Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)

Athletes Pursuing Greatness

Since 1888, the AAU has raised tomorrow's leaders on today's playgrounds. The AAU is not just about sports. For every athlete who attains professional status after AAU, there are hundreds more who apply their AAU experience elsewhere. What they gain is much more valuable than athletic glory. Through participation in AAU sport programs, athletes acquire the mental acuity, emotional maturity and social tools necessary to succeed in the classroom and in the world beyond.

“Sports for All, Forever” has been our focus and drive for more than 130 years and counting. It’s more than a motto – it’s our vision for sports in the United States and beyond. Join the nearly 800,000 AAU members and compete in one of our 50+ sport programs across the nation today.

Benefits of Membership:

Sports - Participate in 45 sports at local, regional, national events.

History - Be part of the largest multi-sport non-profit organization in the country.

Membership - Only one membership is needed to participate in any sport

Insurance - Have coverage up to $100,000 in sports accident insurance when participating in AAU licensed events.

Illustrious Alumni - Many of the most successful athletes in the world competed in AAU events as a youth athlete. Along with LeBron James, Michael Johnson and Mark Spitz, other notable athletes who participated in AAU include seven-time MLB All-Star David Wright; 2015 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner; three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal; 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III; and the celebrated professional boxer Muhammad Ali.

PCA - FREE coaches’ education for all AAU non-athletes (coaches) through a program administered by the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) via their Double-Goal Coach online courses. Learn More

Fundraising - Looking for funds for your team? Country Meats offers $12 profit for $35 spent, risk free! Learn More

Concern about athlete well-being is upper-most in the mind of all sports organizations and governing bodies. Around the country states are adopting concussion legislation in efforts to tend to the health and well-being of athletes.

The AAU has joined the movement. It is the purpose of AAU to promote amateur sports and we wish for our members who participate to do so in a manner that provides reasonable safety for their well-being.

The events and activities that are licensed by AAU are run by local hosts, local organizing committees, and/or member clubs. Athletic activities involve risks and dangers of injury and accidents may occur sometimes without fault. Available medical assistance may vary from venue to venue. The AAU recognizes that the potential for harm from concussions is a serious matter. While some accidents and even concussions may occur, the basis for the AAU's Concussion Policy is based upon trying to limit the potential harm, which could result from continued participation after such an injury.

We have therefore established this Concussion Policy for and on behalf of the AAU, which is as follows:

Where there is reasonable cause to believe that a concussion may have occurred, such participant shall not be allowed to continue his/her participation in an AAU licensed event/activity without a medical release to resume such participation.

The AAU recommends all of its coaches, and other non-athlete members working with youth athletes avail themselves to the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Head's Up program.

Coaches and other club leaders can take a free on-line course that will provide important information in the recommendation and decision-making in handling situations that may involve concussion injuries. This course will only take approximately 30 minutes of your day.

CONCUSSION APP

The CDC HEADS UP Concussion and Helmet Safety app will help you learn how to spot a possible concussion and what to do if you think your child or teen has a concussion or other serious brain injury.

The application also includes a 3D helmet fit feature that teaches about proper helmet fit, safety and care.