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How do you join aau basketball
How do you join aau basketball
How to pick an AAU team
Are you wondering how to pick an AAU team?
At this point in your playing career, there is a good chance that you have decided to play for an AAU team (also known as travel or club teams). You may have been asked to play on one or two. In fact, you may even be on one right now. (If you aren’t sure what we mean by ‘AAU team’ click here)
But how do you find an AAU team that is the right fit for you?
Finding the right fit
The best way to figure out how to pick an AAU team is to make sure that your goals line up with the goals and priorities of the AAU team.
Your personal goals
Ask yourself what you want to accomplish in these three areas: development, overall experience, and college recruiting. These are things that you define but will be impacted by the AAU team you play for.
Development – No matter your age, continuous development as a player is critical to your future success. This may be in regards to improving your skillset, physical abilities, basketball IQ, and ability to compete against different types of play.![]()
Overall experience – Are you looking for the most competitive experience? Do you want to win at any cost? Are you looking for a fun time with your friends? While this area may change as you get older it is a good idea to at least have a starting point.
College recruiting – When you are in 9th grade or younger this area may not be a huge concern. However, as you get into high school, players will generally start considering what it would be like to play at the next level.
AAU team goals and priorities
As you evaluate your options, consider your goals and compare them to what the AAU team is trying to do. You need to find out what is motivating these teams to operate, coach, and work with young players. This is not the point that you are committing to anything. You just need to get an idea of the team and see if they may be a fit.
To get started, try the following:
- Look over a team’s website (if they have one) and get a feel for how they operate.
- Do some Google searches on the program, coaches, and players and see what pops up. You can find some real gems and red flags.
- Call or email the coach and ask a few questions. They should be able to answer questions you have.
If you do these things, you will have a feel if your personal goals are lining up with the AAU team’s goals.
We may have a match
Now that you know your goals and may have found a team that matches what you are looking for, it is time to really dig in before you commit.
Who is coaching me?
The most influential person you will work with is going to be the coach. So try and figure a few things out:
- What kind of experience do they have? If this is a young team then the coach may not have a lot of experience. This is normal. However, if this is a high school-aged team then experience is a big factor. Have they coached AAU before? Have they coached at the high school or college level? If they don’t have experience do you think they will be quick learners?
- What is the coach’s philosophy on winning vs.
teaching? Winning vs. playing time? - Do you think the coach will be able to help you develop beyond where you are currently at?
- What style of coaching do they use? Are they ultra-relaxed and quiet? Are they high stress and loud? Do you think this style fits with your personality?
- What type of system does the coach run? If you are a post player and the coach wants to run an uptempo transition style offense, there may be a problem for you.
Who else is on the team?
This actually does matter because it will impact you and your goals.
- Is there someone else on your team that plays the same position? How will that affect your role? Will the other players push you to become better?
- Does the team have a good balance of scorers, rebounders, and defenders? How does the coach see your role?
- Are there other players that are getting recruited already? If so, it may create additional looks for you.
- Will your team be competitive? If you want to go deep into tournaments you have to win games.
- Does the coach have a son or daughter on the team? This isn’t always a bad thing. Just make sure that everyone is given an opportunity to be successful.
What tournaments are you competing in?
As you get older, this is going to make a difference. Your time and money are valuable. Don’t waste them on tournaments that you don’t find valuable. If you aren’t sure you can rely on the coach, rely on the team or tournament’s track record, or do some research on your own.
Keep in mind:
- Does the team have a set travel/tournament schedule or are they figuring things out as they go?
- If you are traveling, do your parents need to go with you, or will transportation, hotels, etc. be provided?
- Is the tournament NCAA certified? If not, NCAA Division I and Division II coaches cannot attend. Is this important to you? Will other level coaches be there (NAIA, JC, etc.)? How do you know for sure? Remember, any tournament can make that claim but not all of them deliver.
Do they have any history to back up their claims? - How many games are guaranteed? Not all tournaments are created the same.
