You've been offered a VJBL place.
Congratulations — your child has been offered a position in the Junior Warriors VJBL program for 2027. Friday nights against the best clubs in Victoria, from November through to September. This page sets out what the season involves, what it costs, and how to confirm your place.
This page was sent to offered players only.
It isn't linked from anywhere on the site. Please keep the link to your own family — positions are offered individually. Your response goes through the form at the bottom of this page.
The season, in short.
Grading Phase 1 opens the 2027 VJBL season. Every game is on a Friday night, through to Grand Finals in September 2027.
Victorian Junior Basketball League.
The VJBL is the highest level of junior competition in Victoria and the largest of its kind. Josh Giddey, Ezi Magbegor, Andrew Bogut and Jenna O'Hea all started their competitive careers here.
Age eligibility
Players must be under the age limit on 31 December 2027.
| Age group | Born in |
|---|---|
| Under 12 | 2016, 2017 or 2018 |
| Under 14 | 2014 or 2015 |
| Under 16 | 2012 or 2013 |
| Under 18 | 2010 or 2011 |
| Under 20 | 2008 or 2009 |
Players born in 2019 or later cannot play VJBL in the 2027 season.
How it's graded
Teams are graded into divisions across two grading phases, then play the season proper in their division.
| Age group | Tiers |
|---|---|
| U12 & U14 | Victorian Championship (VC) · Victorian Junior League (VJL, graded) · Regional League (RL) |
| U16 & U18 | Victorian Championship (VC) · Victorian Junior League (VJL, graded) |
| U20 | Graded VJBL competition |
The Regional League replaced the former RDL in 2026. It organises U12 and U14 into geographic pools — more Gippsland and regional fixtures, less time on the road.
Friday night — good to know
- Games are home and away, so some Friday nights involve travel to Melbourne or regional venues after school.
- Fixtures, ladders and results are on the VJBL website and the MyHoops app.
- Each game lists up to 12 players. In U12–U16 a maximum of 10 can play in any one game; U18 and U20 can list and play 12.
- U12 and U14 play under the VJBL No Zone rule — man-to-man defence only.
- Exposed jewellery (including studs, watches and bracelets) is not permitted, and fingernails must be cut to a safe length. Taped nails are not accepted.
2027 head coaches.
Head coaches lead selection and training across all teams in their age group, and are your first point of escalation beyond your child's Team Coach.
- U12 Girls Ben Gaze
- U12 Boys Jess Grima
- U14 Girls Shannon Pajdic
- U14 Boys Chris Hartmann
- U16 Girls Pete McEwan
- U16 Boys Shawn Davitt
- U18 Boys Phil Maddocks
- U20 Boys Tony Harris
Team Coach appointments are made once teams are finalised and are ratified by the Director of Warriors Junior Basketball before announcement. Your Team Coach is always your first point of contact for anything team-related.
What the season costs.
We want every family to accept a position knowing exactly what to expect financially. Here is everything in one place.
Paid through PlayHQ — upfront, or in instalments.
A Basketball Victoria charge paid to the venue every game, home and away. Shared across the team. Covers player and spectator entry — there's no separate door charge.
Southern Peninsula and Eltham / Dandenong. Team entry is split equally across the team.
Includes the playing jersey, which is yours to keep. Order by Sunday 11 October 2026.
Paying the season fee
| Payment option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Upfront | Pay the full $850 at registration on PlayHQ. |
| Instalments | Spread the $850 across instalments on PlayHQ. The final instalment is due Friday 20 February 2027. |
Every family pays their share every week, whether or not your child plays that game.
The venue charges the team the same fee no matter who turns up. If one family skips a week because their child is sick, injured, away or not one of the ten to take the court, the other families end up covering their share. This is a team sport, and the weekly fee is a team commitment.
What your weekly share depends on
Venues run either a 60-minute timeslot ($125 per game) or an 80-minute timeslot ($160 per game), shared across however many players are in the team.
| Weekly fee per player | 10 players | 12 players |
|---|---|---|
| 60-minute timeslot ($125) | $12.50 | $10.42 |
| 80-minute timeslot ($160) | $16.00 | $13.33 |
With roughly 25–30 games across grading and the season proper (plus finals for teams that qualify), budget around $260–$480 per player. Your Team Manager pays the venue each week by card or through TeamPay and will tell families how and when to contribute.
