Don’t call it a comeback. They’ve been here for years. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) wants people to know that while many teams claim to be AAU teams, there are many who are not. According to Jim Fox, Governor and Boys Basketball Rep for New York Metropolitan AAU, there are some real differences from a security and health perspective in those that are real and those that are fake and parents need to know the differences.

“[Real] AAU coaches must be background screened and concussion training is mandatory,” said Fox. “We also really carefully check [a player’s] eligibility.”

In the coming months, legitimate AAU teams will receive certificate and beginning February 1st, team status can be verified on the nymetropolitanaau.com website. “It will be updated every two weeks,” Fox said.

The AAU is also returning to some old traditions according to Fox. “The AAU has returned to the Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL. “The last two years we were in Louisville,” said Fox. The tenth and eleventh grade National Championships (Division 1 & Division 2) and the Super Showcase (7/14 – 7/24) will be on the Disney property.

Locally, The New York District Championships Qualifications will be held in April and May at the Island Garden Complex in West Hempstead, NY as well as other surrounding venues for Division 1 through Division 3.

The AAU is expanding and will be adding a league for 6th through 8th graders that will begin in March. “For those who don’t make EYBL, it’s similar,” Fox said.

Lastly, 5th through 8th graders will now be both grade based and age based.

AAU Basketball has returned to the forefront and Fox promises that it will be better than ever.