WESTERN PORT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (WPBA)
2026/2027 JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TRYOUTS GUIDELINES
ATTENDANCE
1. Players will not be eligible to register or participate in the 2026/2027 tryouts if they owe money to WPBA from the previous VJBL 2025/2026 season. All outstanding payments due, need to be made to the WPBA prior to registration.
2. Players cannot attend any try out session unless they have pre-registered, we will not be accepting walk-ins. If the link is closed, please contact: tryouts@wpba.com.au or sophie@wpba.com.au
3. Once registration has been confirmed the player will be emailed a week prior to tryouts, their try out number: The assigned number will be the player’s number for all tryout sessions and players must number both legs and both arms with a black or white marker, whichever is more visible before attending each tryout.
4. Bottom age players require their number to be underlined, with – double-bottom age (U12 only) underlining the number with 2 lines. Triple bottom age players underline with 3 lines. (Please refer to diagrams sent in tryout email with tryout number allocation.)
5. Each player/s will be required to check in / have their name checked off, and tryout number checked off by the door staff prior to the session. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to each session to enable us to do this.
6. Existing players MUST wear their Steelers training reversible singlet. New players are to wear a light/dark reversible singlet, bring a drink bottle with name clearly marked and a basketball (size according to age group) with name clearly marked.
7. Each NEW MALE DOMESTIC PLAYER for U12, U14 and U16 MUST attend September 20 tryouts. Please check the registration link for your age.
7.1 You will be notified after this first session if you are successful.
7.2 You will then be expected to attend all remaining tryout sessions unless notified otherwise.
8. The following players will commence their Tryouts at Stage 1:
8.1 All INVITED Domestic Players, Male U12, U14, and U16
8.2 All Female Domestic Players
8.3 All Current Representative Players (both Male & Female) any Club
9. If players are going to be absent for any tryout, please inform WPBA administration as early as possible. Send email to:
tryouts@wpba.com.au or sophie@wpba.com.au
10. To be eligible for final selections, players must attend all sessions unless they have notified the program administrator of their absence. If players do not attend any session and have not notified the program administrator, they will be ineligible for selection.
Parents / guardians and spectators will not be permitted to attend tryouts.
PLEASE NOTE* Anyone seeking a permission to train from Monday 5 October, you will no longer be considered for a WPBA position.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection team will comprise of independent Western Port Basketball Association coaches. Evaluators will rotate courts so that they get to see all players participate in all types of drills and competitions. They will critique skills and basketball ability.
Selection is subject but not limited to Tryout Performance:
Team Balance – to ensure a quality and competitive team, the team may not for example, comprise of all point guards, once the coach has enough point guards his/her other selections will be focused on other positions/skills etc. Coaches will have the flexibility to select some players for specific roles to ensure a balanced team, as well as considering team chemistry when finalising their team.
Skills – fundamental skills, technique, coordination, attitude, sportsmanship, intensity, competitiveness, performance under pressure, court awareness and scrimmage performance.
Decision making – discipline and engagement in practices including work ethic and coachability.
Past performance – tryouts may provide an incomplete indication of a player’s skills, therefore input from a player’s previous coach may assist complete the details on the players’ ability.
NOTIFICATION OF TEAM SELECTION
Teams will be selected after all tryout sessions are complete. Coaches will notify players of their team placement via phone, from 5:00pm on Sunday 11 October 2026 following the final tryout session on Sunday 11 October 2026.
If the Athlete is unsure about taking the position, the maximum amount of time if necessary to consider an offer is 24 hours from the call. If there is no call back from the player to the coach within 24 hours, the offer will be withdrawn.
Players may decline an offer to play for a team. However declining results in that player being ineligible to play or train for any other Western Port Basketball Association team in that season.
Please be advised that there will be a deposit of $200.00 upon acceptance of position in a team. You will be emailed your registration link and further details on Wednesday 14th of October 2026.
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS
Please review the 2026/2027 Western Port Basketball Association Player & Parent Handbook available upon registration to your team.
The handbook includes important information regarding the program including many of our policies and procedures.
1. It is important that all parents and players understand that accepting a place in the program means abiding by all Basketball Victoria Codes of Conduct and WPBA policies, codes and procedures as set out in the Western Port Basketball Player & Parent Handbook and/or published on the Association website.
2. Tryouts are a stressful time for everyone, including parents. The tryouts are conducted fairly, and everyone has an opportunity to display their skills. No pre-determined spots are guaranteed at any time. There will be disappointments – it is inevitable that some players will not make the team that they thought they may make.
3. Positive reinforcement rather than critiquing the tryout process or criticising other players will assist a player’s development and help them to move forward. As we all know once the new teams are formed and have had their first training sessions, optimism for the coming season becomes the focal point.
4. IMPORTANT: we ask that parents do not request communication from coaches during the tryout process in person, by phone, email or SMS.
5. IN ADDITION; If selected, athletes and parents agree to abide by all Basketball Victoria Codes of Conduct and WPBA policies, codes and procedures as set out in the WPBA Player & Parent Handbook and/or published on the Association website. If successful, athletes also agree that if selected, their parent/s and they agree to be available for all scheduled VJBL Grading / Regular Season / Finals games/Training sessions and selected
tournaments throughout the year.
6. IF SELECTED; athletes and parents agree that the athlete is required to register and play for a club in the WPBA Domestic Competition, unless already doing so. i.e., Saturday, Sunday, Midweek or Senior Team in both Summer and Winter seasons.
7. IF SELECTED; You are required to attend two training sessions per week. One is likely to be Sunday morning and the other mid-week. You will be informed of the team’s training days & times by the coach
8. Steelers Fees and payment dates: Are provided in the WPBA Player & Parent Handbook.
Terms and Conditions – Please ensure you have read and understand the TRYOUT GUIDELINES as detailed
above. Your acknowledgement of the Terms & Conditions when registering online is your acknowledgement
that you have read and will adhere to the above guidelines.
A $20 registration fee will apply