Compulsory tournament costs
| Tournament | Dates | Team entry | Per player (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Peninsula | Fri 6 – Sun 8 Nov 2026 | $540 per team — min. four games, plus player & spectator entry all weekend | $45 – $54 |
| Eltham / Dandenong | Fri 22 – Mon 25 Jan 2027 | $100 non-refundable team deposit, plus approx. $65–$70 per player registration* | $73 – $80 |
Per-player figures assume a team of 10–12. *Eltham / Dandenong 2027 registration costs are not yet official and will be confirmed when released.
What it adds up to.
| Player | Season fee | Team sheet fees (est.) | Tournaments (est.) | Uniform bundle | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All VJBL players | $850 | ~$260 – $480 | ~$120 – $135 | $200 | ~$1,430 – $1,665 |
Team sheet estimate based on 25–30 games across grading and the season proper, before finals. Uniform total assumes the full bundle — reused current-style items reduce it. Questions about fees or payment plans: Natasha Billing.
Not included in the above
- Travel to away Friday night games and tournament venues.
- Team sheet fees for finals, for teams that qualify.
- Optional apparel — polo, training shorts, backpack, water bottle.
- Country Representative Program (CRP) costs, if your child also plays CRP — those are separate.
Uniform & apparel.
All mandatory items are bought through our exclusive supplier, iAthletic. Items from previous seasons can be reused if they are in the current Warriors style; old-style items are not permitted.
Uniform ordering closed on Sunday 11 October
If your child still needs gear for Southern Peninsula or the first Friday night, email Natasha today and we'll see what can be done.
Unlike the CRP, VJBL families buy their child's playing jersey, and it is theirs to keep at the end of the season. There is no jersey return or replacement fee.
Mandatory — ordered through iAthletic
- Playing jersey (yours to keep)$55
- Playing shorts — current style$45
- Warm-up top$65
- Training singlet (reversible)$45
- Socks$20
Includes the playing jersey. Saves roughly $30 plus delivery.
Old-style playing shorts are not permitted.
Optional items
- Polo shirtGame-day travel and presentation wear. $65
- Training shorts $35
- Water bottle $15
- Backpack $70
Compression garments must be black, with no visible logos, and fitted to compress.
A ten-month season of Friday nights.
The VJBL is a big commitment of time, money and energy. By accepting a position, you agree to the following.
Player commitment
One compulsory training session a week, every game — including Friday nights that involve travel — both compulsory tournaments, early notice of any absence, and full effort at training and on game night.
Family commitment
Help with scoring and bench duty at home games (training is provided), volunteer at least once at a fundraiser or club event, encourage only from the sideline, and allow 24 hours before raising anything with a coach.
Domestic eligibility
Players must have completed at least two WBA domestic seasons, one of which is the current Winter or preceding Summer season. "Completed" means playing enough games to qualify for finals.
The 2027 season calendar.
Diarise the two compulsory tournaments now — selection carries a commitment to attend both in full. If your child has a known conflict with either, speak with the age group head coach before accepting.
| Phase | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform pack order deadline | Sun 11 Oct 2026 | Order by this date Order through iAthletic |
| Southern Peninsula tournament | Fri 6 – Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Compulsory |
| Grading Phase 1 | Fri 20 Nov – Fri 11 Dec 2026 | 3 rounds + crossover round |
| School holiday break | 18 Dec 2026 – 22 Jan 2027 | No games |
| Eltham / Dandenong tournament | Fri 22 – Mon 25 Jan 2027 | Compulsory |
| Grading Phase 2 | Fri 29 Jan – Fri 26 Feb 2027 | 3 rounds + crossover rounds |
| Season proper | Fri 5 Mar – Fri 20 Aug 2027 | 18 rounds (some byes, varies by competition) |
| Finals & Grand Finals | Fri 20 Aug – Fri 17 Sep 2027 | Grand Final date depends on competition |
No games on Good Friday (26 March), the King's Birthday / NJC weekend (11 June), or during the April and July school holidays. Where a VJBL tournament clashes with a CRP country tournament, VJBL takes priority at Southern Peninsula and Eltham / Dandenong.
Four things worth knowing.
Court time isn't guaranteed
Court time is at the coach's discretion — training attendance, performance and development, team needs, attitude and effort, injury or illness. Coaches find meaningful minutes for everyone across the season, but equal court time is not a feature of representative basketball. Concerns go to your Team Coach privately — never during or straight after a game. WBA does not accept court time as grounds for a wellbeing concern.
Finals qualification — 40%
To play finals, a player must play at least 40% of their team's games across Grading Phase 2 and the Championship season, rounded up (9.2 games becomes 10). Players who don't qualify can't play finals unless the VJBL grants an exception.
