The WBA is pleased to announce our Coaching Leads for the next two VJBL seasons are Mason Rogers and Jackie Gibson.

Jackie joins Werribee from Collingwood Basketball Association as Boys Coaching Lead, while Mason returns as Girls Coaching Lead.

Jackie enjoyed a distinguished Big V playing career with Altona, Hume City, Melbourne University and Collingwood – where she was captain of the senior side in 2017. She also played in the New Zealand Women’s National League for the Auckland Lady Hawks.

Alongside playing, she has developed her coaching resume with coaching stints as New Zealand U15 and U17 national talent coach, in the Big V, VJBL at VC level and as coaching lead of various age groups at Collingwood. Jackie has also been a Basketball Victoria NITP and State Performance Program Coach.

Jackie has acquired many hours of volunteer coaching work at every level of junior basketball and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She holds an Association (level 2) coach accreditation.

Impressively, during her time at the helm of Collingwood’s U16 Boys, Jackie became the first head coach in the association’s history to lead an U16s team to VC and her team is playing in the championship game this weekend.

Jackie said she couldn’t wait to hit the ground running in her new role at Werribee Basketball.

“I’m very excited about this new opportunity as Boy’s Coaching Lead and am looking forward to building new relationships across the club.”

“I am very passionate about the development of coaches and junior players, in helping to create pathways through to senior programs and continuing to foster an environment where Werribee’s juniors can thrive on and off the court,” said Jackie.

Mason returns as Girls Coaching Lead for the 2018/19 season after a successful year with our program in 17/18.

Mason is an experienced head coach having lead his own VJBL teams and our Youth League Women’s side in 2018. He has also coached in Basketball Victoria’s NITP and has been involved with junior state teams at number of levels. Mason also holds an Association (level 2) coach accreditation.

His time at Werribee was preceded by successful VJBL coaching stints at Bulleen and Nunawading, including at VC level.

Mason said he’s thrilled to be continuing in his role as Girls Coaching Lead and was excited about the direction of our program.

“I am really excited to see the progression the junior representative program makes heading into the 2018/19 season. After a year of implementing our club curriculum and creating consistent teaching across the board, I truly believe that we will see a huge improvement in individual player development, naturally leading to our teams being more successful across the board,” Mason said.

Werribee Basketball is pleased to open registrations for the 2018/19 Werribee Devils Junior Representative Tryouts.

CLICK HERE to access the 2018/19 Werribee Devils Junior Representative Tryouts Information Pack

What is VJBL & what is Representative Basketball?

The Melb Utd. Victorian Junior Basketball League incorporates competitions conducted state-wide and provides the highest level of junior competition in Victoria. VJBL boasts almost 1300 representative teams from over 55 associations across Victoria. The competition includes the U12 to U21 age groups, in a graded structure from Victorian Junior Championship League to the Regional Competition. The Victorian Junior Championship League serves as a benchmark for excellence in competition and is the premier competition for junior teams in Victoria. The VJBL has been a key pathway for many of Australia’s best players including Andrew Bogut, Penny Taylor, Andrew Gaze, Ben Simmons, Elizabeth Cambage and Michelle Timms just to name a few.

Playing representative basketball requires attendance at 2 weekly practice sessions and a Friday night game. All Werribee Devils VJBL Representative Teams have coaches that are suitably qualified, holding a minimum level one coaching accreditation and a mandatory working with children check. All coaches work under the guidance of the Player & Coach Development Manager and the Representative Coaching Leads. Werribee Basketball aims to have a program that strongly aligns with the Basketball Victoria and Basketball Australia player development pathway, and provides opportunities for all players to play at the highest level they can achieve.

Werribee Basketball encourages all players looking to take their game to the next level to attend these tryouts.

Rep Tryouts Dates & Times

U/12 boys & girls (Athletes born 2008 – 2010)

Session 1 – Friday 14^thSeptember, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Session 2 – Sunday 16^thSeptember, 8:00am – 10:00am

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rdSeptember, 8:00am – 10:00am

U/14 boys & girls (Athletes born 2006-2007)

Session 1 – Sunday 16^thSeptember, 11:00am – 1:00pm

Session 2 – Friday 21^stSeptember, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rdSeptember, 11:00am – 1:00pm

U/16 boys & girls (Athletes born 2004-2005)

Session 1 – Friday 14^thSeptember, 9:00pm – 10:30pm

Session 2 – Sunday 16^thSeptember, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rdSeptember, 2:00pm – 4:00pm

U/18 boys & girls (Athletes born 2002-2003)

Session 1 – Sunday 16^thSeptember, 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Session 2 – Friday 21^stSeptember, 9:00pm – 10:30pm

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rdSeptember, 5:00pm – 7:00pm

PLEASE NOTE U/21 tryout dates are TBC (Athletes born 1999-2001)

Tryouts will be held at Eagle Stadium – 35 Ballan Rd, Werribee.

