Organised sport is BACK in Wyndham.

The latest lifting of restrictions by the state government, community sport for both senior and junior competitions is back on court.

Team sports like basketball and netball play a critical role within the Wyndham community with massive numbers competing in a serious nature and casually.

Western Leisure Services, Wyndham Basketball Association and Wyndham Netball Association are excited to be able to again provide these competitions to our community and are all committed to doing so in a COVID-safe environment.

Competitions will look different, with player safety at the forefront of our organisation’s minds and number restrictions within the stadium still in place.

A good place to start is by viewing WLS’s stadium walkthrough video by CLICKING HERE.

Rules in place for Wyndham Basketball

• 10 players per team
• 1 coach
• 1 assistant coach
• 1 team manager
• 1 scorer

Junior competitors (aged 18 and under) can have one parent/carer per athlete as a spectator.

There are NO spectators allowed at senior competitions (aged 19 and over).

Junior players need to register with their club

Senior teams can REGISTER HERE

TIMING RULES

60 MINUTE GAME SCHEDULE

2 x 20 minute halves (U10’s through Seniors)

Warm Up Period: 2 minutes (timed on game clock)

Half time: One (1) minute

Time Outs: 1 per team per half. Time outs are not permitted in the last minute of first half and last three minutes of the second half.

Clock stops: Running clock for all competitions (clock doesn’t stop)
Game clock: All games will be run off a central clock; games will start and finish at the same time.

Rep Tryouts Dates & Times 

U21 – players born 2001 to 2003

Wyndham Basketball is pleased to open registrations for the 2020/21 Wyndham Junior Representative Program Tryouts.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS

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. Melb Utd. 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 & Michelle Timms just to name a few.

Playing representative basketball requires attendance at 2 weekly practice sessions and a Friday night game. All Wyndham 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. Wyndham 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.

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

• All players trying out must complete the online registration form
• Please ensure all information is accurate

Cost of attending tryouts

The tryout registration fee is $15.

Registering on the day of tryouts

We are encouraging all athletes to register prior to their first tryout, as numbers for tryouts may be limited. To avoid missing out please register online. If applicable, 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 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 tryout. This form can be found on the VJBL website.

Information for players unable to attend tryouts

• 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 must still register and pay online. Players who are ill or showing any symptoms MUST NOT attend any training sessions and stay home. You must still apply for an exemption.

Questions can be directed to the Coaching & Programs Coordinator, Jackie Gibson.

Email: jackie.gibson@wyndhambasketball.com OR Phone: (03) 9742 5440

Gerard Hillier will continue his decorated coaching career in 2021 as Wyndham’s new Championship Women Head Coach.

Gerard takes the reigns after a long stint with Southern Peninsula’s CW team and while continuing to coach at National level in 3×3 and within Basketball Victoria’s High-Performance Program.

He brings a wide range of experience and a passion for developing players to the role and is excited for the season ahead.

“Like everyone, it has been a frustrating year for the CW team. With all the momentum that comes with winning a championship, to not even get onto the court in 2020, that has been extremely difficult for the playing group, so I am focused on helping them return to the court and continue their winning ways” Hillier explained.

“With the outlook – in terms of being able to play – looking much brighter for 2021, I’m pumped to take over what has been such a successful program over the last couple of years, and equally as excited to promote some of the Wyndham local youngsters in to a more senior role within our program to ensure that our success continues well in to the future”

WBA General Manager Craig Armstead said the association was thrilled to be able to follow on Reece Potter’s successful stint as CW Head Coach with such an accomplished women’s coach.

“To have a coach with Gerard’s credentials on staff as our Player & Coach Development Manager, it made logical sense that he should coach our Championship Women.”

“He has coached at basically every level in Australia and has extensive knowledge and experience within the Champ Division. It was a really natural fit and the association is excited to see where Gerard can take the program,” Armstead said.

Gerard will be joined by returning Championship Men’s Coach and Boomers legend John Dorge.

At the Youth League level, as previously announced, Grant Duca will again lead the Youth Men, while Corey Michailidis steps up into the role of Youth Women head coach.

Wyndham Basketball is pleased to announce our 2020/21 VJBL coaches for our Junior Representative Program.

We again received a high number of 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 our 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, Gerard Hillier or Coaching and Programs Coordinator, Jackie Gibson.

gerard.hillier@wyndhambasketball.com or jackie.gibson@wyndhambasketball.com

The WBA’s 2020 AGM agenda and 2019 minutes are now available for all members:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2020 AGM AGENDA

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2019 AGM MINUTES

The Wyndham Basketball Association is excited to reveal Gerard Hillier has secured the role of Player and Coach Development Manager.

