Most people don’t know what is AAU basketball whereas some parents are mostly concerned about their kids’ safety since AAU has had many scandals in the past, which led to the loss of trustworthiness on them.
AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, and it’s a sports organization that was founded on January 21, 1888. Simply put, some players make the team themselves and compete against other teams in AAU. The prime goal of AAU is to support youth and help them focus on their fitness.
Initially, AAU aimed to select the best players and let them compete in Olympics. However, their mission statement changed later on and started focusing on the development of youth sports.
Their mission statement clearly states, “To offer amateur athletes and volunteers opportunities to develop to their highest level through a national and local network of sporting events.”
WHAT IS AAU BASKETBALL
WHO CAN PLAY AAU BASKETBALL
AUU is an organization that gives opportunities to both boys and girls; however, there is only one restriction: players’ age. All underage boys and girls can play AAU basketball until they reach 12th grade. After 12th grade, they become ineligible for playing at AAU because AAU specifically focuses on amateur athletes, as seen in their mission statement.
Now that we know what is AAU basketball and who can play at AAU, it’s time to learn about the key dates where basketball games are played.
AAU & KEY DATES
Many tournaments are played throughout the year, allowing all underage players to participate and prove themselves the best. However, basketball tournaments are only played between January till July, right after the end dates of basketball season in high schools.
The main reason behind specific basketball tournament dates is allowing high school players to participate in matches because these are the dates when players have free time. Moreover, this also shows what is AAU basketball about.
After performing astoundingly, AAU allows playing at national level championships.
WHAT IS AAU BASKETBALL: RISE AND FALL
After its foundation, AAU initially struggled to become a successful organization aiming to develop sports abilities in amateur athletes and support them in their gaming activities. AAU finally managed to become widely famous in the 1980s when Sonny Vaccaro and Phil Knight started working on spreading amateur basketball tournaments.
However, they soon lost their fame and trustworthiness after signing contracts with shoe companies and big brands such as NIKE and ADIDAS. The downfall of AAU was the diversion of their focus from basketball tournaments and players’ abilities towards getting sponsorships from big shoe brands and focusing on marketing activities such as advertising these brands.
During the war, to get sponsorships and earn more money, they forgot what is AAU basketball about; moreover, they lost many talented players, and their image was severely affected. Some of those players did not fall into the trap of sponsorships and remained focused on their careers, including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These two players are considered among the best players ever played in the NBA due to their exceptional performances.
AAU CRITICISM
Some of the most famous basketball coaches and players have strictly criticized AAU for its inability to deliver what they are promising.
According to Kobe Bryant, what is AAU basketball doing is the opposite of what should be done; adding to that, Bryant said that AAU basketball players do not even know the basics of basketball.
While criticizing AAU, Charles Barkley gives a statement which says, “This new generation, they all stick together, they all play together, they are all AAU babies.”
Other players and coaches who criticized AAU include Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr.
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SIDES OF AAU
Among the benefits of AAU is that it allows basketball players to compete against other tough basketball teams so that you, the player, may know about his strengths and weaknesses.
On the other hand, in AAU, winning is given more preference over the development of players. Coaches have failed to teach the basics of basketball to their team players. This point was also raised by Kobe Bryant while criticizing them.
CONCLUSION
We have learned what is AAU basketball about. Their mission statements, scandals, and much more. However, AAU is an excellent way for young athletes to develop their skills and compete against other talented players. It can also help them get exposure to college coaches and earn scholarships. If you’re interested in playing basketball as an amateur, then AAU is a great option to consider.