Representative Age Groups for the 2018/19 VJBL season

U12 – players born 2008 to 2010

U14 – players born 2006 to 2007

U16 – players born 2004 to 2005

U18 – players born 2002 to 2003

U21 – players born to 1999 to 2001

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WERRIBEE DEVILS VJBL TRYOUTS

*All players trying out must complete the online registration form

*Please ensure all information is accurate and correct

Cost of attending tryouts

The tryout registration fee is $15.

Information for players trying out from other associations

All players trying out from other associations must provide a signed “Permission to Train” (PTT) form. If this form is not provided, you will not be allowed to tryouts. This form can be found on the VJBL website.

Registering on the day of tryouts

We are encouraging all athletes to register prior to their first tryout, however if athletes are unable to do so, they can register on the day. Registration on the day must be paid for by a credit or debit card. No cash will be accepted on the day.

Information for players unable to attend tryouts

*Please note that attendance of at least 2 tryouts is required to be selected in a team.

*Any player unable to attend 2 or more tryouts MUST apply for an exemption by emailing reece.potter@wyndhambasketball.com. Exemptions will be granted at the discretion of the WBA Player & Coach Development Manager.

*Any player unable to attend 2 or more try outs MUST still register and pay online.

*Players who are injured are still required to register and attend tryouts to observe. Injured players must provide a medical certificate and apply for an exemption as above.

*Players who are ill are not required to attend tryouts while ill, but must still register and pay online. Players who are ill must provide a medical certificate and apply for an exemption as above.

Please note the WBA understands with these tryout dates there is potential for some teams to be still playing finals in the 2017/18 season.

See below an overview of potential impacts.

LEVEL	DATES	IMPACT
VJL 5 and below	Grand finals on Saturday 15^thSeptember	Athletes available for 2 or more tryout dates and therefore are not impacted
VJL 1-4	Grand finals on Friday 14^thSeptember	Athletes available for 2 or more tryout dates and therefore are not impacted
VC & VC reserve	Finals on Friday 14^thSeptember Grand finals on Friday 21^stSeptember	Where athletes are impacted, exemptions can be applied for as per the normal process

Please note – more information will be emailed to athletes/parents once they are registered and prior to the tryouts commencing.

Questions can be directed to the Player & Coach Development Manager, Reece Potter.

Email: reece.potter@wyndhambasketball.com OR Phone: (03) 9742 5440

Werribee Basketball is pleased to announce our 2018/19 VJBL coaches for the Werribee Devils Junior Representative Program.

Werribee Basketball Association received over 50 applications to coach in the program this year and we thank all who applied. WBA would like to congratulate all coaches on their appointments and thank them for their commitment to the Werribee Basketball Junior Representative Program.

Click the below links to see age-level and gender coaches:

U12 GIRLS

U12 BOYS

U14 GIRLS

U14 BOYS

U16 GIRLS

U16 BOYS

U18 GIRLS

U18 BOYS

U21 GIRLS

U21 BOYS

Please note: The WBA does not allocate coaches to specific teams (e.g. U12.3 boys) until the end of the Representative Tryout process. This is to ensure that we uphold the highest amount of integrity and transparency in our selection and tryout process. This method is also in place to protect coaches against scrutiny surrounding selection of teams being based on who they coached last year or players they have built relationships with. Finally it protects our parent coaches against accusations that their child only made the team because the parent is the coach.

Questions can be directed to the Player & Coach Development Manager, Reece Potter.

Phone: (03) 9742 5440 OR Email: reece.potter@wyndhambasketball.com

Werribee Basketball is pleased to announce a new coach education initiative for domestic coaches.

As part of Werribee Basketball’s investment in the development of coaches at all levels, the new Domestic Coach Education Clinic provide FREE high quality coach education to ALL Werribee Basketball domestic club coaches.

The Domestic Coach Education Clinics will run once each term on a wide-range of topics.

The first clinic topic will be focusing on shooting technique and finishing.

Coaches attending the clinic will learn to teach:

The set/load/release components of shot technique
The Shadow shooting and form shooting series
Game-like and competitive shooting drills
Layups, dead ball moves and adaptive finishing

Clinic #1 Details:

Topic – Shooting technique and finishing

Date and time – Sunday 9^th September from 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Location – Eagle Stadium, Werribee (Court 8)

Cost – FREE

Coaches attending the session must register online HERE

Questions can be directed to the Player & Coach Development Manager.

reece.potter@wyndhambasketball.com OR (03) 9742 5440

As junior domestic competition returns from the school holiday break, you may notice a spring in the step of Hoppers Crossing Junior Basketball Club players and officials.

During the break, the club was named Werribee Basketball’s domestic club of the year at our Gala Dinner.

Hoppers’ long-time president Mario Costa said the club was thrilled to receive the award.

“It was great to have the club acknowledged for the efforts we have made in transitioning from the smallest club in 2012, to today being the biggest club in the Wyndham area.”

“Our club had a great night at the Gala Dinner. I hope this will be an event that all clubs support next year and in the years to come, as our great domestic competition will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in a couple of years.”

