The PSB parent library

AAU basketball guides

Everything families ask about AAU, travel and club basketball, in one place. Tryouts, age groups, costs, the season calendar and how to pick the right team.

39Free guides

27PSB cities

5Chapters

The short answer

AAU basketball is youth club basketball played outside of school. Teams are formed at tryouts, practice during the week and play weekend tournaments, mostly in spring and summer. Families often call it travel or club basketball too. Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) runs boys and girls club teams for grades 1 to 11 in 27 US cities.

New to AAU?

Start with these 3

01How Does AAU Basketball Work? A Parent’s GuideRead the guide →02How to Join an AAU Basketball Team: A Step-by-Step GuideRead the guide →03How Much Does AAU Basketball Cost? A Parent’s Budget Guide (2026)Read the guide →

AAU basketball basics

What AAU, travel and club basketball are, and how they differ from school and rec.

Understanding AAU BasketballAAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union. What AAU basketball is, the real pros and cons, and how to choose a good AAU or travel team near you.How Does AAU Basketball Work? A Parent’s GuideHow AAU basketball works: when players can start, how the season runs, tournament weekends, how it differs from school ball and what it costs.What Is Travel Basketball? A Parent’s Guide (2026)What travel basketball is, how it compares to AAU, club and rec, what a season looks like, what it costs and how to find a good travel team near you.What Is Club Basketball? How Youth Basketball Clubs WorkWhat club basketball is, how it compares to AAU and travel ball, how youth basketball clubs are set up, and how to choose a good club near you.AAU vs Club vs School vs Rec Basketball: What’s the Difference?AAU, club, travel, school and rec basketball compared: cost, level, time and coaching. Can a player do AAU and school? How to choose the right fit.AAU Basketball: The Ultimate Guide for Parents & Players (2026)How to start an AAU basketball team or join one, when the season starts, what it costs, and whether AAU is worth it. A full guide for parents and players.

Tryouts and joining a team

When to start, how tryouts work, and what to do if your player does not make it.

How to Join an AAU Basketball Team: A Step-by-Step GuideHow to join an AAU basketball team: find clubs near you, how tryouts and evaluations work, what to ask before you sign up and what happens after you join.AAU Basketball Tryouts: What to Expect and How to PrepareWhen AAU and club basketball tryouts happen, what a tryout looks like, what coaches look for, what to bring and what to do if your player does not make it.Is My Player Good Enough for AAU Basketball?How good you need to be to play AAU basketball, the signs your player is ready, the skills to have before tryouts and what to do if they are not ready yet.What Age Can a Player Start AAU Basketball? A Guide by GradeWhat age most players start AAU basketball, what it looks like at each grade, signs your player is ready and when to wait. A grade-by-grade guide.AAU Basketball Age Groups and Divisions: A Parent’s GuideHow AAU basketball age groups work: 7U to 19U, grade vs age divisions, what 10U means, the AAU season year and which age group your player is in.Should Your Player Play Up an Age Group in AAU Basketball?Playing up in AAU and club basketball: what it means, the pros and cons, which players it helps, and five questions to ask before your player moves up.How to Prepare Your Player for Basketball TryoutsWhat coaches look for at basketball tryouts and how to get your player ready: skills, conditioning, game-speed reps, rest and the right mindset.10 Basketball Tryout Tips to Make the TeamHow to make the middle school or high school basketball team: 10 tryout tips on preparing, standing out without scoring and what coaches look for.Basketball Workouts to Prepare for TryoutsWhen to start training for basketball tryouts and what to do: workout plans for beginner, intermediate and advanced middle and high school players.How to Get Ready for Fall Basketball Tryouts: A Pre-Season ChecklistA 6-week pre-tryout plan for fall basketball: skill sharpening, conditioning, hustle stats, day-of routines, and handling nerves.My Player Didn’t Make the Basketball Team: What to Do NextWhat to say and do when your player does not make the basketball team: the first 24 hours, how to ask the coach, a simple plan and where to keep playing.

Choosing a program

What a good team looks like, what it costs, and how to compare programs near you.

What Makes a Good AAU Basketball Team? Signs of a Quality ProgramWhat makes a good AAU basketball team: coaching, practices, playing time and development, the red flags to watch for, and how to compare programs near you.How to choose the right AAU basketball team for your childHow to compare AAU and travel basketball programs side by side: coaching, cost, red flags, and how AAU connects to college. A checklist for parents.How to Find the Right AAU Basketball TeamWhat to look for in a youth AAU basketball team: coaching, development, cost and culture, so you find the right fit for your family.Youth Basketball Leagues and Programs Near You: How to ChooseThe four kinds of youth basketball programs, which fits your player's age and level, what to look for, and PSB teams, clinics and camps in 27 cities.How Much Does AAU Basketball Cost? A Parent’s Budget Guide (2026)What an AAU basketball season really costs in 2026: fees, travel, tournaments and gear, plus how to budget and what to ask a club before you sign up.AAU Basketball for Girls: A Parent’s Guide (2026)How AAU and club basketball work for girls: when to start, what is different, how to find a girls team near you and how it connects to college.Youth Basketball Training: Clinics vs Camps vs Lessons vs TeamsClinics, camps, academies, private lessons and club teams compared: what each is, which fits your player's age and goals, and how they work together.

