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Toggle navigation #We Are AAU MEMBER LOGIN JOIN AAU Events Events Find an Event Featured Events Featured Events AAU Junior Olympic Games Host an Event About AAU About AAUGovernance and Policies Governance and Policies AAU Code Book Concussions Positive Coaching Alliance Athlete Protection and Abuse Prevention Policy District Elections Sponsors and Partners Info Getting Started AAU Highlights AAU Highlights News Awards Awards National Awards Videos Membership Membership Membership Overview Membership Look-Up / Edit / Reprint Insurance Insurance Insurance Overview Insurance Certificates Issued Third Party Certificates Forms (Claim, Incident Report) Extended Coverage Allied Organization Membership Shop AAU Shop AAU Medals and Ribbons AAU Spalding Basketballs READY AAU SPORTS DRINK SPECIAL EVENTS SPECIAL EVENTS AAU Sullivan Award The AAU Crawford Award National Convention PROGRAMS PROGRAMS AAU Cares Urban Initiative Contact AAU Contact AAU Need Help? FAQs Districts Sports Baseball BasketballBoys’ BasketballGirls’ BasketballMen’s BasketballWomen’s Basketball Football HockeyIce HockeyInline Hockey Martial ArtsJudoKarateKung-FuTaekwondo Track & Field VolleyballBeach VolleyballIndoor Volleyball Wrestling More Sports AAU Junior Olympic Games Baseball BasketballWomen’s BasketballMen’s BasketballGirls’ BasketballBoys’ Basketball Baton Twirling Cheerleading Chess Dance Diving Fencing Field Hockey Football Futsal Golf GymnasticsRhythmic GymnasticsAcrobatic Gymnastics HockeyIce HockeyInline Hockey Jump Rope Lacrosse Martial ArtsKarateJudoTaekwondoKung-Fu Paddleboard Pickleball Soccer Softball Sport Stacking Strength SportsWeightliftingPowerliftingFeats of Strength Surfing Swimming Table Tennis Track & FieldAthletics Trampoline & Tumbling VolleyballIndoor VolleyballBeach Volleyball Wrestling Baseball Basketball Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Football Hockey Ice Hockey Inline Hockey Martial Arts Judo Karate Kung-Fu Taekwondo Track & Field Volleyball Beach Volleyball Indoor Volleyball Wrestling More Sports AAU Junior Olympic Games Baseball Basketball Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Girls’ Basketball Boys’ Basketball Baton Twirling Cheerleading Chess Dance Diving Fencing Field Hockey Football Futsal Golf Gymnastics Rhythmic Gymnastics Acrobatic Gymnastics Hockey Ice Hockey Inline Hockey Jump Rope Lacrosse Martial Arts Karate Judo Taekwondo Kung-Fu Paddleboard Pickleball Soccer Softball Sport Stacking Strength Sports Weightlifting Powerlifting Feats of Strength Surfing Swimming Table Tennis Track & Field Athletics Trampoline & Tumbling Volleyball Indoor Volleyball Beach Volleyball Wrestling Previous Next Toggle navigation Getting Started Athlete Parent Coach Club Event Host Athletes Pursuing Greatness Since 1888, the AAU has raised tomorrow’s leaders on today’s playgrounds. Join the nearly 800,000 members and compete in one of our 50+ sport programs across the nation today. Join AAU Learn More Athlete Protection and Abuse Prevention Policy The Amateur Athletic Union is committed to improving the development, safety and welfare of athletes and participants involved in sport. Learn More Previous Next Parents and Fans Know what it is to play AAU. Find out everything you need to know as a parent to help your athlete succeed on the court and in life. Parents Page Coaches Info Coaches are responsible for an athlete’s success on and off the playing field. They encourage athletes to pursue greatness. Get started today! Join AAU Learn More Positive Coaching Alliance The AAU National Office is happy to provide FREE Coaches’ Education for all AAU Non-Athletes. Learn More Login PCA Previous Next Locate a Club Near You Need to find or register a club in your area? Locate and contact clubs near you. Learn More Join AAU Event Host Event Hosts Wanted! Host your own event, tournament, league and more! AAU is the industry leader and standard bearer in amateur sports. Join a network of qualified and experienced event host. Learn More License an Event Find an Event Locate an event near you! Click Here Find a Club Locate a club in your area! Click Here Sports For All, Forever AAU Legacy Over 100 years of tradition The AAU Is Founded January 21st, 1888 The AAU was founded on January 21, 1888, with the goal of creating common standards in amateur sport. Since then, most national championships in the United States have taken place under AAU leadership. From its founding as a publicly supported organization, the AAU has represented US sports within the various international sports federations. It has grown over the years to become one of the leading and most influential associations. Read more » First AAU Event Held April 6th, 1888 The AAU conducts its first championships for boxing, fencing and wrestling on April 6 at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. First Five AAU Associations Created January 1st, 1890 A.G. Mills, a member of the AAU Board of Governors, introduces a plan which calls for the AAU to reorganize into a union of Associations (now called Districts) rather than an association of clubs. What will later be known as the Mills Plan” passes unanimously, creating the first five AAU Districts – Atlantic, Central, Metropolitan, New England and Pacific Coast. Read more » AAU National Men’s Basketball Championships Held for First Time January 1st, 1897 The AAU conducts the first National Men’s Basketball Championship. The winner is the 23rd Street YMCA from New York City. Women’s Swimming Recognized as Sport January 1st, 1915 AAU President George J. Turner concludes his national convention address in Baltimore by announcing that women’s swimming will be recognized by the organization. First AAU Women’s Basketball Tournament Held April 1st, 1926 Six teams compete in the inaugural AAU Women’s Basketball tournament held in the Los Angeles Athletics Club crowning the Pasadena Athletic & Country Club Flying Rings as champions. Golfer Bobby Jones, Jr. Received the First AAU James E. Sullivan Award March 5th, 1930 The AAU honors golfer Robert Tyre Bobby” Jones, Jr., as the first recipient of the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award given in recognition of the founder and President of the AAU. Other finalists for the award are Barney Berling (athletics), Clarence De Mar (athletics), Tommy Hitchcock (polo), Helen Madison (swimming), Helen Wills Moody (tennis), Harlon Rothert (all-around), Ray Rudy (swimming), George Simpson (athletics) and Stella Walsh (athletics). Read more » AAU President Withdraws Amendment to Boycott 1935 Olympic Games January 1st, 1935 Following five hours of debate, AAU President Jeremiah T. Mahoney withdraws his proposed amendment to boycott the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Instead, a resolution was passed stating the certification of the U.S. athletes for overseas competition will not be construed to imply endorsement of the Nazi government. Read more » Beginning of AAU Physical Fitness Program June 4th, 1942 The AAU authorizes a program that encourages and monitors physical fitness among America’s school-aged children with the assistance of Dr. Robert Grueninger. First Woman to Receive AAU James E. Sullivan Award January 1st, 1944 Ann Curtis, an 18-year old swimmer from San Francisco, becomes the first woman to receive the AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award. Curtis, who turned down movie offers to continue training for the Olympic Games in London, captured AAU titles in eight events during the year. Read more » Junior Olympics Program Formed December 5th, 1948 A Junior Olympics program designed to develop young athletes in the U.S. is introduced at the AAU Annual Convention on December 5 in New York City and receives approval. Past AAU President Willard Greim is elected first President of the international basketball federation, F.I.B.A. while serving as AAU Men’s Basketball Chair. Read more » Junior Olympic Program Conducts First Event May 5th, 1949 The Junior Olympic program conducts the first AAU Junior Olympic...