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.

• 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.