Amateur Athletic Union
The
Amateur Athletic Union, widely known as the
AAU, was formed in
1888 to help support many different teams and players in almost every
sport, and has sponsored many tournaments throughout the
United States. It helps to get players noticed and direct them toward a good college or into the right environment in their community. The summit AAU events are the annual
AAU Junior Olympic Games. Until the
1970s it was the recognized governing body for many prominent sports in the United States, such as
swimming and
track and field, but it gave up its jurisdiction with the decline of
amateurism.
The following is the list of sports that the AAU actively sanctions. Those sports in
bold are included in the AAU's annual Junior Olympic Games competition.
*
Aquatic - Diving*
Aquatic - Swimming* Aerobics
*
Athletics (Track & Field)*
Baseball*
Baton Twirling* Bocce
*
Basketball*
Cheerleading* Chinese Martial Arts
* Cross Country
*
Dance/Drill*
Field Hockey*
Football*
Golf*
Gymnastics*
Inline Hockey*
Jump Rope* Judo
* Jujitsu
*
Karate*
Lacrosse*
Power Lifting*
Indoor Soccer
*
Softball* Surfing
*
Table Tennis*
Taekwondo*
Trampoline/Tumbling*
Beach Volleyball/Volleyball
*
Weightlifting*
Wrestling*
AAU Junior Olympic Games*
Amateur Athletic Union official website*
AAU Junior Olympics Official website
