There are some great stories that come out of AAU participation and I acknowledge it makes up a component for acquiring a basketball scholarship but it is not the only way. In fact, the single most important component to obtaining an athletic scholarship is training/developing your talent/mastering the fundamentals. AAU is a good tool to test and see your development and promote your development to colleges. However, do not rely on AAU to develop your skills and master the fundamentals. (See personal trainer) If you have not worked hard to develop your game, then AAU will expose that as well. Here are a few tips to think about as you ponder your AAU participation:
- Make sure you attend a few practices of the AAU teams you are considering to see structure, drills, player’s participation, intensity, knowledge of coaching staff, etc.
- Research reputation of the AAU team and coaching staff to ensure it fits your needs!
- Identify how many tournaments the team goes to each year, the name & location, and its successes at those tournaments.
- Does the coach articulate a clear plan for your participation on the team and how to gain a scholarship?
The tips above are food for thought and listed because most of the common issues athletes and parents face regarding AAU can be identified and resolved if it was given a serious thought. Send me an email or post a comment if you would like more information regarding this subject, or if you think your experience(s) may help someone else.