Definition of Amateur athletic union

The Amateur Athletic Union, widely known as the AAU, was formed in 1888 to sponsor US teams and players in a wide variety of sports, and has sponsored many tournaments throughout the United States. Its 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.