AAU Junior Olympic Games

Annual competition for multiple sports

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the pinnacle competitions held annually by the US Amateur Athletic Union.

## Overview

[edit]

The AAU Junior Olympic Games are known as the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States. It has become the showcase event of the AAU Sports Program. Recent hosts include Des Moines, Iowa; Greensboro, North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virginia; Houston, Texas; and Detroit, Michigan in 2017.

The AAU is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. The AAU philosophy of “Sports for All, Forever” is shared by over 500,000 members and 60,000 volunteers nationwide. Over 34 sports are offered in the 57 AAU Districts. Programs offered by the AAU include AAU Sports Program, AAU Junior Olympic Games, AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, and the AAU Complete Athlete Program.

The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sports representing the United States in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 and the establishment of the United States Olympic Committee, the AAU has focused its efforts on providing sports programs for participants of all ages beginning at the grassroots level.

## History

[edit]

The AAU Junior Olympic Games originated from 'telegraphic' state track and field competitions. National Champions were determined through telephone and/or mail entries instead of head-to-head competition. In 1949, the AAU conducted its first 'live' national meet in Cleveland, Ohio – giving birth to the AAU Youth Sports Program. Because of the success of the national track and field head-to-head competition, AAU leaders solicited support from the business and corporate sectors. The Chevrolet Division of General Motors Corporation and the Quaker Oats Company assisted the AAU in their vision of the number of youngsters that could be helped.

As the popularity of the AAU Youth Sports Program increased, the AAU leaders decided to conduct two national championships simultaneously. The idea came to fruition when Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey proclaimed the first AAU Junior Olympic Games open on August 21, 1967, in downtown Washington, D.C., at the Departmental Auditorium on Constitution Avenue. Five hundred twenty-three athletes competed in the inaugural AAU Junior Olympic Games that year. National champions were determined in swimming and track and field. Eighteen AAU records in swimming and three in track and field were established.

Since its beginning in Washington, D.C., the AAU Junior Olympic Games have been conducted in 19 states and 30 cities across the United States. The state of Tennessee leads the way with six AAU Junior Olympic Games to its credit. "There's nothing junior about it" has become the theme of the AAU Junior Olympic Games while growing to over 16,000 participants in over 20 sports. The Game's popularity has exploded to now represent all 50 states and several United States territories.

## Sports currently held

[edit]

The following is a list of sports that currently take place at the Junior Olympic Games.

* Aquatics - Diving and Swimming
* Athletics Track & Field, Cross Country, and the Multi-Events
* Baseball
* Baton Twirling
* Basketball
* Beach Volleyball
* Bodybuilding \- Teen, Collegiate, Women, and Men's Natural
* Bowling
* Cheerleading
* Dance/Drill
* Equestrian
* Field Hockey
* Fencing
* Football
* Golf
* Gymnastics
* Inline Hockey
* Judo
* Jump Rope
* Karate
* Lacrosse
* Power Lifting
* Pickleball
* Indoor Soccer
* Roller Derby
* Softball
* Sport stacking
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Volleyball
* Water Polo
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling
* Tumbling and Trampoline

## Sports previously held

[edit]

Previously, a version of floor hockey whose rules were codified by Canada's Sam Jacks during the Great Depression in Toronto, Ontario, was a part of the games. In 1947, Jacks became the head coach of the Canadian Floor Hockey Team which competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the USA where the Canadian team finished in third place.[1] Two years later in 1949, the AAU conducted its first 'live' national meet in Cleveland, Ohio, giving birth to the AAU Youth Sports Program. Today the floor game is no longer a part of the Junior Games, but influenced the creation of a floor hockey variant which now exists as a part of the Special Olympics. Jacks would eventually go on to create the winter sport of ringette in 1963.

## Bodybuilding

[edit]

Bodybuilding was considered an appropriate sport to be judged in the AAU due to its focus and "good moral values to athletic youth." It is divided into four classes: Teen (ages 14–18), Collegiate (19-28), Women's, and Men's Natural. As of 2011, there has been no notice of how the sport's admission to the event line-up will be viewed by audiences. Because the sport is not "athletic" in its competitive sense, contestants will have to do the following: do a posing routine with including the required poses in three stages (preliminary, solo, and final posedown), and they will have to submit a video essay on the sport and its effects on their lives, including nutrition, exercise, and the bodybuilding lifestyle. It is important to note that the Teen Bodybuilding event will take place at a local high school to promote the sport among the youth and popularize it with worried parents. Bodybuilders will be judged on the following: overall mass, symmetry, aesthetic presentation, posing routine, submitted video essay, and inquiry. Any contestant found to be using illegal substances will be automatically disqualified, without opportunity to qualify in future AAU events.