- How many tournaments are you committing to? Are you traveling every weekend or do you have time to “just be a kid”?
- How good are the tournaments you are attending? Will you come back “battle-tested” and ready to play at a higher level?
Team track record and resources
If you are looking at a new team then they won’t have any history for you to consider. In that case, you can try and get a feel for their vision and decide if you want to trust it.
If the team does have some history, you can start to evaluate how they have done and if they are at the level you want to be at. A lot of these depend on how old a player is.
- How do the teams help develop their players? Practice, workouts, personal training?
- Do they have a lot of players switching in and out? How long does a player typically stay with them? If players are leaving, what is the reason?
- Are you guaranteed playing time or a spot on a roster (this is not always a good thing)?
- What divisions do tournament directors place the team in (if applicable)? Top bracket, second bracket, bottom bracket?
- Has this team performed well at prior tournaments?
- Does the team have a solid history of players moving on to the next level? This might be college but could also be players making their junior high or high school teams.
- If you want to play in college, is there a history of players moving on to college rosters at all levels (JC through NCAA Division I)?
- Does the program have a strong network of college coaches?
- How much does it cost? What kind of financial obligations are expected? Are there different options for paying? What does the cost include?
- Are you still looking for information on how to pick an AAU team? Here is a video on figuring out if AAU is worth the cost on YouTube (click here).
The bottom line
At the end of all this (and there is a lot) remember the goal is to find the best fit possible. You will never know everything for sure. And neither will the team’s coach or director. Do the best you can and then trust your gut. If you put in at least a little time to do your research you will make a good decision.
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AAU Membership | AAU Registration
What is the Amateur Athletic Union?
AAU, a nonprofit sports association established in 1888, is among the biggest volunteer, multi-sport organizations worldwide for amateur athletes.
AAU originated in the desire to develop, enhance and standardize physical fitness and sports programs for non-professionals. The organization currently boasts about 700,000 participants throughout America and the world.
Over the years, AAU has helped athletes train for the Olympic Games. It has served as the U.S. representative at international sports conferences. Since 2019, the organization has also administered the Presidential Youth Fitness Program in schools throughout America.
An AAU membership lasts for one year. When it expires, you must complete a renewal to maintain eligibility for AAU play. Whenever you want to confirm your renewal date, use the AAU membership lookup tool. Types of AAU registration include:
- Youth AAU membership for all sports
- An annual adult membership for a specific sport
- AAU membership for coaches
- AAU membership for team administrators
- AAU membership for clubs
Age groups in the AAU youth division start at eight and under.
They go as high as 18 years old, with a separate division for each age in between. The skills, sportsmanship and competitive experience of athletes who have grown up playing AAU sports may help them win college scholarships. The membership cost starts at $14.
Once you complete AAU registration and submit your annual AAU membership cost, your child qualifies to join an existing AAU club or to get together with others to form a new team. Your child’s team will compete against other AAU teams in your region. Depending on the sport, play goes year-round, unlike high school when you can only play a sport in season. Because athletes get far more practice and competitive experience during a year of sports, they often acquire skills faster than their high school athletics counterparts.
Also, AAU events provide opportunities for clubs and individuals to shine. For example, an AAU track and field event such as The Southwest Indoor Championship brings various clubs together for a higher level of competition and more meaningful awards.
This is not to say that AAU members cannot participate in high school sports. They are free to play on their school teams too. Many take a break from competition during school sports seasons. Some athletes, with the approval of their coaches, do both.
What are the different levels of the AAU sports organization?
Children from 8 and under to 18 can compete in the youth division once they get their AAU membership. The youth membership covers all the sports, so kids can play as many as they have time for.
The adult AAU membership is for players over 18 years of age. Unlike the youth membership, adults must specify the sport they intend to participate in. They must have a separate membership for each sport they want to join. You can also obtain an AAU registration as a coach or as a team administrator.
