SCAAU Blog

SC AAU Pam Mobley Leadership Award

coachrossj@gmail.com (John Ross) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 12:56:54 GMT

SC AAU Pam Mobley Leadership Award

There are no words to adequately express the full impact that Pam Mobley made on the entire SC Gymnastics Community. She left a lasting legacy that we will each strive for in the years to come.

SC AAU is proud to honor and remember Pam with a very special Leadership Award that will be given to one deserving coach each and every year at the SC AAU District Championship.

What makes a leader? It’s an inherent ability to reach out and guide others. No matter the circumstances, Pam was able to see beyond herself as she set a high standard and example for others to follow. It is this standard of excellence that will be continued in her name.

If you are a SC AAU Club, we encourage you to submit a written nomination for a deserving coach for the SC AAU Pam Mobley Leadership Award. Please explain in detail how your nominee exhibits the same leadership qualities as Pam in your gymnastics program, your local community, and in our SC AAU Gymnastics community.

Please submit written nominations to:

Susie Vahala

SC AAU District Sports Director

E-mail: susievahala@icloud.com

Nominations must be received by: March 15, 2026

“ Fight Like Pam, Love Like Pam, Lead Like Pam!”

SC AAU Wrestling is using a new tournament running software through WrestlingTournaments.com

coachrossj@gmail.com (John Ross) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 21:55:26 GMT

SC AAU Wrestling is using a new tournament running software through WrestlingTournaments.com

Here are the steps needed to register :

Coaches need to create a profile and register their club's name. Here is the discount code to register your club's name " free4coach ". This must be done before your wrestlers register so that they can link their profile to the club/team.
Parents or Guardians, you will need to complete a wrestler's profile for each athlete that will be competing. Creating a profile is free on WrestlingTournaments.com . When you create a profile you will link it to your team/club.
To search for the events on the website, type in North Carolina in the search bar at the top. Select the tournament you want to register for. Click register for tournament and select the wrestler(s) that you want to compete in the tournament.
When you check-out you will be prompted for a membership activation fee. You can select the option that best works for you. They range from $3 (for 1 week), $5 (4 weeks), $10 (13weeks), $20 (52 weeks). (weeks not events)

If anyone is interested in running any events, please contact Stan Chambers at 919-400-1958

Updated 12/10/2024

AAU appoints new Executive Director for Flag Football and 7-on-7

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 02:26:45 GMT

Austin Bradshaw, of New England Flag Football League and Youth Flag Football World Championships, accepts new appointment to grow AAU Flag Football across the U.S.

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 18, 2024) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is proud to announce that they have appointed Austin Bradshaw as the new Executive Director for AAU Flag Football and 7-on-7 Football. Bradshaw has an impressive track record of success over the last 20 years running flag football leagues and tournaments across the country. This includes running the New England Flag Football League (NEFFL) as well as the Youth Flag Football World Championships, one of the largest flag football tournaments in the world.

“This marks a new and exciting development for our flag football and 7-on-7 football programs. Austin has shown he has what it takes to grow flag football across the country and we’re looking forward to seeing these sports grow under their guidance,” said AAU President Jo Mirza.

The multi-year appointment sees Bradshaw overseeing the organization and execution of nationwide AAU Flag Football and AAU 7-on-7 Qualifiers, leading into annual AAU National Championships and the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

“AAU is the industry leader in providing premier events whose quality is second-to-none,” said AAU Football National Chair Keith Noll. “We are excited to have Austin join our AAU team.”

Bradshaw serves as the president of NEFFL and Mass Flag, having run flag football tournaments for more than 20 years. He brings a wealth of flag football experience and tournament execution to the AAU.

Last year, the Youth Flag Football World Championships hosted over 600 teams and over 10,000 athletes at ESPN Wide World of Sports, with the event set to return and be even larger in 2025. Bradshaw helped organize 25 events last year that culminated in the massive tournament in Orlando.

