There are nine age divisions in AAU girls’ basketball. There is a division for every year beginning at age 9. The nine divisions would be: 9:U (nine and under),10:U, 11:U, 12:U, 13:U, 14:U, 15:U, 16:U (now-2006- called the "Junior Division"), and 18:U (now - 2006-called the Senior Division").

The cut-off date was changed at the National AAU Convention in 2007 from January 1 to July 1. However old the player WAS on June 30, 2007 would be the youngest age group that she could participate in for the DQT in 2008. If Mildred is 12 on June 30, she can play in the 12:U age division even though she turns 13 on July 1. Younger players may always "play up" (in older divisions), but older players may not play down in the DQT’s (District Qualifying Tournament – more commonly referred to as the "state tournament").

This change in the cut-off date should allow players in the same grade to play together. Previously players with late birthdays (Oct., Nov., Dec.) had to play”up” (with players from the next grade up).

Friendship games (tournaments) can be an exception to the rule. Frequently we will have teams that are a combination of age groups. A 7th grade team may have players that are 12 and 13 years old. It may have 9 players that are 12 and one player that is 13. In the DQT’s this team would have to play in the age group of its oldest player (13). But in friendship games where the primary interest is competition, this team may play at 12. Select teams are commonly playing "up" in friendship tournaments and developing teams are often playing "down". Friendship games are an opportunity to play against good competition. There are usually no trophies, no records are kept, no teams can qualify for anything from playing in friendship tournaments – so the real interest is in matching up teams that are competitive against one another.

If you have a team of multiple ages, make sure you discuss it with the tournament host so that your team will be properly placed. All of us want good competitive games when we play at friendship tournaments. There is no useful purpose playing teams that you will beat by 30 points or visa versa.