Summer Basketball Registrations Are Open (or opening): Here's What You Need to Know Before You Sign Up
If you've just seen that summer basketball registrations are open and thought, "Great, we've got months. The season doesn't start until mid-October," - guess again!
The time to move is now.
Although the first game isn't until mid-October, July is when teams start coming together. If you wait until September to start looking, you might discover there aren't be any teams left with room for your child.
Every year I see kids miss out on playing simply because their family didn't realise how early everything gets organised. The early bird really does catch the worm.
Every Association Does Things Differently
To make things that little bit more difficult, each association does registrations slightly differently. Some associations require full teams before registration. Others allow teams to register first and add players later. Some will even place individual players into teams. Below is a short run down of how things operate, however this information may become outdated, so it is always best to contact associations directly for information!
A quick run down:
- Australind Basketball Association accepts team nominations, registration links are sent to players by the team coach or manager. Games are played at Leschenault Leisure Centre.
- Bunbury Basketball Association requires players to sign up to a team within a club. Clubs include: Aces, Bulls, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar, More Than Conquerers and Tornadoes. Club info is available on the BBA website. Games are played at South West Sports Centre.
- Busselton Basketball Association accepts team nominations through a Club. Current clubs include Boomers, Colts, Cornerstone, Dunsborough, GMAS, Saints and YCW. Games are played at the Geographe Leisure Centre.
- Collie Basketball Association accepts teams entered by a coach or team manager, with players then registering individually through PlayHQ. If your child doesn't already have a team, contact the association early, as they can often help connect players with teams needing extra numbers before the season starts. Games are played at the Roche Park Recreation Centre.
- Donnybrook Basketball Association accepts individual registrations, players are then sorted into teams to keep the competition even. Games are played at the Donnybrook Rec Centre.
- Eaton Basketball Association allows teams to register before the full player list is finalised. Team managers or coaches can then send registration links to players as they join the team. Games are played at Eaton Rec Centre (and have been played at Leschenault Leisure Centre as an overflow in some seasons in the past)
- Harvey Basketball Association allows teams to be entered by a coach or team manager, with players then registering individually through PlayHQ. If you don't have a team, contact the association early or watch for posts from teams looking for extra players before registrations close. Games are played at the Harvey Recreation & Cultural Centre.
To add more info to the pile - some basketball clubs aren't tied to a single association. Clubs such as Kryptonite, Novas and sometimes More Than Conquerors, may enter teams into different local competitions depending on the age group, playing night or where there is space. If your preferred association is full, it can be worth asking local clubs whether they have teams competing elsewhere.
This is why it's important to check your local association's process rather than assuming they'll all work the same way.
How Many Players Should You Have?
Just because you can have a large roster doesn't necessarily mean you should.
Especially with younger age groups.
5 excited 10-year-olds sitting on the bench waiting for court time can make rotations difficult, and nobody enjoys spending most of the game watching.
Aim for enough players to cover absences and injuries without creating unnecessary bench time. Based on my personal experience, the magic number is eight. It gives you enough cover if someone is away or injured while still allowing everyone plenty of court time.
School Year or Birth Year?
Another thing that varies between associations is how age groups are determined.
Some use school year. Others use birth year.
This can mean friends from the same class aren't always eligible to play together if they were born in different years. Before you start putting a team together, double-check which system your association uses. See below for a table on playing ages/years.
What About Playing Up?
Some associations allow players to apply to play in an older age group.
This can be a great option if your child is looking for an extra challenge, wants to play with older friends or has been recommended to do so by coaches.
Each association has its own policy, so check with them before assuming it's possible.
I Don't Have a Team. What Do I Do?
This is probably the question I have seen asked most often. The good news? You're rarely the only family looking.
Facebook is honestly one of your best tools.
Ask in:
- your local community Facebook groups
- your school's parent pages
- your sporting club pages
- local basketball Facebook groups.