## Locations

[edit]

Year  | Site  | Sports  | Athletes

|
|
|

1967 | Washington, D.C. | 2  | 523
1968 | Knoxville, TN | 4  | 690
1969 | San Diego, CA | 4  | 600
1970 | Knoxville, TN  | 5  | 600
1971 | Colorado Springs, CO | 6  | 650
1972 | Spokane, WA | 6  | 675
1973 | Ann Arbor, MI | 6  | 700
1974 | Lincoln, NE | 8  | 1519
1975 | Ithaca, NY | 8  | 2095
1976 | Memphis, TN | 8  | 2300
1977 | Lincoln, NE  | 7  | 1700
1978 | Lincoln, NE  | 8  | 1763
1979 | Lincoln, NE  | 7  | 2349
1980 | Santa Clara, CA | 7  | 2000
1981 | Winston-Salem, NC | 8  | 2351
1982 | Memphis, TN  | 13  | 3229
1983 | Notre Dame, IN | 15  | 4829
1984 | Jacksonville, FL[2] | 15  | 3460
1985 | Iowa City, IA | 15  | 3300
1986 | St. Louis, MO | 15  | 4848
1987 | Syracuse, NY | 14  | 4159
1988 | Lawrence, KS | 14  | 3949
1989 | San Antonio, TX | 14  | 5200
1990 | St. Petersburg, FL | 14  | 5447
1991 | Tallahassee, FL | 13  | 5866
1992 | Rochester, MN | 14  | 5937
1993 | Knoxville, TN  | 16  | 5937
1994 | Space Coast, FL | 21  | 8902
1995 | Des Moines, IA | 27  | 8734
1996 | New Orleans, LA | 23  | 9862
1997 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 24  | 12,388
1998 | Hampton Roads, VA | 24  | 11,355
1999 | Cleveland, OH | 26  | 12,661
2000 | Orlando, FL | 24  | 13,227
2001 | Hampton Roads, VA  | 24  | 13,282
2002 | Knoxville, TN  | 23  | 13,657
2003 | Detroit, MI | 21  | 12,224
2004 | Des Moines, IA  | 23  | 10,747
2005 | New Orleans, LA  | 25  | 18,051
2006 | Hampton Roads, VA | 25  | 13,609
2007 | Knoxville, TN | 22  | 13,167
2008 | Detroit, MI | 20  | 12,852
2009 | Des Moines, IA | 19  | 11,836
2010 | Hampton Roads, VA | 17  | 14,740
2011 | New Orleans, LA | 19  | 15,727
2012 | Houston, TX | 20  | 14,252
2013 | Detroit, MI | 18  | 12,569
2014 | Des Moines, IA | 18  | 12,030
2015 | Hampton Roads, VA | 18  | 14,636
2016 | Houston, TX | 18  | 14,274
2017 | Detroit, MI | 20  | TBD
2018 | Des Moines, IA | 20  | TBD
2019 | Greensboro, NC | 20  | TBD
2020 | Brevard County, FL | TBD  | TBD
2021 | Houston, TX | TBD  | TBD
2022 | Greensboro, NC | TBD  | TBD
2023 | Des Moines, IA | TBD  | TBD
2024 | Greensboro, NC | TBD  | TBD
2025 | Houston, TX | TBD  | TBD

## Dance/Drill Team event categories

[edit]

* Ballet
* Pointe
* Jazz (dance)
* Lyrical
* Tap
* Novelty
* All Male
* Show Production
* Acrobatic/Dance
* Hip hop/Funk
* Modern/Abstract
* Prop
* High Kick
* Ballroom (DanceSport and Salsa)
* Clogging

## Karate event categories

[edit]

* Kata
* Kumite
* Team Kumite
* Kobudo

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ringette HoF Bio, Ringette HoF Bio (28 April 2015). "Sam Jacks - Bio". Ringette Canada.
2. ^ "AAU/USA JUNIOR OLYMPICS GAMES SOCCER - BOYS UNDER 16" (PDF). AAU Junior Olympic Games. Jacksonville, Florida. August 19, 1984.

## External links

[edit]

* AAU national all-sports website
* AAU national Athletics (track & field, cross country, and multi-events) website[dead link]
* AAU Jr. Olympic Games website
* AAU South Texas District website
* AAU 2008 Junior Olympics Coverage, An Official partnership Between AAU and GoTrybe
* AAU Official Partner - GoTrybe

* v
* t
* e

Multi-sport events

Global

Olympic Games|

* Olympic Games
* Summer
* Winter
* Paralympic Games
* Summer
* Winter
* Youth Olympic Games

Parasports|

* Arafura Games
* Deaflympics
* Summer
* Winter
* Défi sportif
* IBSA World Games
* INAS Global Games
* Invictus Games
* World Dwarf Games
* Special Olympics
* Summer
* Winter
* World Abilitysport Games

Professions|

* International Army Games
* Lumberjack World Championship
* Military World Games
* World Air Games
* World Firefighters Games
* World Police and Fire Games

Youth and students|

* FISU World University Games (Universiade)
* World School Sport Games (Gymnasiade)
* International Youth Green Games
* International Children's Games
* SELL Student Games
* World Interuniversity Games
* Commonwealth Youth Games
* CPLP Games
* University International Sports Festival

