South Plainfield Gets AAU Chapter 

The Amateur Athletic Union is a big part of basketball around the country because the organization is dedicated to teach boys and girls ages 8-18 the fundamentals of basketball. The AAU has such a big impact that it actually affects college basketball lines if the best AAU players decide to go to a specific school like the University of Kentucky, where head coach John Calipari has developed a successful culture of one that has resulted in him winning the national championship.

While there are many AAU programs across the country, there are some areas that don’t have access to AAU basketball programs for one reason or another, but the union is working on making it available in as many places as possible.

South Plainfield, New Jersey is one of the places that didn’t have an AAU program, but that changed recently when resident Carla Brogdon decided to start the New Jersey Dragons Amateur Athletic Union Basketball Club.

Brogdon said she started the AAU chapter because she felt that if the scheduling was done properly, children can have an opportunity to participate in two sports in a season.

According to Brogdon, the New Jersey Dragons Amateur Athletic Union Basketball Club emphasizes four principles: discipline, character, development, and physical fitness. Brogdon, who serves as the club’s executive director, said that the aim of the club was to teach the youth proper basketball techniques and fundamentals.

Brogdon also believes that giving the young children a learning basketball environment will allow them to excel while also increasing their ability to compete at a high level, while enjoying the game of basketball.

Since most players are playing on school programs, travel programs, or recreational programs during November through February, when the basketball season is generally supposed to be. The AAU season kicks off in March and continues through August.

AAU games are mostly played in tournaments, some of which are sanctioned by the organization, and others aren’t. Tournaments that are sanctioned by the AAU are played both locally and nationally.

Brogdon noted that there may be significant amount of time and money dedicated to AAU games that don’t include the money parents have to pay for the travel costs, meals, and accommodations for their kids when they play in tournaments that are out of town. According to Brogdon, the costs range from $300 to $1,000 per year.

Despite the costs, Brogdon believes there are numerous advantages to AAU programs. Brogdon believes the culture of youth sports have changed and they have become more competitive. She also believes that the best basketball players are the ones that play the sport year-round, and AAU allows them to stay focused on the sport.

For some parents, AAU might seem intense because of how much time the players have to dedicate to basketball. According to Brogdon, we live in a competitive world, so it is our job to make sure our children are raised to be competitive.

Brogdon’s success in bringing AAU to Plainfield, New Jersey is an inspiration to other parents that have been trying to get their children to participate in sports all year round, so don’t be surprised to see more AAU chapters springing up across the country.