The AAU season

The calendar, leagues and tournaments, how many games is too many, and how to get the most from it.

When Does AAU Basketball Start? The AAU Season CalendarWhen the AAU basketball season starts and ends, when tryouts are, how spring and fall seasons work, and when college coaches can watch, month by month.Fall AAU Basketball: Tryouts, Season and What to ExpectWhen fall AAU basketball tryouts happen, what a fall season looks like, why fall is a great time to join a club team and how it fits with school basketball.AAU Basketball Leagues vs Tournaments: How AAU Competition WorksHow AAU basketball tournaments and leagues work: pool play, brackets, schedules and travel, side by side, and which format suits younger players.How Many Games and Tournaments in an AAU Season? (And How Many Is Too Many)How many games and tournaments are in an AAU season, what NBA and USA Basketball recommend by age, and how to balance games, practice and rest.Your First AAU Tournament: A Parent ChecklistWhat to pack for an AAU basketball tournament, how pool play and brackets work, a game-day plan and how to help your player have a great first weekend.How to Get the Most Out of Your AAU Basketball SeasonGet the most out of AAU basketball season with tips on goal-setting, practice habits, tournament prep, and what parents should know. From Pro Skills Basketball.5 AAU Basketball Tips for Parents to Help Your Player Get More Out of This SeasonFive practical AAU basketball tips for parents to support their player growth without overstepping, from car rides to film breakdowns.Benefits of Playing on the AAU B TeamThe real benefits of playing on an AAU B team: more playing time, more touches, leadership and steady development.Winter Youth Basketball: What to Do Between SeasonsWinter basketball options by age, how to balance school and club ball, how to prepare for spring AAU tryouts and why rest and other sports matter.

High school, college and beyond

How AAU fits with school ball, shoe circuits, recruiting and the honest pros and cons.

High School vs. AAU Basketball: How They Work TogetherExplore how high school and AAU basketball complement each other to help players grow, improve, and get recruited by college programs.Your Complete Guide to AAU Basketball Shoe Circuits (2026)Nike EYBL, Adidas 3SSB, Under Armour UAA, PUMA Pro16 and more: what AAU shoe circuits are, how players get on those teams and if one is right for yours.What Is the July NCAA Basketball Recruiting Live Period? (2026 Guide)A guide to the July NCAA basketball recruiting live period: what it is, when it happens, who it matters for, and how to prepare.6 Real Benefits of AAU Basketball for PlayersDiscover how AAU basketball builds skills, grit, and exposure when done right. Learn the top 6 benefits for youth and high school players.The Real Problems With AAU BasketballExplore the biggest problems with AAU basketball and why youth basketball development needs a smarter approach.How Competitive Basketball Teaches Players Life SkillsHow competitive AAU basketball builds life skills in young players: coachability, teamwork, perseverance and handling pressure.

Ready for tryouts?

See club team tryout dates for your city. Spring and fall tryouts, plus evaluations when a team has an open spot.

Find tryouts near you

Questions parents ask

AAU basketball FAQs

What is AAU basketball?

AAU basketball is youth club basketball played outside of school. Teams are formed at tryouts, practice during the week and play games at weekend tournaments, mostly in spring and summer. Many families use AAU, travel and club basketball to mean the same thing.

How do I find an AAU basketball team near me?

Look for a club program in your city with trained coaches, a clear season calendar and tryout dates posted ahead of time. Pro Skills Basketball runs club teams in 27 US cities. See tryout dates for your city at proskillsbasketball.com/teams.

When are AAU basketball tryouts?

Most AAU and club teams hold tryouts in late winter and spring for the spring and summer season, and some hold fall tryouts too. PSB spring tryouts run from late January through early April, depending on the city. PSB fall tryouts run in August and September.

Is Pro Skills Basketball an AAU team?

PSB runs club teams, which many families call AAU basketball. PSB is an independent club program and is not part of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). PSB club teams offer what families look for in AAU basketball: tryouts, trained coaches, weekly practices, and games and tournaments through the season.

What age can a player start AAU basketball?

Many programs start teams in the early grades of elementary school. PSB club teams run for boys and girls in grades 1 to 11. Our guide by grade covers what each age looks like and the signs a player is ready.