There is limited empirical data on the accessibility of AAU basketball relative to geographic location, online presence, and socioeconomic factors. We found that the location of AAU teams and the prior high schools of players currently in the NBA were in areas with higher SES and that there were correlations between the ADIs of the high schools and that of the AAU teams.

The increase in private sports participation combined with single sport specialization has created a youth sports climate that unfortunately has led to barriers for participation. These barriers are intimately associated with socioeconomic disparities that many communities face. This could be due to various factors including access to sports infrastructure, time commitment, travel distances, and familial financial support [6••]. While basketball is one of the most popular sports in America with over 33% of parents reporting that their child played basketball on a regular basis in 2021, access to basketball is affected by pay-to-play systems [21•]. The total cost of play for participating in AAU basketball can range from $400 to $4000 depending on the team [22]. While the annual AAU Athlete Membership fees are generally affordable ($14.00 to $39.00), registration, team dues, insurance, out-of-town trips, and tournament fees make up the bulk of the cost [22, 23]. As a result, basketball has become one of the most expensive sports with parents paying an average annual amount of $1,002 [21•]. Over the past two decades, high school girls' basketball has lost 19% of its players while other top female sports like track and field (+ 10%) have grown [21•]. Although the reasons for this are multi-factorial, financial barriers must be considered. Female youth athletes from lower socioeconomic backgrounds have decreased sports participation rates compared to their more privileged peers, with low SES being linked to reduced parental support and increased participation barriers among girls [24].

In addition, geographical proximity to AAU teams must be considered as well; given both direct and indirect costs of transportations. The geographic location of the AAU team may not be reflective of the communities from which it draws its player’s from. Although high school is not a true proxy for players’ hometowns, the mean straight-line distance between AAU and high school locations of 170 miles reflects the trend of athletes moving or traveling far to participate in highly competitive AAU teams. Although skill level is one means by which players can be invited to join these teams, there is also the real logistical challenge of having the financial means to move or afford high weekly travel costs, requiring significant commitment from family. Travel is now the costliest feature in youth sports with parents spending $260 per sport annually [21•]. Financial barriers are reported at substantially higher rates among lower-income families with 42% of lower-income families citing high costs as a barrier to sports participation compared to 26% of middle- and higher-income families [25]. As a result, inequity in terms of access to AAU teams exist.

Some would argue that many AAU teams will “sponsor” players who may have limited financial means as cost is a substantial barrier for AAU basketball particularly as many NBA players participated in AAU teams without cost. Top-level players can compete in “shoe circuits,” exclusive AAU tournaments, leagues, and teams created by large shoe brands like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour. Almost half of the players currently rostered in the NBA competed on a shoe circuit team [11••]. Participation in these shoe circuits teams is free of charge to their players and the team will cover hotel, and other related fees. In return, these companies establish connections with promising young players and garner brand loyalty early on. While shoe circuits may increase access to AAU basketball, players must play at the highest level to be noticed by these teams and most AAU players will never have a chance to participate in shoe circuits. Shoe circuit AAU teams are a small subset of AAU basketball teams and are extremely competitive and have limited spots.

Furthermore, beyond financial and geographic restraints, the ability to even be able to identify teams may be prohibitive for low-income families without reliable internet access. Finding and contacting AAU teams is mainly accomplished online through internet searches or the AAU website which includes a tool to find nearby AAU teams [26]. The presence of a website, social media account, and methods of contacting the teams is crucial for the accessibility of AAU teams. Of the 114 AAU teams included in the study, 70% provided a website, 39% a phone number, 67% an email, and 89% a social media account. Although most of the AAU teams had a website, a lack of internet access can prevent families from identifying potential AAU teams. Broadband adoption rates in the United States are 62% for households earning less than $20,000, with low-income communities typically having the lowest adoption rates [27]. Without the internet, access to AAU teams is limited to word of mouth or connections. AAU teams that are formed locally by parents and not through an organization are often exclusive, and the limited number of spots can make competition for spots on AAU teams intense. Some teams require tryouts or extensive scouting, and players who do not perform well or do not have connections to coaches or other players may not make the cut [8].

Families that are unfamiliar with the AAU pipeline or lack the resources to support their children are at a significant disadvantage. Fewer than 1 in 5 students playing Division 1 basketball come from families in which neither parent went to college [15]. In 2010, the NCAA began asking college athletes whether they are first generation students as part of its GOALS Study, which captures the background and experience of those playing sports in the NCAA [28]. In men’s basketball, the sport that used to have the highest percentage of first-generation students, the number plummeted from 28 to 19% while women’s basketball experienced a similar drop [28]. Similarly, the intersection of race, social class, and family structure creates unequal opportunities for individuals to enter the NBA with white athletes from low-income families 75% less likely to become NBA players [29, 30].

Youth physical activity is associated with immediate overall health benefits while establishing behavioral carry-over into adulthood [31, 32]. In the context of public health, youth sports participation can facilitate cognitive, social, emotional, and psychological development [33]. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted that only 58% of youth participated in a sport in 2017 with decreasing participation among females, racial and ethnic minorities, and youth from households of low SES [34]. Moreover, recreational sport programs in under-resourced communities are disproportionately affected by social and structural inequalities. Schools in lower SES areas tend to have limited resources, fewer intramural activities, and a scarcity of exterior athletic facilities [35•]. Youth from rural communities have inadequate physical activity facilities compared with urban and suburban areas and less frequent physical activity overall [36]. Access to these recreational spaces is key to promoting youth sports participation. A study found an 84% increase in youth sports activity when school facilities were open publicly compared to a nearby community with closed schoolyards [37]. The limited availability of recreational options and the shift towards private, expensive alternatives like AAU basketball is detrimental youth physical activity. More needs to be done to increase the accessibility of AAU programs and promote a diverse range of sports and recreational activities, ensuring that children have options that cater to their individual interests, abilities, and developmental needs.

There are several limitations in our study. The ADI is limited insofar as it uses American Community Survey (ACS) Five Year Estimates in its construction. For example, the 2018 ADI uses the ACS data for 2018, which is a 5-year average of ACS data obtained from 2014–2018. All limitations of the source data will persist throughout the ADI—results are subject to the accuracy and errors contained within the American Community Survey data release. Using the location of player’s high school may be limited as a true proxy for the player’s hometown. Additionally, our dataset is drawn from only active NBA players and did not include the vast majority of AAU teams that exist nationwide. It is important to note that the data used for analysis was limited to 50% of currently active NBA players. This partial representation introduces potential bias, as it is uncertain whether the AAU teams and high schools of the omitted players were from higher or lower socioeconomic areas.