Intercommunity|

* Arab Games
* BRICS Games
* Commonwealth Games
* Croatian World Games
* Gay Games
* Highland games
* Islamic Solidarity Games
* Jeux de la Francophonie
* Lusofonia Games
* Maccabiah Games
* Pan-Armenian Games
* World Transplant Games
* World Eskimo Indian Olympics
* World Indigenous Games
* World Polonia Games

Other|

* CSIT World Sports Games
* Dew Tour
* Mind Sports Olympiad
* UCI Cycling World Championships
* World Beach Games
* World Combat Games
* World Games
* World Masters Games
* World Mind Games
* World Nomad Games
* World Skate Games
* World Urban Games
* X Games

Regional

Africa|

* African Games
* African Para Games
* African Youth Games
* All-Africa University Games
* West African University Games

Americas|

* Pan American
* Pan American Games
* Parapan American Games
* Junior Pan American Games
* Americas Masters Games
* Central American and the Caribbean
* Central American and Caribbean Games
* Central American Games
* Latin American
* ALBA Games
* Bolivarian Games
* North American
* CANUSA Games
* North American Indigenous Games
* North American Outgames
* South American
* South American Games
* South American Beach Games
* South American University Games
* South American Youth Games
* Caribbean
* Caribbean Games

Asia|

* Pan Asian
* Asian Games
* Summer
* Winter
* Asian Para Games
* Asian Beach Games
* Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
* Asian Youth Games
* Southeast Asian
* SEA Games
* ASEAN School Games
* ASEAN University Games
* ASEAN Para Games
* Central Asian Games
* East Asian Youth Games
* South Asian Games
* West Asian Games1

Europe|

* Black Sea Games1
* European Games
* European Masters Games
* European Championships
* European Para Championships
* European Para Youth Games
* European Youth Olympic Festival
* EuroGames
* European Universities Championships
* European Universities Games
* Games of the Small States of Europe
* International Erasmus Games

Oceania|

* Australian Youth Olympic Festival
* Micronesian Games
* Pacific Games
* Pacific Mini Games
* Arafura Games

Intercontinental|

* Arab Games
* Arctic Winter Games
* Asia Pacific Deaf Games
* Asia Pacific Masters Games
* Isles
* Indian Ocean Island Games
* Island Games
* Jeux des îles
* Mediterranean Games

National

Americas|

* Canada
* British Columbia
* Ontario
* Quebec
* Saskatchewan
* Western
* Colombia
* United States
* amateur juniors
* seniors
* Warrior Games

NCSG,
United States3|

* Alabama
* California
* Florida
* Massachusetts
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* New York
* North Carolina
* Lakota Nation
* Texas
* Wisconsin

Asia|

* Bangladesh
* China
* All-China Games
* National Games
* National Peasants' Games
* National Youth Games
* India
* Youth
* University
* Indonesia
* Japan
* Malaysia
* Mongolia
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Philippines
* National Games
* Para Games
* Student
* Youth
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Summer
* Winter
* Thailand
* Youth
* Vietnam
* Taiwan
* National Games (Taiwan)

Europe|

* Poland (youth)
* WheelPower

Historical1

Pre-Modern Olympics
(in order, from 1900 BC to 1859 AD)|

* Tailteann Games (ancient)
* Panhellenic Games
* Ancient Olympic Games
* Pythian Games
* Nemean Games
* Isthmian Games
* Heraean Games
* Panathenaic Games
* Roman Games
* Cotswold Olimpick Games
* Gog Magog Games
* Wenlock Olympian Society Annual Games
* Zappas Olympics

Alternatives to the
Modern Olympics|

* Aryan Games
* Friendship Games
* GANEFO
* Goodwill Games
* Inter-Allied Games
* Islamic Games
* Liberty Bell Classic
* People's Olympiad
* Workers' Olympiads
* Spartakiad

Defunct regional or
community events|

* Afro-Asian Games
* Asian Indoor Games
* Asian Martial Arts Games
* Baltic Sea Games
* Black Sea Games
* Central African Games
* East Asian Games
* Far Eastern Championship Games
* FESPIC Games
* Games of the New Emerging Forces
* Pacific Ocean Games
* Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR
* Tailteann Games (modern)
* West African Games
* Women's Islamic Games
* World Youth Games
* IWAS World Games
* Cerebral Palsy Games
* South African Games
* North Dakota
* Netherlands
* Spartakiad of Albania
* Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR
* youth

Winter sports

International|

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Winter University Games
* FIS Games
* Nordic Games1
* Commonwealth1
* World Scout
* Arctic Winter Games
* Kennedy Memorial1
* New Zealand Winter Games
* Winter World Masters Games

Regional|

* National Winter Games of China
* Asian Winter Games
* European Youth Olympic Festival
* Winter X Games Europe
* Russian–Chinese Winter Youth Games

* 1 Defunct
* 2 Sub-national
* 3 51 component games in 36 U.S. states

* Category
* List
* WikiProject

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template