Amateur Athletic Union

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The Amateur Athletic Union, widely known as the AAU, was formed in 1888 to sponsor teams and players in a wide variety of sports, and has sponsored many tournaments throughout the United States. It's goal is to help athletes get noticed, to direct them toward a good college or into the right environment in their community. The summit AAU events are the annual AAU Junior Olympic Games. Until the 1970s it was the recognized governing body for many prominent sports in the United States, such as swimming and track and field, but it gave up its jurisdiction with the decline of amateurism.

The AAU has engaged in a long-running feud with the National Collegiate Athletic Association over control of amateur athletics, especially track and field and the status of sportswomen. Early in the twentieth century the AAU developed a strong link with the American Olympic Committee because of its influence in track and field, swimming, and gymnsastics. By the 1930s, however, it had conceded control over Olympic qualifications to the NCAA in a number of sports.

Each year, the AAU awards the James E. Sullivan Award to the top amateur athlete in the United States.

[edit] AAU Sports

The following is the list of sports that the AAU actively sanctions. Those sports in bold are included in the AAU's annual Junior Olympic Games competition.