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AAU Basketball Scores Big with Big Shot Partnership

By Staff, 10/10/19, 3:00PM EDT

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AAU Scores Big Shots


Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) partners with Big Shots Basketball;
adding 45 events in 2020 to AAU Basketball calendar


ORLANDO, Fla. (October 08, 2019) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) entered a multi-year agreement with Big Shots Basketball designed to grow and enhance both programs. Big Shots, one of the largest and most successful event operators in the United States, agreed to license all of their events with the AAU. Big Shots has scheduled 45 events for 2020 and will provide competitions for approximately 40,000 athletes across 12 states.

Founded in 1888, the AAU is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, multi-sport event organizations in the world with more than 700,000 members across 45 sports programs, 55 U.S. districts and Canada. Big Shots has been holding events for the last 15 years and is active in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Tennessee.

“The addition of Big Shots into the AAU fold is a big win on both sides of the ball,” said Dr. Roger J. Goudy, President and CEO of the AAU. “Youth sports is constantly growing and with the help of the services Big Shots provides, the opportunity for kids to be exposed to the game of basketball is exponential.”

Big Shots conducts tournaments as well as camps and clinics. They also have a sophisticated scouting and ranking program, overseen by Kevin Schneider. Most colleges subscribe to the Big Shots scouting service and each year more than 1,500 Big Shots participants go on to play college basketball.

Jeff Schneider, President and CEO of Big Shots, has many reasons for entering the AAU Agreement. “I have studied the landscape for many years, and I just believe this is the right thing to do for our athletes and coaches.”

With the collaboration of both organizations, Big Shots’ tournaments will now benefit from the AAU membership insurance, providing some of the best protection in the business for players, coaches and venues. Schneider also stated, “I like the fact that there are standards and means to handle disputes. Of course, the background checks are very important, and the youth protection policy is essential in today’s environment.”

Kevin and Jeff Schneider attended the AAU Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif. from September 25- 28 and met with AAU leaders. They have begun the process of licensing events and educating their clients on the registration process.

“We know that the AAU is a professional and first-class operation,” Schneider said. “We think we exemplify the same qualities, and it makes sense to attach our brands, and combine the best of both.”