AAU Nationals - Competition Format

In general, the 7 days of competition will consist of the following schedule detailed below.  However, prior to the start of competition there will be team check-in day and some type of extravagant opening ceremony prior to the start play. 

1.  Two days of initial pool play beginning on Saturday and ending on Sunday.  Following the completion of the first round of pool play on Sunday, at least the top two finishers in each initial pool will advance to the championship pools and the remaining teams will be placed in consolation pools and begin play in the classic bracket.

2.  Three days of championship and consolation pool play will take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  A team will typically play 1 game on each of these 3 days, but rain could change the format.  Not less than two teams from each championship pool will advance to the championship bracket of play.  Also, the number of teams advancing from the consolation or classic pools to the consolation bracket will be determined based on the total number of participating teams.

3.  Two days of championship and consolation bracket play will begin on Thursday and conclude on Friday.  Usually a "sudden death" game is played on Thursday to move the field of teams down from 16 teams to 8.  At that point the remaining 8 teams participate in a modified single elimination playoff under which the first through eighth places will be determined.  The consolation or classic bracket will be a single elimination finish.