Mario, who joined the club as a parent in 2009, has been president since 2013. He believes there were a number of factors that made Hoppers the great club it is today.

“I’m proud to say that we have an awesome group of children playing for and representing our basketball club.”

“We strive to provide every child with the necessary life skills gained through team sports. We also want to ensure our club is seen as a strong and competitive club that provides pathways for every player, opportunities for development and stability for our long serving, loyal members.”

Mario said all domestic clubs have contributed to the current strength of our competition and Werribee’s representative program.

“Our junior domestic competition has continuously strengthened in both numbers and talent, which has been reflected in the growth of the representative program. It’s great that our local domestic clubs and coaches are contributing to the development of the next generation of young basketballers.

This post is just to let everyone know the dates as early as possible. Registrations and other information will become available at a later date.

2018/19 VJBL Tryout Dates

U/12 boys & girls (athletes born 2008 – 2010)

Session 1 – Friday 14^th September (7:00pm – 8:30pm)

Session 2 – Sunday 16^th September (8:00am – 10:00am)

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rd September (8:00am – 10:00am)

U/14 boys & girls (athletes born 2006 – 2007)

Session 1 – Sunday 16^th September (11:00am – 1:00pm)

Session 2 – Friday 21^st September (7:00pm – 8:30pm)

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rd September (11:00am – 1:00pm)

U/16 boys & girls (athletes born 2004 – 2005)

Session 1 – Friday 14^th September (9:00pm – 10:30pm)

Session 2 – Sunday 16^th September (2:00pm – 4:00pm)

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rd September (2:00pm – 4:00pm)

U/18 boys & girls (athletes born 2002 – 2003)

Session 1 – Sunday 16^th September (5:00pm – 7:00pm)

Session 2 – Friday 21^st September (9:00pm – 10:30pm)

Session 3 – Sunday 23^rd September (5:00pm – 7:00pm)

Note: U/21 tryouts are TBC and will be held later in the year

After extensive consultation with key stakeholders throughout the WBA, we have decided to hold our tryouts earlier this year.

This approach provides our athletes and coaches with the best chance to create a positive team environment prior to the commencement of grading phase 1. This extra time together will greatly help the preperation of each team and allow them to perform at the best of their ability, ensuring they grade as high as possible.

It also provides our athletes a legitimate 2-week break before commencing pre-season. This benefits our players physical and mental prepareration for the season ahead.

On top of the on-court benefits for players and coaches, parents/guardians also get more time to organise logistics, including sourcing the required uniform and attire.

Please note the WBA understands with these tryout dates there is potential for some teams to be still playing finals in the 2017/18 season.

See below an overview of potential impacts.

LEVEL	DATES	IMPACT
VJL 5 and below	Grand finals on Saturday 15^thSeptember	Athletes available for 2 or more tryout dates and therefore are not impacted
VJL 1-4	Grand finals on Friday 14^thSeptember	Athletes available for 2 or more tryout dates and therefore are not impacted
VC & VC reserve	Finals on Friday 14^thSeptember Grand finals on Friday 21^stSeptember	Where athletes are impacted, exemptions can be applied for as per the normal process

Please note that attendance of at least 2 tryout sessions is required to be selected in a side.

Any player unable to attend 2 or more tryouts MUST apply for an exemption. More details on exemptions will be provided when registrations are opened.

A wonderful evening at Eagle Stadium on Saturday night as the Devils went pink for our Youth and Senior Women’s double header.

The night was a celebration and raised much-needed funds for The McGrath Foundation, raising money for breast cancer nurses across Australia.

Werribee Basketball’s High Performance Camp was a great success on Friday, with participants and parents alike raving about the high-intensity clinic.

The first of our four School Holiday Camps this July, High Performance Camp gave VJBL representative players the chance to test their skills using draft combine-style testing with professional testing company Primco Testing Solutions.

Atheletes also had a terrific session with NZ Olympic Coach Kennedy Kereama. Coach Kereama stayed throughout the camp and provided invaluable advice that will help participants develop their on-court skills.

Parents and athletes have already started to let us know what they thought of the camp.

Participant Tyler Evans’ mum Sonia said:

“My son Tyler really enjoyed the high performance camp. We’re stoked to hear that he got the second highest in the vertical leap! It was well run and gives my child a starting point on where he needs to to improve on his skills”

Participant Leo Li said:

“It was fun and inspiring! It taught me a lot of stuff. It was very enjoyable! Epic!”

Josiah Beaten’s father Hugh said:

“My boy was so happy with the way you guys ran it. As a parent who has sat through a few of these and having watched some of yours today I was impressed with the drills you were getting the players to do. More please.”

Devean Lyons’ parents Megan and Clayton said:

“Devean had an awesome day, camp was action packed and well run, look forward to next week’s shooting camp. Job well done WBA! #welovewerribeebasketball”

There are still some places available for our three Holiday Camps coming up in the second week in the holidays: Domestic Shooting on Tuesday, Elite Shooting on Wednesday and Game Play Super Camp on Friday.