Youth basketball guides

Everything parents ask about AAU and club basketball, answered without jargon. Ready to look at actual teams? Head to the Houston directory, Dallas–Fort Worth directory or Atlanta directory.

• What Is AAU Basketball? (And What AAU Actually Stands For)

  What AAU basketball is, what AAU stands for, how it differs from school ball, and whether your kid needs it.

• How Much Does AAU Basketball Cost? Real Numbers by Level

  What AAU and club basketball actually costs — club fees, what's included, hidden expenses, and how to keep it affordable.

• AAU Basketball Age Groups & Divisions Explained (Grade vs. Age Chart)

  How AAU basketball age groups work — 8U through 17U, grade-based vs age-based divisions, and which division your child plays in.

• When Does AAU Basketball Season Start? The Full Year, Month by Month

  AAU basketball season dates: when the season starts, when tryouts happen, live periods, and what the club basketball calendar looks like year-round.

• How to Find a Youth Basketball Team Near You (A Practical Checklist)

  How to find a legit youth basketball team near you: where to look, what to check before committing, and questions to ask a club.

• Basketball Tryouts: How They Work and How to Prepare

  What happens at youth basketball tryouts, what coaches look for at each age, and how to prepare in the two weeks before.

• How to Get Into AAU Basketball: The Step-by-Step Path

  How to get your child into AAU basketball — when to start, how to get noticed for a roster, and the realistic path from rec league to travel team.

• How to Start an AAU Basketball Team: Costs, Steps, and Reality Check

  How to start an AAU or travel basketball team — sanctioning, insurance, gym time, budget math, and the first-season checklist.

• Girls AAU Basketball: How to Find the Right Girls Program

  How girls AAU basketball works — girls-specific clubs vs co-ed programs, what to look for, and how to find girls teams near you.

• EYBL vs 3SSB vs UAA vs AAU: Youth Basketball Circuits Explained

  What EYBL, 3SSB, UAA, and Puma PRO16/NXTPRO actually are, how circuit teams differ from regular AAU, and how players get on circuit rosters.