Win with Integrity….Sports for all Forever Sounds Good To Me! Aren’t They Like Twins?
With the USATF JO’s being hosted in California, Northern California this year many teams around the country some families may be opting for AAU because of location. What about your team? Our team Quiet Fire Track Club of course will be at USATF 1. Our team doesn’t do AAU 2. It’s local relatively speaking about 600 miles so there you have it.
We as a family have done both since 2008. It’s a little tough to travel to two locations but that has been our decision. It may not always be but we decide year to year on may factors . As a parent I always wonder why some teams and individuals take such a harsh stand against AAU. There are so many active coaches across the country that probably want to share reason , I want you to share your reasons here. Many of the parents I meet here in California don’t even know about AAU let alone the major controversy of attending if you are from California. You ask what is it about??? I couldn’t tell you, when I ask, they can’t tell me a thing beyond “Our region just doesn’t do AAU officially. Yes, there are a few Cali teams that have traveled recently but from the numbers we have state wide in teams is a pecentage point at best.
I would like to propose that my well informed balance readers please give me their top ten reason why they like either one over the other.Your rational can be either subjective or objective just state which one you are going for when you write it all of your reasons.
I believe that options are good, youth track is great (although flawed like most things) and to have two well run National JO’s is just fine with me. I believe in the end ,customer service should prevail with a quality meet and the athletes parents will follow.. With their cash in tow…gotta tow it ’cause it cost so much for a Championship Season.
From our family perspective both AAU and USATF have enhanced our Championship experience and all 6 National Championships (3 from each) have meant just as much to Lauren and Us….Just as much excitment just has much tension before the finals just as much happiness when it was all over. In the end coaches and athletes,parents want good solid competition.
I disagree with those that say that AAU is a lesser meet? In what way ? I have seen athletes travel to an AAU JO because they were told they would n’t have the competion level but went home out of the top 8. AAU isn’t grass roots. I believe some haven’t even bothered to look at results or talk to people who have attended to get a balanced perspective. Last season I spoke to a 2008 American Olympian that NEVER Heard of AAU past the letters . She knew nother about it and though it was a great avenue for high level competion and a great option if you couldn’t travel to USATF for what ever reason ( Like it’s 3,000 miles away is a start)
If you want the latest time comparison sheet ckick here View AAU Vs USATF speed comparison online.
Where ever you decide to compete I am sure it will be a rewarding experience. ENJOY!!!
AAU vs USATF, In my opinion this argument is purley demographics, From my experience the AAU is more East Coast and Southern States where the USATF is stronger in the West, Southwest and some Midwestern states.
There has been arguments on the competitive nature of both events and there have been years that the USATF JO’s are more competitive then AAU and vice versa. You honestly cant go wrong which way you go both meets are highly competitive and both meets have thier pluses and minuses. Also either way your child slash athlete will be on a national stage and can lay claim to a National Championship.
If you live in a region where the majority of meets are AAU, then you more then likely run AAU the same is for USATF. There is one aspect the AAU clearly dominates the USATF JO’s they do however attract more athletes, but with similar competition at both is more truly better?
I think whoever holds their meet in the east coast (where the mass of population is) will have, on average, better marks. I compared last year’s 2009 results across JOs, and USATF athletes would have won more events by far. However, in previous years, it has been other way around. It depends a lot on location. Each meet is highly competitive, and it is a great experience for a young athlete to compete in either meet with the nationally competitive environment. On going to both JOs, we decided against it just because it seems like too much.
A Worthy Topic. We’ve been doing AAU since 2007. This year, the scheduling for the distance events in San Diego (I almost wrote SAN), ~stank~. Too late in the day! Doesn’t matter…they can improve… I LOVE AAU.
I Came up to summer track in AAU…and found out about TAC (formerly known as “The Athletic Conference”, now “USATF”) my senior year–joined that, too. I can’t give a better reccomendation to a young person looking for a challenge. BUT–the differences between USATF and AAU have become commercial–based upon $ from fees, and not competition between athletes. REALLY, we need to resolve this, even if it means AAU sponsoring an earlier meet or two–and the WISEST HEADS debunking politics in favor of encouraging say, first year athletes, or a training session in something difficult to find, like hurdles, triple jump, javelin or hammer (Multi-events, YAY!). A Kid is a kid…they learn their ethics from US GROWN FOLKS…we CAN and MUST set a Continuous example, through ALL.
Love,
mcoyote 
It is unfortunate that we can’t get the best athletes on one stage, partculalry when the kids, parents, and coaches invest so much time and never get to face their some of the biggest names in their age group at the end of the season. Even if it were financially feasible to both JO’s (for most clubs it is not), they make it impossible with the scheduling unless you own your own airline or private jet.
For that reason AAU is the preferred choice, since it allows kids in the lower divisions to have to truly be recognized and have the several rounds of competition.
For the past two years many anticpated showdowns (i.e. Daesa Rodgers vs. Lauren Williams, Justin Brown vs. Jailen Nailor etc)., never occurred due to the scheduling bureacrats behind the desks of USATF and AAU offices. While the current form allows for dual national champions, as a fan of the sport one can only wonder what if ???
Thanks Florida Track Dad,
There are many great on paper match ups that we youth track fans are just waiting to see end of season. I would like to see some of those top youth girls all together myself…I guess we just have to keep wishing…Maybe USATF could host a meet where they pay for all the top kids to come…I know very wishful thinking..
Lauren vs. Daesha is a winner for both and a GOld for the Fans for sure!