Clubs or teams must also register for membership and AAU renewal annually. First, the coach and adults involved in running the club must be members. There are three levels of AAU club membership.
Level one covers:
- One youth or adult club membership
- Participation in play
- Voting power at meetings
- The ability to apply for practice insurance coverage
Level two includes the above, plus the ability to host a sanctioned sports event. In addition to all of the level one and two benefits plus a combination AAU membership for a youth and adult club, level three provides the ability to apply for tax-exempt status and to collect donations.
The annual club membership cost starts at $30 per year for a youth level one team. It tops out at $320 for a level three adult and youth combination membership. If you are unsure of the type of membership you have, use the AAU membership lookup tool on the AAU website.
What are some of the sports included in a youth AAU membership?
AAU membership gives youth members access to 35 sports programs, including:
- Boys’ basketball
- Girls’ basketball
- Men’s and women’s volleyball
- AAU baseball
- AAU track and field
- AAU wrestling
- AAU football
- AAU Hockey
- Martial arts
- AAU Swimming
- AAU volleyball
Some of these sports contain sub-categories.
For example, beach volleyball and indoor AAU volleyball come under the general heading of AAU volleyball membership. AAU volleyball is quite competitive, and college recruiters take note of an AAU volleyball membership on a high school athlete’s NCSA online profile. The same holds true for AAU wrestling.
AAU volleyball tournaments can lead your child’s team to national tournaments or even the West Coast AAU Junior Olympics Games. The latter is a two- to three-day tournament featuring the most competitive clubs in AAU volleyball nationwide.
AAU track and field includes indoor and outdoor meets leading to national championship tournaments and the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Individuals who win district and regional AAU track and field championships advance in their events to national competitions.
The AAU Track and Field Indoor National Championships include the top male and female ages 8-18 qualifiers in such indoor AAU track and field events as:
- 60-yard dash
- 60 hurdles
- 200, 400, 800, 1,500 and 3,000-yard races
- 4 x 200 relays
- High jump
- Long jump
- Pole vault
- Shot put
- Triple jump
AAU wrestling enhances participants’ progress toward national competition with both youth national tournaments and AAU Junior Olympics platforms.
Boys and girls compete in separation divisions. AAU wrestling tournament types include elementary, middle school and high school events.
Clubs also provide boys and girls with opportunities to experience AAU wrestling at its most competitive. As they progress through high school and look ahead to college sports, AAU wrestling experience is among the top items recruiters are looking for in selecting the most skilled athletes for college sports scholarships.
Whether AAU hockey, AAU martial arts, AAU football, AAU basketball, AAU baseball or another sport is one your child excels in, getting them into sports provides them with a valuable experience. Honing skills, learning sportsmanship and laying the foundation for future NCAA team play are all top benefits of AAU athletics.
How do you pick an AAU team?
One way to start checking out clubs in your area is to get a list of AAU clubs from the AAU Club Locator. Use your AAU login information to get access. Then, you simply key in your sport and your zip code to find basketball teams, for example, or martial arts events.
Some teams travel more frequently than others. Before choosing a team, find out how often your athlete will be on the road and how often the clubs play at home. Depending on your lifestyle, this information may be critical to your sign up and the benefit of athletics to your child. Keep in mind, though, that to get the most from playing AAU sports like AAU volleyball, travel to championship tournaments is a given.
Regional tournaments and national championships take place throughout the U.S. and beyond. The 2020 AAU hockey Capitol Cup took place in Lansing, Mich., for instance, while the North American Championships were held in London, Ontario. With AAU clubs playing throughout the world, your team may occasionally play far from home.
How does AAU pick coaches?
When coaches register for AAU membership, they must complete a mandatory Positive Coaching Alliance class. These classes are sport-specific and include coaching psychology, best practices of elite coaches and more.
Some of the contributors to these coach certification courses are Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders, Olympic gymnast Bart Conner and NBA championship coach Phil Jackson.
