Seven-years-old is a good starting age for competitive team basketball, although some kids are ready to start by age six. Coaches teach game play, rules and teamwork along with skills throughout the season.

Games are scheduled on Saturdays at 50-minute intervals from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. For the younger age groups, U8-U11, about 70% of games are morning games, starting between 8:00 am and 11:50 am. For these age groups, it’s rare to have a game at 3:10 pm or later, but they do happen. 

Games are played at various stadiums in and around Keilor, Caroline Springs, Sydenham and Essendon.

Weekly fixtures are published on the KBA and Blue Devils website. Once you know which team you are in, you can access fixtures for your team easily by going to the KBA website or the Blue Devils online fixtures page. Details are on our website at: http://www.keilorbasketball.com.au/junior-domestic-fixture-results-or-ladder/ 

Training is one hour per week and is held 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday to Thursday. Younger age groups generally train in early sessions. We train at Creekside College, Springside College, CS Leisure Centre, Derrimut Sports Stadium, Lakeview Secondary, and both Sydenham Hillside Primary campuses. 

For winter, the teams are under the ages of 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 on the 1st of January. For summer, the teams are under the ages of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 on the 1st of July. Those eligible to play U20 in summer are allowed to play in U19 the previous winter, even if they are up to 6 months over the U19 cut-off age.

A volunteer committee consisting mostly of parents take on the various tasks required to keep the club running smoothly. We are always looking for more volunteers.

Our coaches are mainly parents, current players from older teams, or past players. Many of our coaches are young people giving their time to help your children and to learn themselves, and it is important for parents to give them their total support.

The KBA competition is large enough to cater for all standards and levels of experience. Our teams are selected by a Selection Committee and then graded by the association to ensure that everyone gets placed at an appropriate level. We also have a beginners program, LIL Devils, for beginners only aged 5-12.  Refer to Our Programs.

If you have played with another KBA club in the past, you will be required to get a clearance before playing with the Blue Devils.  If you’ve come from a club outside the association e.g. a club that plays in the Melton, Coburg, Sunbury or Broadmeadows associations, then no clearance is required. All previous competition basketball experience should be noted on the registration process.

Players are expected to show commitment to their team by attending training regularly and turning up reliably for games at least 10 minutes prior to starting time. Apart from illness, injury or an occasional special event, players are expected to be available for all games and training, and to advise their coach and team manager in advance if they cannot play or attend training for any reason.

Players who have other regular commitments on a Saturday should make a note of this on their registration form. If possible, attempts will be made to avoid clashes, but players should be aware that requests for particular times can’t always be accommodated.

Throughout the season you will be rostered on for scoring duty approximately two or three times and possibly a third or fourth time if your team makes the finals. This involves scoring the game with a parent from the other team.

Consideration is given to the skills of the players, as assessed by the Team Selection Committee, after observations and comprehensive consultation with coaches.  Team balance (e.g. a good mix of talls and guards, balancing team offensive and defensive skills) is also considered. Refer to Team Selection

When a team is registered with the KBA, the club suggests an initial grade. The team’s Round 1 starting grade is a combination of the club’s suggestion and the result of dividing all teams in an age group into groups of 8, 10 or 12 teams.

During the first 3 rounds of a season the KBA is looking to achieve a perfect scenario—namely that every match is as close to a draw as possible. Close competition with tight finishes is more enjoyable for the players and spectators.

This means that during the six-week grading period for an individual team:

• a big loss may move you into a lower grade next week
• a big win may move you into a higher grade next week
• the size of the win/loss can determine the number of sub-grades you move
• for example a small win may move team up one step from Creserve to C grade or a large loss may move a team down two steps from B to C grade.

It is not unusual for teams to be ranked by the KBA in a different order to their club ranking.

Registration is usually open a few weeks before weeks before the finals commence in the current season. Registration costs are posted to our website, with discounts offered for early registrations and where there are several players in the same family. Late registrations incur significant additional fees.

All players must wear Blue Devils shorts and singlet during Saturday games. These can be ordered on the website shop.

The cost for new uniforms is $80. Uniform packs including training singlets and other merchandise are also available. see our shop at: https://csbluedevils.com.au/product-category/merchandise/

Players will need a basketball for training, as per size guidelines below:

Size 5 balls – suitable for boys and girls playing in Under 8s

Size 6 balls – suitable for boys playing in Under 14s and younger and all girls/women

Size 7 balls – suitable for boys/men playing in Under 15s or over.

A drink bottle is usually needed for training and games.

Training nights are allocated by the club in response to coaches’ requests. Players’ requests are considered but are not guaranteed.

Players who register after the closing period will incur  a penalty fee. They also lose all rights to request specific training times and friendship groups. Their registration may be placed in a waitlist and will be allocated a position if one becomes available.

Once the season is underway, your Team Manager is the first point of contact for any queries.

The club’s website also contains lots of information and a Contact Us page.