Boasting an impressive coaching and administrative resume, Gerard brings a wealth of basketball-specific knowledge to the role and will help drive the WBA’s players and coaches to the next step.

During a 10 year tenure at Southern Peninsula Basketball Association, Gerard has coached at just about every level of basketball, including running Basketball Victoria’s high performance hub, at state level with Vic Country, in Big V Championship and in the VJBL.

On top of this extensive experience, Gerard has been at the forefront of the exciting 3×3 format, working as a coach at the Australian level.

With his passion for player development, Gerard said he was looking forward to getting to work at Wyndham and helping our players and coaches readjust after a long period away from the game.

“Obviously this has been an extremely challenging time for everyone in our sport, but it has been heartening to see players and coaches continue to commit to improvement through online sessions,” Gerard explained.

“I have seen Wyndham lead the way in this space and was involved in the Online Coaching Clinics earlier in the year, so I’m thrilled to be on board and can’t wait to bring my knowledge and experience to the WBA’s program.”

WBA General Manager Craig Armstead said Gerard would be a terrific asset for our association.

“Gerard’s resume speaks for itself, with experience across all levels of basketball, and his commitment to improvement during his time at Southern Peninsula really stood out for the WBA Executive,” Craig explained.

“We’re thrilled to welcome him to Wyndham and look forward to our program growing under his guidance.”

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & NOMINATIONS FOR COMMITTEE POSITIONS

All members are hereby advised that the Annual General Meeting for the Wyndham Basketball Association will be held on:

Thursday 12^th November 2020 at 7.00pm, Online via Zoom

The attached positions will be declared vacant at the meeting and opened for nominations. If you wish to nominate a member for a position, please fill in this form and return it to the club’s Secretary no later than 6:00pm on Friday 1st November 2020.

October 29th, 2020   6pm:

• All New Business to be forwarded to the WBA Secretary

November 1st, 2020 6pm:     

• Nominations for Vacant Positions to be forwarded to the WBA Secretary 
• Delegates Names and Contact Details to be forwarded to the WBA Secretary

November 5^th, 2020:

• Agenda Posted

CLICK HERE FOR THE NOTICE OF BUSINESS

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL ELECTED POSITIONS NOMINATION FORM

The WBA Executive Team is excited to announce our new General Manager, Craig Armstead.

Craig joins the team with a wealth of experience as a sports administrator, including as CEO at the Essendon District Football League, Consumer Business Manager at the Geelong Cats and General Manager – Clubs and Memberships at Greyhound Racing Victoria.

Having a love of basketball since playing in his younger days, Craig also previously worked as the General Manager of Marketing & Sales for the former South Dragons NBL franchise.

Craig said he was thrilled to take up the GM role and couldn’t wait to help drive our community’s return to the basketball court.

“Wyndham Basketball is an exciting place to be. It’s an association on the rise and I can’t wait to be part of it,” Craig explained.

“I’m passionate about sports participation and administration and I love basketball. My aim is to use my knowledge and experience to continue to build on the WBA’s professionalism and successes and ensure we’re providing the best possible opportunities for juniors, social basketballers and elite players, referees and coaches.

WBA President Paul Jones said the WBA was pleased to have secured a General Manager with Craig’s enthusiasm and experience.

“Craig has such extensive sports administration experience and I’m really pleased a lot of that has been in member-based organisations like ours. It means he brings an acute understanding of what is required in an association such as the WBA,” Paul said.

“We wanted to find someone for this role who knew our sport intimately, but also had strong experience in team management, business understanding and a strategic outlook. In Craig, we believe we have found that person.”

“Craig impressed us immensely and we can’t wait to work with him to help take the WBA to the next level,” Paul said.

Craig joins the WBA team as it works closely alongside Basketball Victoria and Basketball Australia to develop a safe strategy to return to the court when Covid-19 restrictions allow.

While we’re edging closer to a return to court, Wyndham Basketball is committed to helping prepare junior players of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to be ready to return!

Over the school holidays we’re offering 4, FREE online sessions at three different levels – Aussie Hoops for beginners, Domestic for all players in our domestic competition and VJBL Rep for those striving to make the best team possible next session.

You only need to register once and you will be sent the Zoom link which will be the link for all 4 sessions across the two weeks.

AUSSIE HOOPS

Wednesday Sept 23 & 30
Thursday Sept 24 & Oct 1

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Domestic

Monday Sept 21 & Sept 28
Wednesday Sept 23 & Sept 30

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

VJBL Rep players

Monday Sept 21 & 28
Friday Sept 25 & Oct 2

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Any questions about any of the holiday sessions can be emailed to Emilee Harmon: emilee.harmon@wyndhambasketball.com