NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING

On Friday, January 16th, the National AAU Taekwondo Teams along with the full National Coaching staff and a good number of our Regional Coaches will be gathering in Ft. Myers, FL for our Annual Team Training Weekend! A total of 57 of our 10-11, 12-14, 15-17, and 18-32 Team Members have made the commitment to participate along with National Team Coaches Masters Greg Tubbs, Arlene Limas, Georgie Martinez and Luciano Medina.

"I believe this is the highest number of active Team Members to attend camp ever," says National Sport Chair Michael Friello. This year's camp is being hosted by Regional Coaching Staff Member Toby Oliver at his WCT Training facility in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The training kicks off on Friday at 5:00 PM with full days scheduled for Saturday and Sunday of this Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. In addition to the training, AAU Taekwondo is also hosting a special dinner on Saturday night for athletes, coaches and parents of the team members.

"Last year's Cadet Team captured 17 of 22 possible medals at the Canadian Open in Montreal and our Junior Team took 1st Place at the German Open in Hamburg, Germany. And according to all of the coaches involved, this year's teams are even better! We are extremely pleased and very excited at what this year's Training Camp will provide."

MY AAU STORY – FAHIM MINKAH: RUNNING TIGERS TRACK CLUB

My name is coach Fahim Minkah, and I am head coach and president of RunningTigers Track Club of Texas, Inc. I have been coaching youth age track and field for about 16 years. Running Tigers Track Club is the only club I have coached, but I have volunteer coached at several middle schools in the Southern Dallas area. Fact is I began coaching at Adelle Turner Elementary School (3rd through 6th graders ) under Dallas Independant School District's " Hershey" Track program. Running Tigers began as a summer camp for those students.

As these students grew older our club began to accept students from other schools. We eventually evolved into a hurdles specialty club in an effort to get a higher percentage of youth athletes performances into elite rankings and candidates for college scholarships. We have been very successful at that. We have one girl and one boy(my son) who have been 4 times AAU national champions. Many thought I would retire from coaching after my son (a USA elite hurdler who is currently at Texas A&M) graduated. But they misjudged my motivation to coach.

I coach track because I have an everlasting love for the sport; and volunteer coaching is my way of giving back to the youth of the community, teaching life skills as well as developing some of the finest track athletes in the country and world. I am 75 years old, and not about to stop. I shall coach with professional quality and as a volunteer as long as I continue to be effective at what I do, no matter what age I be blessed to reach.

Coach Fahim Minkah
Running Tigers Track Club of Texas, Inc.

FREE COACHES TRAINING – How To Become Your Personal Best Online Mastermind eCourse

AAU National Football Chair, Keith Noll is pleased to announce that AAU Football is offering a free online coaching program for Coaches, Players & Parents.

The solution lies in the development of your life skills. No amount of knowledge can propel you through your challenges if you do not have the necessary skills to assess your strengths and weaknesses, develop a vision, and implement measurable goals. You must learn the skills that will enable you to make the right choices to achieve your goals.

Better Life Training Playbook for Life & My 100 Ways Journal will help provide you with those skills. CLICK HERE for more information.

WINTER YOUTH NATIONALS RECAP

AAU Wrestling kicked off the new year with the 2015 AAU Winter Youth Nationals! This premier individual youth folkstyle event took place at the Ralston Arena in Ralston, NE from January 3rd – 4th where over 800 athletes from Tots to Schoolboys battled for their chance to win a National Championship belt!

To find out who took home the belt in each age group and weight class, visit www.aauwrestling.net or CLICK HERE.

2015 AAU MITES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Register today for the 2015 AAU Mites National Championships hosted by Minnesota Made Ice Hockey! This event will be taking place from March 5th – 8th at Minnesota Made Ice Hockey Center and Eden Prairie Community Center Ice Arena in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Competition will be available in the following divisions: 7U Mite Minor, 7U-8U Mite Mixed, and 8U Mite Major.

For more information, visit www.aauicehockey.org or CLICK HERE.

HOUSTON AREA GRAND PRIX & SUPER REGIONAL

Fort Bend Fire Volleyball will be hosting the Houston Area Grand Prix this weekend from January 17th – 18th at Slaters Sports Zone in Richmond, TX.

Can't make it to the event this weekend? Fort Bend Fire is also hosting the Greater Houston Area Super Regional with the Texas Tornados. This event will take place from
February 14th – 15th at Slaters Sports Zone.