Many associations also put up "Players Looking for a Team" or "Teams Looking for Players" posts around registration time. These are a great place to comment with your child's age group and a few details, or to advertise if your team still needs players. Keep an eye on your association's Facebook page because these posts often help connect families who are all in the same situation.
Another option is to look at local basketball clubs or private basketball organisations. Many clubs enter multiple teams into their local association competition each season. Instead of finding a team yourself, you simply register with the club and they will place your child into a team with other registered players. This can be a fantastic option if you're new to the area, don't know many basketball families or simply don't want the hassle of organising a team yourself. Check out Kryptonite, Novas, or More than Conquerers for more info.
You'll often discover there are plenty of children wanting to play. They just need someone to get the ball rolling. In fact, if your child can't find a team, consider starting one yourself.
It sounds intimidating, but often all it takes is one parent saying "We're looking to start an Under 12 boys team. Anyone interested?"
More often than not, you'll be surprised by the response. There are often enough interested families to fill a whole team—they just needed someone to take the first step and ask.
Still Can't Find a Team?
Don't give up after one Facebook post. Contact your local association. Ask friends. Ask family. Talk to parents at school. Speak to local basketball clubs, academies and programs. The earlier you start asking around, the more options you'll have.
We Don't Have a Coach or Team Manager!
This is where many teams fall apart before they even begin. Parents think they need to be basketball experts to run a team. You don't. Especially in primary school basketball.
Some of the best junior coaches I've seen aren't necessarily the people with the biggest basketball résumé. They're the adults who can:
- organise a group of excited kids
- explain instructions simply
- encourage everyone equally
- manage school friendship drama
- keep training fun.
Basketball knowledge can absolutely be learned. Managing a group of children is a skill in itself that does not come naturally for everyone. If you're worried about drills, there are thousands of free coaching resources online, and your association can usually point you in the right direction.
The same goes for being a team manager. It sounds like a big job, but it's mostly about organisation. A manager helps with things like:
- communicating with families
- reminding everyone about game times
- coordinating uniforms
- making sure everyone knows where to be
- acting as the link between the team and the association.
Sometimes one person fills both roles. Sometimes they're shared. Either way, they're often much less daunting than people imagine.
If the only thing stopping your child from playing is that nobody wants to coach or manage, have a chat with your association about what's involved. You might find you're more than capable.
Don't Leave Uniforms Until the Last Minute
This one has caught me out more than once.
Even though the season is still a few months away, uniform suppliers become incredibly busy at this time of year. Many uniforms aren't printed locally, and even local printers are often working through large numbers of club orders. Depending on the supplier, custom uniforms can take anywhere from three to six weeks to arrive. Ordering early saves a lot of stress.
If your uniforms don't arrive before Round 1, don't panic. Most associations allow a short grace period while teams wait for uniforms. There are also plenty of temporary options, including:
- school sports singlets with taped-on numbers
- inexpensive plain singlets with iron-on numbers
- borrowing spare uniforms from another team
- hiring uniforms for the first few weeks.
At Off Court Ops we've introduced basketball uniform hire for exactly these situations.
Whether you're waiting on a new uniform order, replacing players mid-season, have a late registration or simply need a short-term solution, hiring uniforms can help your team get on the court while everything else falls into place. It's also a great option if a player joins unexpectedly or you're waiting for a replacement uniform to arrive.
Check out some info on our uniform hire here.
The Season Starts Now... Not in October
The first game might not be until mid-October, but your basketball season starts now. The families who get organised early usually have the easiest run into the season.
Find your team.
Talk to your association.
Don't be afraid to coach or manage.
Order uniforms early.
And if something isn't quite ready by Round 1, remember there are usually solutions—you just have to ask. Because every child deserves the chance to get out on the court.
Which age group is my child in?
| Age Group | Birth Year for 2026 Season |
| U10 | 2017 or earlier |
| U11 | 2016 |
| U12 | 2015 |
| U13 | 2014 |
| U14 | 2013 |
| U15 | 2012 |
| U16 | 2011 |
| U17 | 2010 |
| U18 | 2009 |