AAU basketball is often necessary to play at the collegiate level. Experts also say it puts athletes at risk of injuries.
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The basketball athletes of today are training with more structure than in the past. Instead of playing at a public park for a pick-up game, they can be found at facilities like Wichita Sports Forum or Wichita Hoops.
Stories of famous athletes like Tiger Woods or the Williams sisters can encourage athletes to start training young. At an increasing rate, children are specializing in one particular sport, sometimes year-round in hopes of improvement.