In the travel basketball space, one of the most-common misnomers applied to travel teams is that they are playing “AAU basketball.” While any team can apply for and play in an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament, travel basketball and AAU are not synonymous terms. 

What’s the difference between a travel basketball team and an AAU travel basketball team? Plenty! Read on to find out what differences exists between the two and if AAU is right for your team.

What is the AAU and what does it do?

The Amateur Athletic Union was founded in 1888 and has been creating opportunities for athletes in eight sports across 41 different programs. The organization claims more than 700,000 athletes participate as members of the AAU, making it one of the largest governing bodies for athletics in the country.

As a governing body, the AAU sanctions athletic events across the country. To participate, the travel team must register with the organization and provide proof of eligibility for a small fee. The group also provides rules for the competition in an effort to create equal playing fields for each sport.

While the name AAU remains in high-regard for several sports, AAU is often synonymous with travel basketball. In the early 1970s, AAU basketball began offering national championships in multiple age groups for both male and female youth basketball teams. For years, these programs dominated the national landscape as the premier events during the summer calendar for travel basketball teams.

Why is Travel Basketball different than AAU?

Today’s travel basketball landscape has changed significantly since the AAU dominated the landscape in the 1970s and 1980s. First, the premier talent often aligns with teams sponsored by Nike, adidas or Under Armor to play on circuits that zigzag the country for these elite travel teams. While the talent that competes at AAU tournaments continues to impress, these super teams dominate travel basketball.

Further, the AAU is by no means the only opportunity programs have to compete for a “national championship.” In 2023, a quick count reveals at least one dozen different groups or circuits offer national championship opportunities, creating multiple opportunities for teams to compete against outstanding competition during travel basketball.

Finally, joining the AAU requires additional fees for parents and coaches while travel basketball organizations outside of the AAU do no incur those fees. Although those fees are minor – starting at $16 per player – these amounts add extra expenses to budget-conscious parents. Playing non-AAU tournaments can reduce costs for travel basketball teams.

Does the AAU still influence travel basketball?

Although most competitions are outside of the AAU’s auspice, the organization continues to influence most travel teams and tournaments. For example, most teams continue to use the same jersey requirements for travel teams, allowing players to have single- or double-digit numbers ending between 0-5.

Tournament directors also often use similar rules to run their competitions. Rules such as how many players can be on a roster to the length of quarters/halves for each age group have permeated throughout competitions across the country in an effort to maximize opportunities. Competitions also use the same age groups for competitions, too, making AAU’s divisions the standard.