basketball

The United States joined the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as a member in 1934 and it was the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) that FIBA first recognized as the organization that was responsible for USA teams in international competitions.
Until 1974 when the Amateur Basketball Federation of the United States of America (ABAUSA) which later became USA Basektball was formed, various basketball organizations within the U.S. wrestled for control and recognition from FIBA and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
A struggle for control of the USA's international teams developed in the 1960s between the AAU and other U.S. basketball organizations.
It was in the early 1960s that an organization known as the Basketball Federation of the USA (BFUSA) was organized and began its push to be recognized by FIBA.
Consisting of representatives from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (NFSHSAA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), BFUSA continued to push for recognition and support in its effort to replace the AAU as the FIBA recognized basketball federation in the United States.
Just prior to the 1972 Olympics, FIBA revoked its recognition of the AAU, and, rather than recognize BFUSA, instructed the United States to form a new organization containing representation from all U.S. basketball organizations.
So in 1974 ABAUSA was formed and officially recognized by FIBA and by the U.S. Olympic Committee. ABAUSA at that time consisted of representatives from the AAU, Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), Collegiate Commissioners Association, Junior Pro Basketball Association, Inc., National Amateur Basketball Association, NABC, NAIA, NCAA, NFSHSAA, National Jewish Welfare Board, NJCAA, Women's Basketball Association of America, Inc., and the YMCA.
On January 1, 1975, ABAUSA officially took control with its offices located in Jacksonville, Ill., and William Wall serving as its executive director.
The Amateur Sports Act of 1978 changed the dimension and importance of all U.S. National Governing Bodies, and in January 1979 ABAUSA relocated to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
ABAUSA changed its name to USA Basketball on October 12, 1989, shortly after FIBA modified its rules to allow professional basketball players to participate in international competitions. USA Basketball then admitted the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an active member and made the name change.
Through the years, the group responsible for the selection of the U.S. Olympic basketball teams has changed, as has the process for selecting the teams.
Although the AAU established a Basketball Committee, beginning with the 1936 Olympics, the first Olympic Games to feature men's basketball as an official medal sport, the selection of the USA Olympic teams and coaching staffs was handled by the U.S. Olympic Basketball Games Committee (originally known as the American Olympic Committee Basketball Committee).
The 1936 Olympic Basketball Games Committee originally consisted of six representatives of the AAU, four representatives from the NCAA, and three other representatives, two of which were appointed by the American Olympic Committee.
The 1948 Olympic team was still selected by the 13-member U.S. Olympic Basketball Games Committee, however, eight teams participated in the Olympic Trials -- three AAU teams, two NCAA teams, and one team from the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) and YMCA.
Selection for the '52 Olympic basketball team was handled by a 14-member Olympic Basketball Games Committee. The Olympic Trials again featured eight teams in a playoff -- the NCAA Tournament winner and runner-up, the National Invitational Tournament winner, the NAIB Tournament winner and the top four finishers from the AAU National Tournament (Junior College, U.S. Armed Forces and YMCA teams were eligible to compete in the AAU championship).
By the 1956 Olympics, the Basketball Games Committee had been restructured so the AAU and NCAA each had six representatives and the U.S. Armed Forces four. And for the first time the Olympic Trials consisted of four teams -- the AAU Tournament champion and runner-up, a college all-star squad and an Armed Forces all-star team.
In 1960, the Games Committee selected from eight teams -- three AAU squads, the NCAA champion, a NCAA university all-star team, a NCAA college all-star team, an Armed Forces all-star team, and a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) all-star team.
The 1964 U.S. Olympic Basketball Games Committee consisted of eight AAU representatives, eight NCAA representatives and four U.S. Armed Forces representatives. This committee selected the 1964 Olympic team from a trials which consisted of three NCAA all-star teams, two AAU all-star squads, and one NAIA all-star team.