Why play AAU and what’s in it for me?
At this point, you have a good understanding of what AAU ball is (also called travel or club ball). But you might be wondering why you should play? If you aren’t quite sure what AAU ball is click here to read an article that breaks down what it is.
Early opportunities
In most parts of the country, team basketball in school doesn’t start until the 6th or 7th grade. This means that playing in an AAU league or on a travel team may be the only way to compete in games. This is a good way to get a head start and get a feel for team ball.
More games
As players get older, AAU ball creates an opportunity to play more games throughout the year. To be clear, we are not saying that playing AAU should replace playing for your school. AAU basketball should supplement school ball.
Playing a lot of extra games throughout the year can be good or bad. If you are putting in the work to improve your individual skillset, love the game, and are not burning yourself out then this is a good fit.
If you are just playing games but not working on your skillset you may be reinforcing bad habits and slowing your development in the long run. Additionally, if you are giving up another sport you are losing the opportunity to learn how to compete and win in different roles.
Chances to improve your recruiting
As players enter high school and start considering their future, the opportunity to play in college may become a goal. One of the best ways for players to be seen is by playing on an elite travel or AAU team and performing well on the travel circuit.
Why Play AAU Basketball? What do you think?
These are three of the main reasons that we think players should consider playing AAU. If you think playing AAU or travel ball is a good idea, see this article (click here) to learn how to pick the right team.