In each event, competition will be available for age groups 11U, 12U, 13U, and 14U. Winning teams in age divisions with 12 or more teams will receive a free entry fee to the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships or the West Coast AAU Championships. Divisions with less than 12 teams, the entry fee will be discounted.

For more information, visit www.aauvolleyball.org or contact Phil Nickel at 281-341-0200 or by email at phil@fortbendfire.com.

AAU MEMBERS HONORED WITH CHAMPION OF SERVICE AWARDS BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – During today's Florida Cabinet meeting, Governor Rick Scott and Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman awarded six Floridians with the Champion of Service Award, Florida's only statewide volunteer recognition.

Governor Scott said, "Today's Champion of Service recipients serve Florida's children, the elderly, and students with the upmost compassion and dedication. I applaud them for their volunteer work to improve and help the families in their communities, and I am honored to present these individuals with the Champion of Service Award."

"It is an honor to recognize six outstanding volunteers today who serve Floridians of all backgrounds, from students to seniors," said Chester W. Spellman, CEO of Volunteer Florida. "These Floridians have demonstrated a tireless commitment to serving their communities–and our state–and Volunteer Florida is proud to recognize them for their service."

Sue Callaham – St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum
Sue Callaham has provided nearly 900 hours of volunteer service over the last year at the historic St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is dedicated to discovering, preserving, and presenting the story of the nation's oldest port. As a volunteer leader, Sue plays a large part in increasing both civic and visitor engagement at the Light Station, launching the Lighthouse's camp for at-risk youth and personally managing the camp. Sue's enthusiasm and initiative are invaluable as the Lighthouse and Museum continues to provide educational opportunities for students, lead preservation efforts, and provide a positive economic impact to the community.

Allen Gerrell – Mission San Luis
Allen Gerrell, an Air Force Veteran, is a volunteer leader with the historic Mission San Luis in Leon County. Allen spent a year hand-building a historically accurate field cannon carriage, complete with cradle and functioning adjustable artillery range apparatus. It will be put into active service in February 2015. This item is invaluable as an educational component for the public. Allen volunteered a total of 508 hours in 2014, the highest number of hours among Mission San Luis' nearly 200 active volunteers.

Coralene Parker – Clanzel T. Brown Community Center
A lifelong volunteer, Coralene Parker, has been instrumental in organizing volunteer efforts initiatives at the Clanzel T. Brown Community Center in Jacksonville. She is widely known in the community for her enthusiasm, positive attitude, leadership abilities, and hard work. Coralene works with RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation for people over 55. RSVP volunteers provide hundreds of community services through non-profit agencies, schools, and other programs, from reading to disadvantaged students to working at hospitals, environmental agencies, law enforcement offices, and more.

Ernest Sims, Jr., and Alice Sims – Capital City Christian Cruisers
Capital City Christian Cruisers (CCCC) is a component of The WAY (Winning America's Youth) Ministries of Tallahassee, Inc., a community-based youth organization dedicated to meeting the spiritual, social and physical needs of young people and their families. Launched in 1994 with one member, CCCC now serves over 75 young people annually. Since 1994, over 1600 athletes have participated in the club and over 400 athletes have competed at the Amateur Athletic Union Track and Field Junior Olympics. Alice and Ernest Sims have given countless hours to the community by providing youth mentorship, chaplaincy services, behavioral modification workshops, and employment and economic development assistance. Alice and Ernest emphasize confidence-building, positive peer relations, conflict resolution, and family enrichment.

Joseph Taylor – Franklin's Promise Coalition
Joseph Taylor serves as Executive Director of Franklin's Promise Coalition, which connects service providers, churches, institutions, and volunteers to improve the quality of life for Franklin County residents. Franklin's Promise streamlines and improves access to positive youth development and critical emergency management services. A native Floridian, Joseph served for 15 years in the civil service within the Moral, Welfare and Recreation Departments of the U.S. Air Force. His volunteer efforts have extended to the Apalachicola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Alliance for Local Arts, the Historic Apalachicola Business Association, the Franklin County Tourist Development Council, and many more organizations. As Executive Director of Franklin's Promise Coalition, Joe serves on the National Institute of Health's Deepwater Horizon Steering Committee and as the community organizer for Bridges to Circles Franklin, a national poverty reduction initiative.

The Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award honors individuals and groups for their outstanding volunteer efforts.

For more information about the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Awards, click here.

REGISTER FOR THE FESTIVAL FIESTA CLASSIC TODAY!

Are you interested in earning a free entry to the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships or West Coast AAU Championships? If so, the Festival Fiesta Classic is your chance to do so! This event is taking place Valentine's Day weekend from February 14th – 16th at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Competition is available for the following divisions: 12U, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18.

Winning teams in age divisions with 12 or more teams will receive a free entry fee to the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships or the West Coast AAU Championships. In divisions with less than 12 teams, the entry fee will be discounted. First place teams in each age division also have the option to use their free entry to attend the Volleyball Festival taking place from June 25th – 28th at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ.

For more information, visit www.volleyball-festival.com or CLICK HERE.

REGIONAL QUALIFIER BIDS DUE

Attention Event Hosts!  The deadline to submit your bid for a 2015 AAU Athletics Regional Qualifier is almost here!  Please submit your bid application and bid fee by January 20th to the AAU National Headquarters. 

For more information visit www.aauathletics.org or CLICK HERE for the application.

INSIDE AAU TAEKWONDO

On Friday, January 16th, the National AAU Taekwondo Teams along with the full National Coaching staff and a good number of our Regional Coaches will be gathering in Ft. Myers, FL for our Annual Team Training Weekend! A total of 57 of our 10-11, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-32 Team Members have made the commitment to participate along with National Team Coaches Masters Greg Tubbs, Arlene Limas, Georgie Martinez and Luciano Medina.

"I believe this is the highest number of active Team Members to attend camp ever" says National Sport Chair Michael Friello. This year's camp is being hosted by Regional Coaching Staff Member Toby Oliver at his SCT Training facility in Ft. Myers, Florida.

The training kicks off on Friday at 5:00 PM with full days scheduled for Saturday and Sundayof this Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. In addition to the training, AAU Taekwondo is also hosting a special dinner on Saturday night for athletes, coaches and parents of the team members.

"Last year's Cadet Team captured 17 of 22 possible medals at the Canadian Open in Montreal and our Junior Team took 1st Place at the German Open in Hamburg, Germany. According to all of the coaches involved, this year's teams are even better. We are extremely pleased and very excited at what this year's Training Camp will provide."

Click here for the complete Inside AAU Taekwondo.

2015 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION – APPLY NOW!

The AAU Karate Scholarship was first introduced to AAU Karate Members at the 2004 AAU Karate National Championships which was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Over the past ten (10) years, we have had the opportunity to give the scholarship to many deserving individuals.  Will you be the next recipient?

AAU Karate Scholarships are awarded annually to a young man and a young woman who have participated in AAU Karate for a minimum of four years.  No other applications will be accepted.  Applications may be submitted to AAU Karate on behalf of an applicant that meets the qualifications, and (a) will be attending an accredited undergraduate college or university for the academic year beginning in the Fall, or (b) are presently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate college or university.  Two $1,000.00 AAU Karate scholarships will be awarded.

Click Here to download the AAU Karate Scholarship Application   

If you have any questions in regards to the AAU Karate Scholarship, please contact Jennifer Miles, the AAU Karate Sr. Sports Manager, at Jennifer@aausports.org.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DUALS

AAU Wrestling is pleased to announce that registration is now available for the 2015 AAU Elementary School Duals! This event is taking place from April 10th – 12th at the Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN. Weigh-ins will take place from 10am – 1pm at the Meadowview Marriott Convention Center.

Wrestling will begin after opening ceremonies on April 10th and will continue through the 12th. Competition is available for Tots, Bantam, Midget, and Novice divisions.

For more information or to register for this event, CLICK HERE.

UPCOMING AAU DAN PROMOTION TEST

AAU Region 3 (Georgia, Southeastern, North Carolina and South Carolina) has announced that they will be hosting an AAU Dan Promotion Test in Atlanta, Georgia! This event will take place on January 25th, 2015 and will give current AAU members of all ages an opportunity to certify with top level certifiers of both AAU and Kukkiwon. This Dan Promotion test is open to all those testing for 2nd Dan – 7th Dan and is open to WTF, ITF and Tang Soo Do practitioners. Pricing, testing criteria and participant qualifications can be found by clicking here. The application deadline is January 18th, 2015 so register today!