Helena Frye
AAU basketball is a highly debated topic, with many scandals involving college coaches, AAU coaches, players, and their families. AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, a youth sports organization that has been in existence since 1888. Groups of players form independent teams that compete in AAU tournaments. The main purpose for most people involved in AAU is to get kids onto college rosters and secure scholarships. AAU basketball helps players reach their potential by giving them the opportunity to play against better competition than they would find in local leagues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union |
| Purpose | To get kids on to college rosters and secure scholarships |
| Target Audience | Youth |
| Focus | AAU focuses on winning games/tournaments rather than individual skill development |
| Competition | Competitive, players compete against the best of the best |
| Player Development | Very few clubs focus on player development |
| Player History | Clubs with a history of players finishing as seniors and going on to play college basketball are preferred |
| Coach | Picking a coach is as important as picking a club. The coach's basketball history and background checks are important |
| Club | Clubs should be realistic, honest, and knowledgeable of a player’s level of play |
| Exposure | Exposure to college coaches is important for recruitment |
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What You'll Learn
Player development
AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, a youth sports organization that has been in existence since 1888. AAU basketball is a highly debated topic, with many scandals involving college coaches, AAU coaches, runners, agents, advisors, shoe company executives, and the players and their families. Despite this, AAU basketball can help players achieve their college basketball dreams.
AAU basketball is an opportunity for players to develop their skills and gain exposure to college coaches. It is a competitive environment where players compete against others who take the game seriously. This competition can force players to raise their game, exposing weaknesses and showing them what they need to work on.
AAU clubs should be realistic, honest, and knowledgeable about a player's level of play. They should not judge their success solely on wins or scholarships but on the development of individual players. A good club will provide players with a profile and film on their website and contact suitable coaches on the player's behalf.
When choosing an AAU club, it is important to ask questions and do your research. Ask about the graduation rate of players who go on to play college basketball and the coach's basketball history and experience. Ensure the club is a good fit for the player's level of play and don't focus solely on exposure. Develop the necessary skills and mindset to be a top player and take advantage of recruiting services to gain exposure to coaching staffs across the country.
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Competition and exposure
AAU basketball provides young athletes with the opportunity to play against top-level talent, forcing them to raise their game and exposing them to better competition than they would find in local leagues. This allows players to compete against the best of the best and increases their chances of being noticed by a coach who may offer them a scholarship in the future.
AAU basketball is particularly beneficial for those who aspire to play college basketball. The most important time to be playing on a quality AAU team is during the July run between your junior and senior years of high school, as this is when college coaches often attend games and scout for potential recruits. Therefore, it is crucial to join an AAU team that participates in major events during the evaluation periods on the NCAA recruiting calendar.
AAU teams should also provide their players with exposure to college coaches and the opportunity to gain scholarships. A good AAU club will have a website where players can create profiles and upload film, and the club should actively contact coaches on behalf of their players to help them find suitable colleges.
However, it is important to note that AAU basketball has received criticism for its focus on winning games and tournaments rather than individual player development. As a result, player development has shifted to private coaches and individual work, and it is essential for athletes to supplement their AAU experience with skill development outside of competitions.
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Scholarships
AAU basketball, or Amateur Athletic Union basketball, is a highly debated topic. Many scandals have surfaced involving AAU coaches, agents, advisors, and players' families. However, AAU basketball can provide players with exposure and opportunities to play in front of coaches, which can lead to scholarships.
AAU basketball is a good way for players to compete against better competition and top-level talent, which can help them improve their skills and be noticed by coaches who may offer scholarships. AAU tournaments are a large recruiting ground for college coaches, and the potential to be seen and noticed is greater in AAU than in most organizations. AAU basketball is especially beneficial for players who want to get on college rosters, as college coaches are permitted to attend events for 18 days in July.
That being said, it is important to note that most players who participate in AAU basketball do not receive scholarships. Tournaments are a good tool as part of an overall recruiting strategy, but scouts and coaches usually attend these events to evaluate athletes they already know about, rather than discover new ones. Players should not expect to get recruited solely by showing up at these events. Instead, they should focus on getting video footage to college coaches ahead of time so that they can be noticed during the tournament.
In addition, AAU games are often poorly coached, with untrained parents and volunteers leading to poor decisions and players performing below their potential. Despite the benefits of exposure and competition, players and their families should carefully consider the drawbacks and potential negatives of AAU basketball before deciding to participate.
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Club and coach selection
AAU, or Amateur Athletic Union, is a youth sports organization. It used to be the main governing body for basketball, but now very few national-level basketball clubs are associated with AAU.
AAU basketball is a highly debated topic, with scandals involving college coaches, AAU coaches, players, and their families. However, it is still a big part of many young athletes' journeys to college basketball.
When selecting a club and coach, it is important to keep in mind that the main purpose of AAU basketball is to get kids onto college rosters and secure scholarships. Therefore, a good club should be realistic, honest, and knowledgeable about a player's level of play. It should not judge its success solely on wins or the number of players receiving Division 1 scholarships.
- Graduation rate: Ask the club director for a written history of players who finished as seniors in that club and went on to play college basketball. A low rate or an inability to provide this information is a red flag.
- Player development: While few clubs focus on player development, a good club should still provide opportunities for players to develop their skills within a team setting. Ask the club director about their offensive and defensive philosophies and how they cater to individual talent development.
- Player exposure: A good club should provide players with a profile and film on their website and actively contact suitable coaches on the player's behalf.
- Coach's background: It is important to know the coach's basketball history, including background checks. Ask questions like: Did you play basketball? If yes, at what level? How many years of coaching experience do you have?
- Competitive opportunities: AAU basketball allows players to compete against better competition than they might find in local leagues. A good club will participate in major events that are NCAA-certified during the evaluation periods on the NCAA recruiting calendar.
Remember, selecting the right AAU club and coach can make a significant difference in a player's experience and their chances of achieving their college basketball dreams.
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Amateur Athletic Union
AAU basketball is competitive, with players competing against others who take the game seriously. This can result in challenging games and losses. However, participating in a competitive sport has many benefits. Players can earn trophies through challenging work in their division and skill level, rather than everyone receiving trophies to avoid bad feelings.
AAU basketball helps players reach their potential by giving them the opportunity to play against better competition than they would find in local leagues. This forces players to raise their game, exposes their weaknesses, and shows them what they need to work on.
The main purpose for most people involved in AAU is to get kids onto college rosters and secure basketball scholarships. A good club will provide realistic, honest, and knowledgeable guidance on a player's level of play and help them gain exposure to coaching staffs through the creation of player profiles and highlight videos.
However, it is important to note that AAU basketball has been criticised for having too much involvement from shoe companies and not enough focus on developing good people. Additionally, there have been scandals involving college coaches, AAU coaches, runners, agents, advisors, shoe company executives, and the players and their families.
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Frequently asked questions
AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union.
The main purpose of AAU basketball is to get kids onto college rosters and hopefully secure basketball scholarships.
Groups of players form independent teams that compete in AAU tournaments against other teams. AAU basketball is competitive and players will go up against others who take the game seriously.