Each AAU coach who successfully completes the class receives an AAU certification. If in doubt, you can check the membership lookup for the certified coaches list to confirm that your team’s coach has the AAU sanction.
The coach must abide by the AAU rules for each sport and communicate those rules to membership players. Each sport’s rules are also available for parents and players online. For example, you can view the AAU rulebook for Taekwondo here.
Who can host AAU events?
AAU clubs that have a Level Two or Level Three AAU membership and a registered AAU coach are eligible to host competitive events. It may seem daunting, but AAU clubs get some benefits from doing the organizational work for a tournament, such as:
- Banking 100 percent of the entry fees
- Opportunities to get sponsors
- Free event publicity on websites and social media sites
AAU membership registration details
It is a simple process to get an individual membership for AAU.
Youth membership, at under $20 for the year for all sports, is affordable. Adult athlete memberships apply to one sport only, and the fee may vary according to the sport, starting at $14 and going up to $30. All memberships run from the first of September to the 31st of August. You can register for membership or enter your AAU login as an existing member on the AAU membership page.
Parents and student athletes thinking ahead to college athletics should consider getting involved in AAU programs early on so they can build a portfolio that gets noticed by college coaches and recruiters. It is also important to work with an experienced athletic recruiting service, such as NCSA, with a proven track record for results.
What is NCSA?
A pioneer in online college sports recruiting, NCSA is now one of the largest college athletics recruiting service in the world. Since 2000, NCSA has been working to grow its extensive online recruiting presence. In the process, it has won the trust of more than 35,000 college and university coaches.
Since then, NCSA has helped more than 150,000 athletes play college sports throughout the nation.
Positive reviews from all sorts of sources give NCSA stellar ratings. Google reviewers give NCSA 4.9 out of five stars. More than 86,000 parents of student athletes rate their experience with NCSA nine stars out of ten. With a mission to support, educate and guide athletes and their families through the college recruitment and scholarship process, NCSA has earned its positive reputation as the leader in its field.
Our team at NCSA, 750 or so strong, includes many former college coaches and athletes who have experienced the recruiting world first-hand. We have a commitment to helping student athletes realize their dreams of playing high-level college sports because we have a personal stake in the process. The competitive spirit stays strong among the ranks of NCSA’s team members. That is why we go above and beyond the norm to help make the future brighter for our clients.
That would be impossible without a great relationship with the coaches and recruiters who make the decisions in college sports.
Our statistics tell the story of the bond of trust we have forged with them over the past 20 years in the game.
In 2018, 90 percent of college sports teams had at least one of our clients on their rosters. In 2019, 24,000 NCSA athletes won coveted spots on college teams. Coaches looked over our athletes’ online profiles nearly 5.5 million times in 2018 alone, and they launched more than 710,000 athlete searches via the NCSA platform during the same year.
Get in touch with NCSA today
It is never really too early to get started on your child’s online profile with NCSA. With exposure to 35,000 coaches in our growing network, our recruiting platform is a great way to get your athlete noticed. Coaches rely on us to provide them with the athletes and information they need to build their future teams, and they take note of those candidates with AAU experience. Start your free NCSA profile online now or call us at 866-495-5172 today for further details.
LeBron doesn't want to slide! 5 Facts About Star Gear
Ask any competitive athlete what piece of gear is important but the average person wouldn't think about.
And the athlete with a probability of 80% will answer that these are socks.
LeBron James / Photo: © Jason Miller / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images designers in making basketball socks so good that they don't have to wear two on one foot. - Feet are the most important thing you come into play with. You have to take care of your feet.
Golden State forward Kevin Durant traditionally wears two pairs of socks for maximum cushioning and ankle support: "I need more cushioning, but I also want to feel the court."
The main star of the NBA, Cleveland forward LeBron James, also has his own requirements for socks:
- It is important that my foot does not slip in socks. I need to do jerks and sharp jumps.
