros
The pros to playing on an AAU team are:
- You get to play against the best in your sport and state. Competing against the best helps you improve your skills.
- Recruiters will see you! College sports recruiters often check out AAU tournaments in addition to high school games. So, you could get recruited by playing in an AAU game.
- You will have the chance to enjoy the sport you love.
Cons
Here are some of the cons:
- You might not learn the fundamentals. New athletes who don’t know the basics of their sport might not learn them in AAU play.
- It costs money to play. In addition to paying the membership fee, you’ll have to pay to play in tournaments and events. Those costs can add up.
- You could burn out. Playing on an AAU team means playing in many games. If you don’t schedule a time to relax, you’ll feel burned out easily. Burnout could lead to you loving the sport less than you did before.
History of the AAU
The AAU was founded in 1888 as an organization in the New York Athletic Club. Since 1930, they’ve given the AAU James E. Sullivan Award to America’s top amateur athletes, setting the standard for amateur sports.
As a leader in international sports, they have often represented the U.S. in international sports federations. Initially, they prepped young athletes for the Olympics. In the 1970s, it transitioned to providing sports programs for all athletes of all ages and fitness levels. But its storied past doesn’t stop there.
In 1996, the AAU joined up with Walt Disney World and relocated their national headquarters to Orlando, Florida, moving into the ESPN World of Sports Complex. Now, 60+ AAU national events are held annually at the ESPN complex; which the AAU shares with the Atlanta Braves.
Find an AAU Team near You
NSCA has been a pioneer of sports recruiting since 2000 and has all the information you need to find the right AAU team, whether it is basketball, baseball or volleyball. We have helped more than 300,000 athletes play college sports in the United States. With our always-growing network of 40,000 coaches, you will surely get noticed.