“I am excited for the new opportunity to help grow the game of flag football at the youth level and to help unify the sport across all levels,” said Austin Bradshaw, newly appointed executive director of AAU Flag Football. “Along with the AAU President’s first order of business, we plan to introduce flag football to the AAU Junior Olympic Games as a recognized up and coming sport. Participation at AAU Nationals and AAU Junior Olympic Games will be through a qualification process. This promises to be the gold standard of events for years to come.”

The 2025 AAU Membership year is here!

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:11:29 GMT

The 2025 AAU Membership year is here! And this year we have new opportunities, new events, new programs, and new clubs. AAU Club Memberships have experienced a transformative evolution!

Click here to watch this video to better understand the changes and find out which Club Membership is best for your program.

IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIPS! A DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM THAT SERVES THE PLAYER

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 14:10:06 GMT

AAU began their own D League in the NY Metropolitan District for Girls Basketball. It targeted 7th and 8th Graders in schools that needed to greatly improve their overall programs.

Jon Lawniczak, the Girls Basketball Sports Chair for NY Metropolitan AAU, is an experienced coach and administrator. His resume includes an AAU Championship and the development of one of the largest AAU Girls Basketball clubs in the country. He is most proud of the fact that he has placed over three hundred girls in college basketball programs.

Jon recognized an unusual need for which he had to come up with a solution. The quality of girls’ basketball on Long Island was steadily deteriorating to the point where some high schools either could not field teams or the quality of their teams was severely lacking.

Jon and the AAU began their own D League! It targeted 7th and 8th Graders in schools that needed to greatly improve their overall programs. The requirements to participate in the program were that the players could not be part of either their school or outside travel basketball programs. Schools agreed to form teams for this training program that was licensed by the AAU. More than 100 girls became AAU members.

The sessions were broken up into 90-minute segments. Two teams would arrive at the same time for a 45-minute training session that focused on fundamental skills such as ball handling, layups, jump shots and defensive positioning. This training was under the direction of an experienced AAU coach/ trainer. The next 45 minutes was a scrimmage that used a certified referee who explained all calls so that the learning continued.

The clinic went on for six weeks and was a huge success . There are already plans to expand the concept in the Fall with twice as many teams. The girls learned fundamentals and had fun, all under the AAU banner! The coaches from the schools which participated were completely supportive and enthusiastic as it helped build their programs.

At this time of the year, we are talking about national championships, rankings and recruiting. This D League concept developed by Jon Lawniczak is yet another example that AAU is so much more than just games and championships .

Jim Fox
Special Assistant to the AAU President for the Growth of Basketball

Panthers Take the Title

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 21:59:35 GMT

Coach beamer Pulls Double Duty for AAU and WINS!

The coach has done it again!

The Season is OVER!

2024 AAU Membership Change Notice

rene@nfluencegroup.com (Rene Faulcon) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 08:29:55 GMT

Needed Changes for AAU Membership in 2024

2024 AAU Membership Year

The members of the Special Congress convened and addressed the urgent need to raise membership fees. This body of AAU Leadership took decisive action, and have unanimously approved a new membership fee structure to begin with the 2024 AAU membership year.

Please note, even with this fee raise, the AAU still offers one of the lowest, if not the lowest athlete membership fee, in the youth sports industry today. For little more the the cost of a meal from any fast food franchise, your athletes have the opportunity to participate in 45 AAU sports and multiple opportunities to compete in AAU licensed events. This new membership fee structure will begin in the 2024 AAU membership year.

WHY THIS CHANGE MATTERS

SURVIVAL: Continue to adapt or the AAU will be no more
DIVERSIFY: Don't rely on a single event or entity for our existence.
INVEST: We need to invest $$ into our sport committees
FUND: Create a sports development fund that sport committees can utilize for growth and expansion
EVENT HOSTS: Invest in our event operators to support their efforts and assist in their continued success
FOUNDATION: Ensure that we have a home for years to come
LEGACY: It is our duty to leave a legacy for the next 100 years

Track and Field Results SC

rene@nfluencegroup.com (Rene Faulcon) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:12:41 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.