NBA players will get two new socks this year - Nike Grip Power and Quick Crew. Nike, which is the league's outfitter, has unveiled socks that players from all 30 NBA teams will wear.
Here are five facts about the new NBA socks.
1. These are the first Nike socks to feature the NBA logo. Special versions of both pairs of socks - Power and Quick - will be worn by all NBA players without exception during the season. A different version of the socks will be released for each kit of each team.
2. For the first time, basketball players had the opportunity to try out the new version of the legwear during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. After that, the models were brought to mind, taking into account the wishes of the athletes. When developing socks, the opinion of high school basketball players who took part in special tests was also taken into account.
Photo: © Nike
3. In order to correctly zone the toe and ensure optimal thickness, the developers have created a new machine with the largest discs to date and a needle that is unmatched on the market today. The needles are able to work with thicker yarn, which allows the machine to create large terry loops - this affects the support of the foot.
The result is the softest and most supportive sock ever made by Nike.
4. Socks are designed with the most cushioning in the most needed places for basketball players - on the toe, heel and ankle. Thinner loops are located at the top on an elastic band. Special threads are used on the heel to prevent slipping.
5. Basketball players of only one club - the Charlotte Hornets - will play under the brand of their owner Michael Jordan - Jordan. The Jumpman logo will be on the back at the top of the sock.
New Jumpman Logo NBA Socks / Photo: © Nike
The new NBA season begins October 17th.
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Kobe Bryant LeBron James Kevin Durant Basketball NBA
Previously in NBA: NBA clubs face fines of $100,000 if healthy players miss top league matches We also have a text about the risks of injury in sports.
Basketball is a team game with a ball.
The goal of each team is to attack the opponent's ring and score the most points during the match. We tell you how not to break the rules in a tough fight for the ball and become a winner.
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Each basketball team consists of 12 players who substitute for each other during the match.
At the same time, five people from each team are on the site.
According to the rules of basketball, the whole team must have the same uniform and even socks of the same color. Jerseys of team members must be numbered.
For safety, remove jewelry and any accessories that could injure other players.
The game consists of four periods of 10 minutes. Breaks between the first and second quarters, as well as between the third and fourth, are 2 minutes. The longest break is 15 minutes, it is taken in the middle of the game, after the second quarter. At this moment, the teams change rings.
If the score is tied by the end of the match, the referee adds 5 minutes of overtime. Overtime is appointed as many times as necessary until the winner is revealed.
During the game, the coach of the team may take a time-out. This break lasts for a minute.
Most often, a time-out is taken to adjust tactics.
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Basketball court measures 28 meters long and 15 meters wide.
Each site should have markings. It is applied around the perimeter and zones are designated:
- center circle
- free throw line
- three-point hitting area
- face-off lines
- restricted area
- semi-circle without fouls and collisions
Mandatory element4 basketball court It is hung at a height of 3.05 m.
In basketball, the ball is played only with the hands, it can be hit on the floor, passed, thrown and hit. You can’t run without a lead or kick the ball with him.
With the ball in hand, you can take two steps, but only to stop, pass or shoot into the ring.
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- 1 point - counts for the penalty throw
- 2 points - for a ball abandoned from the zone of biases
- 3 points - for the ball abandoned from the three -point hits
violations in the basketball, let's go for the car basic.
A run is the movement of a player with the ball in his hands without dribbling. For this, the referee appoints a throw-in by the opposing team.
Three second rule - An attacking team player cannot stay in the highlighted area under the hoop for more than three seconds. For such a violation, the ball is transferred to the opponent.
Foul is a touch on the opponent that limits his freedom of movement. In some cases, a free throw is awarded for a foul - this is decided by the referee. A throw from the penalty line is performed by a member of the opposing team, for a professional this is an almost guaranteed hit.
You can also get a no-contact foul - technical. It is given for unsportsmanlike behavior, disrespect for the referee or other participants in the game. Two technical fouls are followed by disqualification.
