What Every Parent Should Know About AAU

Congratulations...you are considering a new and super opportunity for your son or daughter to play in a competitive baseball program!

If you have never been involved in an AAU baseball program, then there are some things you need to consider and questions to ask before you commit as it is a real commitment for the player and his family/guardian. What I want to do here is to dispel some rumors and give you some facts that will help you make a good decision.  

Myths and Truths:  All AAU baseball programs are the same- a little of both.  What they do have in common is being a part of a larger governing body (National AAU) thru a regional branch (New England AAU aka NEAAU). AAU is an organization that allows teams to join by paying a fee and gives them privileges such as playing in competition that might not be open to general recreational teams. It also gives them organization guidance, player/coach insurance and the rights to attend national tournaments. That is where the truth stops. How an AAU baseball team is run on the local level is determined by who the directors/managers are. Some are businesses (LLCs-Incs) while others are developed by parents who want their sons to play *a higher level* of baseball. Some are parent run with Dads as the managers--others hire or have non-parent managers. Some travel a lot and some stay closer to home. Some have a history and others are fairly new. Here is where you need to consider some questions:  

1. 1. What are you looking for in an AAU program? Travel to other venues where you son will compete against non-local teams or would you rather play more local scrimmages/games?

    

2. Managers: Are you comfortable with parents managing teams or are you looking for non-parent managers?

    

3. Instruction: What is the experience and baseball education level of the managers/instructors? Do they attend current seminars or are they teaching how they were taught? That brings up player protection, esp. for pitchers and catchers...For pitchers: does the manager know and subscribe to what types of pitches are safe and specific for each age group so a pitcher will not be throwing something that could potentially hurt him later and are pitch counts/days of rest a priority? This is where the baseball education of a manager is important. Do they know how to prevent potential injuries? What is their background regarding pitching and do they have the support resources outside the organization if they have a question? For Catchers: In many youth leagues, you will see a catcher is also a pitcher. As they mature, you need to know that this combination is not in the best interest of the player as each position requires a different set of throwing mechanics. * Remember: AAU doesn't have qualifications or mandatory certifications for managers or instructors.*

    

    Team instruction: What is involved and included in an off-season program. Most will offer some off-season instruction but it can vary in what is being taught. Does it include hitting with enough instructor/managers/coaches available to see a player as an individual or it more like 10-15swings each? What drills are being run at each practice? Is there continuity if the team manager is not there and someone else runs the practice? If the org. has more than one team, can a player attend another team night practice if he has a commitment and will he be taught the same mechanics? What is the experience/baseball education that the hitting director has?  For Pitchers, what is the off-season program for them? Are age and body appropriate drills/ conditioning/strength building programs? What is the downtime and season preparation schedule like? Is there private or extra help available for hitting and pitching if requested?

4. Background and History: I have touched a little on knowing the background of the managers/coaches/instructors and the importance of continuing education for them as Baseball evolves like everything else and some of the old ways are not always the best. So let's talk about the history of an AAU organization and its current involvement outside. As you should be able to learn from a website, the history of a team/organization but if not, then ask. How did you get started and how many years have you been involved with AAU or coaching the age group of your son? A well-rounded org. will have a wealth of baseball history among their managers/coaches: LLL or recreational, managing at the HS/collegiate level (which helps you when your son is considering baseball after jr/ hs school), maybe some pro or semi-pro experience (it is always nice as they have BEEN there and know the ins and outs of that world) and maybe some returning players from their program to assist. These players really know the program and this is def. a plus as well as a compliment if they return to *give back*. Ask how long a manager /coach has been involved with the program and what age groups...Some programs have managers rotate thru each age group or does he stay with one team thru the entire program...again i cannot stress: what current seminars or clinics do the managers attend and do they go for certifications on their own to increase their knowledge. This might show just how dedicated they are to a program and the sport.

  Ok, you might ask what other outside org. (besides AAU) are you affiliated with?   There are some great ones out there that are youth-oriented and offer great current info on safety issues for the sports enthusiastic as well as educational programs.

Alumni and Current players: Not every org. places a roster online. Some choose to list them by noting what schools they play for during the baseball season. In my eyes, alumni are the keys to gauging the success of a program. It matters not what level they achieved because it may have been their highest and that is def. individual.  BUT be  aware. Only players that have GONE thru their program should actually be listed as Alumni. There are some that will list a hs, college. Pro/semi pro player if they *worked* out in a facility they are affiliated with.

  4. Travel: the BIG question. As AAU does not set schedules,   each will offer something a bit different. Some will have an early season of local games and scrimmages and maybe participate in one or two close tournaments. Some AAU programs feel that players grown when having to face larger venues and teams outside of their local area as well as including the local games. Some will travel as families--others travel as teams with families going as optional. Be sure to choose a program that you can commit to as participating in the tournaments will be expected. Some will include the cost of a player attending a tournament in their team membership fee but that might be only the player cost to attend (his portion of the tournament entry fee).

5. Rosters: AAU limits the number of players a team can have if participating in a sanctioned AAU event such as the NEAAU tournament. However, some teams will carry alternates (just in case they are short) and some will carry more and include them only in non-AAU games or events.

6. Costs.....hmmm probably the biggest question of all.. Ok so now you know, AAU really has no say in how a local AAU baseball team will run. Team costs: Each team has generally some of the same expense like fees to join AAU as a team, uniforms, field costs like umpire, field rental costs with insurances, equipment costs like baseballs, membership/insurance which is required of all officially rostered players. Managers/coaches who participate in AAU events, indoor facility costs if they rent or maintain if owned privately are a few.

Some, that are organization specific, would be stipends to managers/coaches/instructors, travel expenses if that is involved, liability insurances,  and player expenses if travel as a team without parents.. However, what an org.provides for their membership or participation fee is strictly up to them. For example: some will charge separately for uniforms and a player will purchase his own AAU membership/insurance. Be sure to ask what is included and what you will be expected to pay outside that fee.

Travel tournament fees: Some organizations have a separate fee that includes the player’s portion as it will vary depending on the number and costs of tournaments that team may attend that season. Some org.set this schedule while others will allow parents to have input Like I said....ask as all are different.

I hope this gives you some background when you are considering AAU baseball teams/org. It is great opportunity for a player to develop skills and compete at a different level. Ask and choose carefully.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at nhgrizzlies@comcast.net.