Our Victorian Under-16 state teams will aim to compete in Darwin this September with Basketball Australia confirming the Australian Junior Championships have been successfully rescheduled in Darwin from 26 September - 3 October 2021.

The event was due to take place in Warwick Stadium (WA) in July however was rescheduled due to multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 across the country in the weeks prior.

The event will be held at the Darwin Basketball Stadium and Marrara Indoor Stadium with a co-hosting agreement struck between Basketball Australia, Basketball Northern Territory and Darwin Basketball Association.

Our Victorian teams will look to head to Darwin on Saturday 25 September 2021, with a media, training and education session taking place on Sunday 26 September 2021.

"We're hopeful we get to see our Under-16 teams get their chance to compete in the national arena," Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said.

“They went through the challenges associated with getting into Perth earlier this year, being denied entry to self-isolation at the last minute and have also dealt with a number of separate lockdowns throughout 2021.

“In spite of everything put in their way, our teams have remained optimistic, diligent in their training and ready to go. These players, coaches and families have earned a chance to be part of the Australian Junior Championships and we’re looking forward to a rescheduled event.”

Basketball Australia’s Executive General Manager of Basketball, Paul Maley, is excited to see the Championships return to Darwin.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this event back to the Northern Territory. The Under-16 Championships are an integral part of the elite pathway for players, coaches and officials in Australia and there is a strong desire from all involved to see this event proceed. All States & Territories have committed to attending these championships if border controls permit”

“The Northern Territory have been blessed with very little disruption due to recent COVID outbreaks and we believe it presents the best opportunity to ensure these Championships are played.”

Darwin has hosted some recent Victorian success with our Under-16 Victoria Metropolitan Men and Women both winning gold in 2019 alongside Victoria Country Men (silver) and Victoria Country Women (bronze).

Basketball Victoria announced the four Victorian Under-16 teams earlier this year, with team lists available via our website.

A full fixture and ticket details will be released in due course.

Pretty hard to imagine BA going ahead with this now. VIC, NSW and ACT all in lockdown, QLD nervous and WA doesn't really like travelling at moment. Damm tough on those that have put in the work. Would BA throw caution to the wind and hope lockdowns end in a month? Or is there a duty of care issue for players, officials and spectators?

661 do you reckon currently would be 9 teams plus support staff and refs. Could be 200+ people so far... That's a big cheque.

Sorry 10 teams...

Apparently it is 773..

Could be cancelled as early as Friday, more likely will be cancelled sometime early next week with the growing numbers in NSW, QLD & VIC - Thanks Premier Bin-Chikn

Heard along the Baseline it's going ahead, without VIC, NSW and ACT

Hardly a NATIONAL championships then is it. Scrap this like we scrapped 14s and focus on having a full calendar year of AJC next year, starting with 20s back in Mackay

ACT have pulled out, NSW expected to do the same in the next week. Victoria 50/50 at the moment - Rising COVID rates do not help their cause at all. So you're left with:

QLD North & South
WA Metro & Country
SA Metro & Country
Tasmania
Northern Territory

If all the states attending are covid free, what are the risks?

Maybe winning the title won't be the same, but you've got to let those kids play.

Victoria have officially pulled out

With playing no basketball over the last few months it would be expected that they wouldn't be successful

I think SA Metro could add a reserves team - but it's very short notice and would be very hard to organize - don't think enough depth for a SA country reserves team IMO

Decision was made to host in Darwin before the National Plan to reopen when x % vaccinations are reached...maybe it could have been held over until start of Dec school holidays when in theory every state could go?

Or Change format/ age brackets of SCC maybe

But the NT will open to those states so would work?

But the NT will open to those states so would work?

But "noone" is going into lockdown after the National Plan is implemented.
Not saying I agree, just saying.

Have heard along the Baseline, that the states (and therefore parents) still haven't been told what the coat will be, as it is equalised across all states...tells me they were actually counting on Vic going, same way they tried to for Perth, but now Vic not going…hmm. Tomm will tell!

As a parent it would be nice to be officially told whether this is a definitely going to happen and what contingencies are in place should an another outbreak occur and kids can't get back home or even need to isolate. Two weeks out from the start date and to not know what is going on is not a good look. I get how hard it is to work through all the logistics with things changing on a daily basis or more often (I work with it daily so get it) but it's getting to the point where we'll need to make a decision as to whether it's worth the stress!

Tomm is this mythical creature that makes decisions...often only Tomm though…

Are there any actual WA parents/ players on thus thread that can confirm attendance in Darwin?

WA Teams definitely attending. Spoke with both boys coaches in the last 24 hours

@Anonymous
Thanks
Be Good to see a fixture
We're pleased to be going but also disappointed for all players that are not.

#753 Missing from squad chosen or not chosen in first place?

5 new cases in QLD with double digits expected tomorrow and a subsequent lockdown. Goodbye 16s Nationals...

Risk V Reward...some big conversations happening at BA right now you would imagine. QLD now nervous and SA have changed rules for allowing NSW/Vic travellers in to state, so only a matter of time SA will have an issue, sadly the sensible/responsible option is a cancel…

Another 2 cases and over 50 exposure sites listed...time to give family and friends the options for some form of refunds from flights/accom/car bookings and just cancel

U16 was already in the U14 window

@ Anonymous
A couple of hours ago

Any news? Fixture?? Moved or cancelled???

Not a whisper- nada - zilch.

https://www.facebook.com/DarwinBasketball/posts/4810130219019739

Not sure how a published fixture and ticket sales link is "Not a whisper- nada - zilch"?????

I guess those who need to know know.

@anon it was zilch in the yesterday Am

I can definitely confirm its all steam ahead from WA point of view. Teams leave Perth next Friday morning. Contingencies set in case issues arrive once teams get to Darwin. They say you can only play who turns up so our Teams are ready to go. Our kids feel for those who can't play and hope to play against them soon. They all want to play against the best in the country.