Medical certificates go to WBA
A medical certificate can count towards finals qualification if your child was listed before the injury. The VJBL only accepts them from the association — send them to Natasha as early as possible. Deadlines are strict and set out in the info pack.
Domestic policy change from 2027/28
From the 2027/28 season, players will need to have registered and played in both the Winter and Summer domestic competitions. We encourage every VJBL player to register for Winter 2027.
Accept your position, then we'll take it from there.
Once you've accepted, registration, team and training details follow. The uniform is the one thing that can't wait.
-
01
Accept your position
Read the info pack in full, then complete the form at the bottom of this page. Tell us about any known clashes with the two compulsory tournaments.
-
02
Order the uniform now
The iAthletic order deadline is Sunday 11 October 2026 — ahead of everything else. Late orders may not arrive in time for Southern Peninsula.
-
03
Register & pay on PlayHQ
Registration instructions follow separately. Pay the $850 season fee upfront or in instalments — the final instalment is due Friday 20 February 2027.
-
04
Teams, coaches & training
Once teams are finalised, your Team Coach is appointed and ratified, and you'll receive your training night, venue and Team Manager details.
Please contact WBA, not Basketball Victoria or the VJBL — all VJBL correspondence goes through the association.
The full information pack.
The pack is the full picture — the competition, grading, the season calendar, head coaches, every fee, the uniform, finals qualification, codes of conduct, child safety, the grievance process and key contacts. Please read it in full before accepting your position.
Questions, answered.
01 Is the $850 season fee the whole cost?
No. On top of the season fee there's the weekly team sheet fee (~$10–$16 per player, per game), the two compulsory tournaments (~$120–$135 per player) and the $200 uniform bundle. All in, budget around $1,430–$1,665 for the season, before travel and finals.
02 Do we pay the team sheet fee if my child doesn't play that week?
Yes. The venue charges the team the same fee no matter who turns up, so every family pays their share every week — sick, injured, away, or not one of the ten to take the court. Otherwise the other families end up covering it.
03 Can we pay the season fee in instalments?
Yes. Choose instalments on PlayHQ at registration. The final instalment is due Friday 20 February 2027. For anything else about payment plans, talk to Natasha.
04 Do we have to buy the whole uniform bundle?
The five items — jersey, playing shorts, warm-up top, training singlet and socks — are mandatory. Bought individually they're around $230 plus delivery; the bundle is $200. Items from previous seasons can be reused if they're in the current Warriors style. Old-style playing shorts are not permitted. Order by Sunday 11 October 2026.
05 My child also plays CRP. Is that okay?
Yes — families can do one or both. CRP tournaments and VJBL Friday nights run on different calendars. Where a VJBL tournament clashes with a CRP country tournament, VJBL takes priority at Southern Peninsula and Eltham / Dandenong. The fees and uniforms are separate: VJBL families buy their jersey and keep it; CRP singlets are provided and returned.
06 Will my child get equal court time?
No — court time in VJBL is at the coach's discretion and is never guaranteed. Coaches are expected to find meaningful minutes for all players across the season. In U12–U16, only 10 of up to 12 listed players can take the court in any one game.
07 What if my child gets injured during the season?
Send a medical certificate to Natasha as early as possible — it can count towards the 40% finals qualification if your child was already listed before the injury. The VJBL only accepts certificates from the association, and the deadlines are strict.
08 What happens with a behavioural technical foul?
WBA has a zero tolerance policy: any player who receives a Behavioural Technical Foul is substituted off immediately and suspended from their next game. Basketball Victoria applies its own escalating penalties on top. The same policy applies to coaches.
09 Who do I contact?
Fees, registration, uniforms, medical certificates and game-night logistics: Natasha Billing at tash.billing@warragulbasketball.org.au. Team matters: your Team Coach once appointed. Child safety or integrity: Dave Thomas, General Manager and Acting Child Safety & Integrity Officer, at dave.thomas@warragulbasketball.org.au — never wait or work up the ladder for those.
Confirm your place.
This form is how you reply to your offer — please don't email your response, as we're collecting them all here. Read the info pack before you submit: by accepting you're confirming the commitments set out on this page.
Questions before you commit?
Ask them before you accept — we'd rather answer now than after the season starts. Please contact WBA rather than the VJBL; they refer parent enquiries back to us.
Your contact for fees, registration, payment plans, uniforms, medical certificates and game-night logistics.
tash.billing@warragulbasketball.org.auProgram leadership, selection and team movement. Ratifies all coach appointments.
rob.dielemans@warragulbasketball.org.au