Girls basketball has its own path: its own club teams, its own tournaments and its own college recruiting calendar. This guide explains how AAU and club basketball work for girls, when to start, how to find a girls team and what changes in high school.
Quick answer: AAU basketball for girls is competitive club or travel basketball on all-girls teams, grouped by grade, that practice during the week and play weekend tournaments. Most girls start between 2nd and 5th grade. In high school, club teams play spring and summer events where college coaches can watch players.
Key Takeaways
- Girls AAU basketball is club or travel basketball on all-girls teams
- Most girls start between 2nd and 5th grade
- Look for a club with a real girls team at your player’s grade
- Girls play a size 6 ball from middle school on
- In high school, college coaches watch certified club events in spring and summer
What is AAU basketball for girls?
AAU basketball for girls is the same idea as boys AAU: a competitive team outside of school, picked through a tryout, that practices during the week and plays weekend tournaments. The difference is that teams, tournaments and divisions are all girls. “AAU,” “club” and “travel” usually mean the same thing. See what is AAU basketball?
What age should girls start AAU basketball?
Most girls start between 2nd and 5th grade, and some clubs offer girls teams as early as 1st grade. Readiness matters more than age. A player who loves to play, listens to coaches and has fun at practice is ready. If there is no girls team at her grade yet, some young girls play on boys or mixed teams for a season.
How is girls basketball different?
- Ball size. Girls in middle school and up use a size 6 (28.5 inch) ball. See our basketball size chart.
- Fewer teams in some areas. High school girls basketball has about 356,000 players, down at least 21% since 2000 (NFHS). In some towns there are fewer girls club teams, so start looking early.
- Its own recruiting calendar. College women’s basketball has its own NCAA rules and evaluation dates, separate from the boys.
How do I find a girls AAU basketball team near me?
- Look for girls teams by grade. Check that the club has a girls team at your player's grade, not just boys teams.
- Ask who coaches the girls teams. Ask about the coach's experience with girls basketball, training and background checks.
- Ask about practices. How many practices a week, and how long the season runs.
- Ask how playing time works. Every player should get real minutes at younger grades.
- Go to a tryout or evaluation. Most clubs hold tryouts in the spring and fall.
How does girls club basketball connect to college?
In high school, many college coaches find players at club events. NCAA Division I coaches can only watch high school players in person during set evaluation periods, mostly certified club events in the spring and summer, and the dates change each year. The NCAA lists the certified events and dates.
Exposure is only part of it. Grades, film and real skill development matter just as much. See how to play college basketball.
Where does PSB fit?
Where Pro Skills Basketball fits
Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) runs boys and girls club teams, often called AAU or travel teams, for grades 1 to 11 in 27 U.S. cities. PSB is one of 18 organizations in the Jr. NBA Flagship Network and a USA Basketball Official Youth Organization.
PSB teams practice 2 to 3 times a week with trained, background-checked coaches. Players join through spring tryouts, fall tryouts, or an evaluation at a team practice when a team has an open spot.
PSB runs girls teams in many of its cities. Check your city page for the grades and tryout dates near you.
Find girls basketball tryouts near you
More AAU guides for parents: What is AAU basketball? · How much AAU costs · What age to start · AAU vs club vs school vs rec · How to choose a team
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AAU basketball for girls?
It is competitive club or travel basketball on all-girls teams, grouped by grade, that practice during the week and play weekend tournaments against other girls teams.
What age should girls start AAU basketball?
Most girls start between 2nd and 5th grade. Some clubs offer teams in 1st grade. A player who loves to play and enjoys practice is usually ready.
Do girls play on boys AAU teams?
Some young girls play on boys or mixed teams when no girls team exists at their grade. Once girls teams are available, most girls play on them.
How do I find girls AAU basketball teams near me?
Search for club or AAU programs in your city that list girls teams by grade, then ask about tryout dates, practices and coaches.
Is girls AAU basketball good for college recruiting?
It can help. In high school, many college coaches watch players at certified club events in the spring and summer. Good coaching and grades matter just as much.
What size basketball do girls use?
Girls in middle school and up use a size 6 (28.5 inch) ball. Younger players usually use a size 5.
How many girls play high school basketball?
About 356,000 girls played high school basketball in 2024-25, according to the NFHS participation survey.
Sources
- NFHS 2024-25 High School Athletics Participation Survey
- NCAA June scholastic basketball events
- NBA and USA Basketball youth guidelines
By Brendan Winters, Co-Founder
Brendan co-founded Pro Skills Basketball in 2009. At Davidson College he was a two-time All-American and Southern Conference Player of the Year. He then played five pro seasons in France, Germany, Hungary and Greece.
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