In January 2019 Australia was granted district charter status
of the American AAU organisation, the first of its kind internationally. This landmark charter will now provide more opportunities for the youth of Australia to play regional and national tournaments and be seen and recruited by U.S. college coaches. AAU Australia will now provide an important developmental pathway for aspiring athletes in basketball and many other sports. According to Basketball Australia, there are over 400,000 registered youth basketball players, yet less than 200 players that we know of currently play college ball at the Div. 1, 2, 3 or NAIA level. That's a staggering low number for a country with over 25 million people and we want to increase that number. In the U.S., there are approximately 550K young men and women playing high school basketball. Of that number about 3.4% or 18,700 kids will play college ball. Even if 1/4 of the 400K registered players in Australia were playing high school ball, then at 3.4%, Australia would have 3,400 kids flying over to the states to get an education and play college ball, not the approximate 200. Again, that's a low number. In an article written in The Guardian by Kieran Pender and Elliot Williams back on Oct 31, 2015, they write, Nicholas Lagios has a well-informed opinion on the subject – he has worked at Stanford University and now provides analysis for domestic club the Sydney Kings while intermittently assisting with the Australian youth national team programs. Although he speaks glowingly of the centre [Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence], he admits: “Playing at the high school level in the United States is going to be pretty attractive to a 16 or 17-year-old trying to make it in basketball, especially if they go to a major program with big exposure every single weekend.” That certainly is true if parents of Australian players can even afford to send their children over to play high school ball in the states. And unless your child is in that top 1%, the likelihood of that is slim. If that's the reality of the situation, we must do a better job of providing more pathways to compete and improve at higher levels so when college coaches come over to recruit at AAU tournaments, they walk away offering scholarships to our children. And that's why we need AAU Australia here. |
AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) was founded in 1888 in the U.S. to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by nearly 700,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers in the U.S.
One of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sport event organizations in the world, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. The AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 35 sports programs, 55 U.S. districts and 1 International district. In the last 30 years at the high school level, AAU basketball has grown in popularity more than any other sport. In 2019 alone, over 10,000 athletes will compete for bragging rights in the AAU Boys & Girls Basketball National Championships and Super Showcases. That's a huge stage for players to showcase their talents. So now, in lieu of college coaches flying all over the U.S. to watch talented ballers play in their high school gyms, they spend about 6-8 weeks a year in their off-season at prestigious AAU tournaments scouting the next LeBron or Zion in one gym. And there in lies the value in participating at AAU tournaments and NCAA certified events. |
Mission Statement To offer amateur sports programs through a volunteer base for all people to have the physical, mental, and moral development of amateur athletes and to promote good sportsmanship and good citizenship.
Vision Statement To offer amateur athletes and volunteers opportunities to develop to their highest level through a national and local network of sporting events. Through participation in AAU, we achieve our dreams as athletes and as valued citizens of our communities.
Culture Statement We are a family, that extends beyond the office, to permeate society as a whole. Like sports itself, we transcend any boundaries, barriers, or borders to provide a safe, nurturing, and inclusive workplace for our devoted employees thereby creating a developmental environment for our athletes to make life-changing memories for all. We raise tomorrow’s leaders on today’s playgrounds, one athlete at a time. Our supportive approach embraces energy, enthusiasm, and healthy competition - and we have a little fun doing it!
Vision Statement To offer amateur athletes and volunteers opportunities to develop to their highest level through a national and local network of sporting events. Through participation in AAU, we achieve our dreams as athletes and as valued citizens of our communities.
Culture Statement We are a family, that extends beyond the office, to permeate society as a whole. Like sports itself, we transcend any boundaries, barriers, or borders to provide a safe, nurturing, and inclusive workplace for our devoted employees thereby creating a developmental environment for our athletes to make life-changing memories for all. We raise tomorrow’s leaders on today’s playgrounds, one athlete at a time. Our supportive approach embraces energy, enthusiasm, and healthy competition - and we have a little fun doing it!
The Official Basketball of AAU Australia