There are many benefits to AAU Basketball and it has become more popular then ever because of them. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball has long been utilized by parents to get their children extra playing time and training. AAU teams, which are most often travel squads, can provide extra games and competitions for young athletes during the offseason, keeping them on track for the next season by remaining focused on basketball the whole year.
AAU is also beneficial because it gives every player on the team the opportunity to go out and work for a position, thanks to it being made up of players from all over. Such teams typically allow players the chance to get playing time, despite not being a star player or top recruit. Also, there aren’t many instances where parent politics come into play, as they might for a local school team where the actions of some parents or feelings of another parent who is the coach impact the blameless players.
Additionally, for those players who are the best or one of the best players on their local or school team, AAU provides a different experience, as chances are, there is somebody just as good or even better on the travel squad. Players can gain valuable experience from this change in role, as the formerly star player might be somewhat humbled by being an accessory player. Furthermore, AAU allows formerly star players to play with more freedom and less pressure than they might be used to, as they might be depended heavily upon by their local team, but be able to play different positions for their travel team.
When deciding to play AAU, it is very important that young athletes and their parents choose the right team and coach to join up with. As with most large organizations, AAU is made up of many diverse teams with different strategies and goals. There are some teams that will do whatever it takes to win, and have a coach whose philosophies are the reason for this. On the other hand, there are some coaches whose teams are truly structured for the benefit of the athletes, and while they might not win as much, the players get a great experience and learn valuable skills.
AAU is a fine way for basketball players to stay in top condition. As long as the correct team is chosen, it is likely to be a great experience for a young athlete, making them understand the game more while keeping focused on it at all times.
One of the best AAU Basketball Programs in the Northeast is STACK AAU Basketball located in Mahwah, New Jersey. STACK Sports has AAU Basketball Teams for boys and girls ages 7-18 of all skill levels. The STACK AAU Basketball Program focuses on all the important things that basketball teaches like: sportsmanship, teamwork, work ethic and discipline. Young basketball players that play for the STACK AAU Basketball Program learn so much more than basketball and it leads to them becoming well disciplined, respectful thinkers on the basketball court.
