Junior Sharks Tryouts

All SPBA VJBL communication is managed through our dedicated WhatsApp Community. This includes updates from coaches, team managers, and club administrators. Important information such as schedule changes, event reminders, and announcements will be shared directly in this space. We encourage all families to stay connected and check the group regularly to ensure they don’t miss anything.

Further information, including how to join the WhatsApp Community will be provided once teams have been selected.

Basketball Victoria offers two distinct development pathways: Country and Metro, determined by the athlete’s residential address. SPBA is classified as a Country Association, meaning our players who live in country-zoned areas are eligible for Country development programs and competitions. Metro-based athletes within our program are only eligible for Metro pathways, as defined by Basketball Victoria’s Country/Metro boundary. Basketball Victoria Pathways are organised and ran by Basketball Victoria (including all Player Selections) and is independent to SPBA’s VJBL Program.

One key event in the Country calendar is the Basketball Victoria Country Championships (Country Champs) which is a prestigious annual tournament where each Country Association sends their top team. SPBA selects and enters its First Team in each age group to represent our club at this event. Only athletes residing at a Country-zoned address are eligible to participate in Country Champs.

Basketball Victoria also runs additional talent identification and development opportunities across the year, such as skills days, academies, and state team selections which is again divided strictly by the Country or Metro classification. This ensures every athlete, regardless of location, has access to a clearly defined and structured performance pathway.

To check if you fall into the Country or Metro pathway, please use the Post Code Checker: 
  HERE


For Country Champs eligibility information, please see: 
  HERE

The Sharks Development Program (SDP) is an additional opportunity for committed VJBL athletes who want to take their game to the next level. Previously known as the High-Performance Program, SDP focuses on advanced skill development, decision-making, and training habits that align with elite-level basketball.

This program is available to all VJBL players. Applications for SDP will open after teams have been selected and finalised. Selection is based on attitude, aptitude, and attendance, not just talent alone.
SDP is designed to complement team training, not replace it, and represents our investment in helping players maximise their individual potential within the broader Sharks pathway.

The Sharks Development Camp is a key event on the SPBA calendar, held in late January each year. It is designed to accelerate player growth ahead of the VJBL season and is mandatory for all athletes selected in the program.

The camp includes a range of high-quality development opportunities, such as:
	Coaching Clinics – led by experienced coaches to upskill SPBA’s coaches on our core concepts and systems.

	Player Development Clinics – focused on skill acquisition, decision-making, and conditioning.

	Player Workshops – covering important off-court areas like mindset, leadership, nutrition, and injury prevention.

	Athlete Combine – an opportunity to benchmark physical performance metrics across the association.

As part of our Sharks Development Camp, all VJBL athletes participate in an Athlete Combine facilitated by Peninsula Sports Performance (PSP). The combine is designed to measure key aspects of each athlete’s physical performance, such as speed, agility, vertical leap, strength, and endurance.

This data helps us better understand where each athlete currently sits from a physical standpoint and where they have room to improve. After testing, each player receives a personalised Combine Results Package created by PSP. This includes:
	A breakdown of your athletic performance metrics
	Insights into your strengths
	Recommendations for areas that need further development

The combine provides a great baseline for tracking growth across the season and allows players to take ownership of their physical development.

At Southern Peninsula, teams are selected based on athlete performance across our Try Out process. However, these teams are not final until the end of Grading Phase 1. We are committed to getting team placements right, and sometimes that means making adjustments in the first few weeks of the season. Players may be moved up or down a team if we feel that a different environment will better support their development or improve the overall team balance.

We try to only make changes in instances where we believe leaving a player in their originally selected team would be more detrimental to their growth than moving them. These decisions are made with careful consideration and always with the athlete’s long-term development in mind. Clear communication and transparency will accompany any potential movement.

At Southern Peninsula, we rely on the support and involvement of our parent community to help deliver a high-quality experience for our athletes. As part of your commitment to the program, all parents are expected to assist with the following responsibilities:
	Team Duty at the SPBA Tournament: Each team is required to complete a duty shift during our annual tournament. This helps us run the event smoothly and showcase our association to the wider basketball community.

	Support on Big V Game Nights: We ask VJBL parents to help out at Big V home games across the season. This might include running the door, assisting in the canteen, or helping courtside. It’s a great way to build club spirit and support our senior teams.

	Scoring During the VJBL Season: Every parent is expected to score a certain number of games throughout the year. This is shared evenly across the team to ensure it’s fair for everyone. If you’re unfamiliar with how to score, please click the link below for a helpful instructional video. VIDEO COMING SOON.

Your time and contribution help make our program possible — thank you for playing a role in your child’s basketball journey.

If you do NOT wish for photographs of your child/children or you engaging in Junior Sharks activities to be published through our various media points for public relations purposes, please contact Martin.Ramos@SthPen.com.au. Possible uses of photographs include but are not limited to: SPBA Basketball, VJBL, Basketball Victoria & Basketball Australia websites, Facebook, Instagram and Local Newspapers.

Players who are not selected to represent Southern Peninsula in the 2025 VJBL season, may have the opportunity to participate in our tournament only teams, called Sharks Academy. Academy Teams will compete in a number of tournaments throughout the season. 

More information around training and tournament dates will be provided to families after the Selection Process.

  If you are coming from another VJBL club, you must provide a Permission to Train form before participating in our Try Outs. Please apply for your Permission to Train through this link: HERE