BALLARAT MINERS REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM

BALLARAT MINERS JUNIOR HISTORY

OUR HISTORY

Ballarat Basketball's Junior Representative Program has a rich history, steeped in a commitment to fostering talent and providing opportunities for aspiring basketballers across regional Victoria. It all began in 1967 when a coalition of twelve Country Victorian Basketball Associations, including Ballarat, convened with representatives from the Victorian Basketball Association (now Basketball Victoria). The result of this historic meeting was the establishment of the Victorian Country Basketball Council (now known as the BV Country Commission), marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of basketball in regional Victoria.

By 1969, the VCBC Junior Country Championships had taken root, initially held at the iconic Albert Park stadium in Melbourne. This championship, which started as a weekend event, soon expanded its scope, welcoming representative teams from various associations in Country Victoria across multiple divisions. The tournament's popularity soared, prompting its relocation to regional Victoria in 1996. Today, the Junior Championships are a highlight of the basketball calendar, spanning several weekends and attracting teams from all corners of the state. Not only does this showcase the talent in Country Victoria, but it also brings substantial economic benefits to regional centres.

Ballarat has been a stalwart participant in this journey, consistently fielding teams across all age groups, from Under-12 to Under-18, for both boys and girls. Even in its early years, Ballarat's dedication to youth development was evident, with the inclusion of an Under-20 competition when feasible.

In parallel to the Junior Championships, the 1970s saw the inception of the Classic Invitational Junior Tournament in Melbourne, providing an additional platform for regional teams to showcase their skills. Such initiatives underscored a growing recognition of the talent outside metropolitan areas.

The landscape continued to evolve with the establishment of the Victorian State Junior Championship in 1995, allowing Country Victoria's finest to compete at a higher level. However, logistical challenges emerged, notably the clash between local competitions and the new statewide championship. After careful consideration and community consultation, Ballarat made the strategic decision to reschedule its local competitions to Tuesday evenings, ensuring elite juniors could pursue their development without hindrance.

Further advancements came in 1999 with the creation of the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), uniting disparate commissions under a common banner. This consolidation facilitated a more cohesive and standardized junior competition, refining grading systems and eligibility criteria over time. Since its inception, Ballarat has been an active participant in the VJBL, offering pathways for junior athletes to flourish and eventually transition to the esteemed ranks of the Ballarat Miners senior Women’s and Men’s teams. The VJBL has become a cornerstone of our program, providing invaluable opportunities for growth and development for countless participants over the years.

BRP PROGRAM

WHAT IS REPRESENTATIVE BASKETBALL?

Ballarat Representative Program (BRP) strongly aligns with the Basketball Victoria & Basketball Australia player development pathway and provides opportunities for all players to play at the highest level they can achieve.

Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) incorporates competitions conducted state-wide and provides the highest level of junior competition in Victoria. VJBL boasts 1248 representative teams from 54 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.

Playing Representative basketball requires attendance at two weekly practice sessions and a Friday night game. All of our VJBL Representative Teams have coaches that are suitably qualified and experienced. Coaches work under the guidance of the Player & Coach Development Manager and the Representative Coaching Leads.

Ballarat Basketball encourages all players looking to take their game to the next level to attend representative tryouts.

BALLARAT MINERS JUNIOR VALUES

We want to be known as a destination club in Country Victoria, and with that we uphold certain values that drive us to be a GREAT program.

- Growth: Continuous improvement in skills and personal development.
- Respect: Valuing others and showing sportsmanship.
- Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in performance.
- Attitude: Maintaining a positive and determined mindset.
- Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with others.

TRYOUT INFORMATION

*ALL ATHLETES ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND BOTH TRYOUT DATES

LINK TO REGISTER - https://www.playhq.com/basketball-victoria/register/325f3e

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection panel will use a combination of objective and subjective criteria to assess and categorize the athletes. The criteria may include, but not limited to:

Athletes will be assessed on the above criteria through a variety of different drills and game situations. Some of the ways athletes will be evaluated are:

Conceptual Play Assessments
Live Scrimmage Situations
Small-Sided Games
Fitness Components
Athlete Testing
Commitment, attitude, and Coachability from Previous Seasons
Teamwork and Sportsmanship

ATHLETE / PARENT / COACH EXPECTATIONS

ATHLETES:

Attend all practices, games and tournaments
Uphold program values during training, games and domestic.
Be the hardest workers, best listeners and great leaders in all environments
Help and encourage teammates, whilst pushing them to be better
Have passion to continue to learn and improve

COACHES:

Attend all practices, games and tournaments
Uphold Ballarat Miners Representative Program behaviors and characteristics
Create an environment of faith, not fear
Instill a love for the game to all athletes, coaches, and parents.
Provide leadership and feedback to junior athletes.

PARENTS

Adhere to Parents Code of Conduct
Understand we are providing a program for long-term development and that short-term success isn’t relevant.
Set a good example by your own conduct, behaviour and appearance.
Show appreciation for volunteer coaches, officials and administrators.

2025 Ballarat Junior Miners teams

Click here to view the 2025 Ballarat Junior Miners teams

For any further information on the Ballarat Representative Program, please contact the Director of Coaching, James McKinnon (doc@ballaratbasketball.com)