Isaac
Years ago
Warwick Stadium to host 2022 AU U16 Championships
Press release from BA:
Basketball Australia (BA) has announced today that the 2022 Australian Under-16 Championships will return to Warwick Stadium in the City of Joondalup in Perth, Western Australia from Sunday, 3 July - Sunday, 10 July 2022.
The announcement is part of a two-year agreement that will see the Warwick Senators host Australia's most promising junior basketball talent at the Australian Under-16 Championships over consecutive years (2021 & 2022) at Warwick Stadium.
The Australian Under-16 Championships, first held in 1955, is an annual eight-day tournament featuring 26 boys and girls State Representative teams from across the country competing for the title of national champion.
The prestigious competition provides emerging players with the opportunity to further develop and display their skills in elite competition against the country’s best basketballers in their age group and serves as an important pathway for young Australians aspiring to one day wear the Green and Gold.
Many of Australia’s leading basketballers have competed in the event during their formative years on their way to eventual national team representation and professional careers at home in the Chemist Warehouse WNBL and NBL and abroad in the WNBA and NBA.
These include the likes of Ben Simmons, Cayla George, Ezi Magbegor, Isaac Humphries, Jenna O’Hea, Liz Cambage, Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills amongst many others.
Basketball Australia Executive General Manager of Basketball, Paul Maley, said BA received tremendous feedback from players, coaches, and spectators about their experience at the 2017 Under-16 Championships, when Warwick hosted the event for the first time.
"The Warwick Senators Basketball Club did a great job of delivering a well-organised, exciting and memorable tournament their first time around and we fully expect them to build upon this success when the Under-16 Championships return to Warwick Stadium for the next two years," said Maley.
“We are pleased the wider Australian basketball community will get to enjoy one of Australia’s best basketball stadiums and the Western Australia hospitality; local basketballers will get to showcase their skills on a national stage in front of their family and friends; and the City of Joondalup will benefit from increased interstate visitation over the course of the tournament.”
Warwick has hosted the Under-16 Championships once in the competition’s history and was scheduled to host again in 2020, before the event was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Western Australia is hoping to leverage their home-court advantage over the next two years into the state’s second-ever U16 Championship, with the WA Metro Boys team claiming the Robert Young Trophy in 2003.
Warwick Stadium’s CEO Josh Nipps said, “The Western Australian basketball community is excited about the opportunity to showcase our basketball talent, player-friendly facilities and passion for the game to the rest of the nation again in 2021 and 2022.”
“The 2017 Under-16 Championships received significant support and turnout from the local community with over 300 volunteers and 20,000 people passing through Warwick Stadium over seven days. Additionally, over one million dollars in tourism revenue was brought into the region from visiting teams and spectators.”
Responding to the announcement, Mayor Albert Jacob, JP – City of Joondalup, said, “It is a privilege for the City of Joondalup to host teams from across the country for the Australian Under-16 Championships.”
“We welcome visitors to Warwick Stadium and trust you will have an enjoyable time in our City, where we hope you get some time to explore some of the region’s attractions, including our wonderful coastline, restaurants and entertainment.”
Event Details:
2021 Australian Under-16 Championships: 4 – 11 July 2021
2022 Australian Under-16 Championships: 3 – 10 July 2022
Warwick Stadium, City of Joondalup in Perth, Western Australia
Competition Format:
13 boys and 13 girls teams will be split into two pools where they will compete over five days for a spot in the Quarter-Finals, with the winners proceeding to the Semi-Finals for a chance to compete in the Grand-Final.
Participating Teams:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales Country
New South Wales Metro
Northern Territory
Queensland North
Queensland South
South Australia Country
South Australia Metro
Tasmania
Victoria Country
Victoria Metro
Western Australia Country
Western Australia Metro
