2025 Sabres Tryouts

Information for new players wishing to join the Sabres program

Sabres 2025 Pre-Tryout for U12 and u14 SBA Domestic Players

The SBA will be holding pre-tryouts for U12 Boys, U12 Girls, U14 Girls and U14 Boys in the final week of Term 3, 2024. These pre-tryouts are designed to gauge domestic player suitability for the Sabres program. Successful triallists from these sessions will then be invited to commence tryouts with the returning 2024 Sabres cohort in the first week of Term 4.

There will be a one off $15 non-refundable registration/administration fee for any new players wishing to tryout for the Sabres program. This cost covers court hire, coaches and administration.

Please note that these sessions are closed to parents/carers. Any questions can be directed to: Tryouts2025@southernbasketball.com.au

PLEASE REGISTER HERE IF:

1. You are U12 or U14 Boy or Girl from SBA Domestic wanting to tryout for Sabres
2. You are an U16 or U18 boy or girl and have not played for Sabres before
3. You are a player from other VJBL Associations:

If you played representative basketball for another association in the 2024 VJBL season  you will require Permission to Train (PTT) sign off from your current Association which will be made available on Monday 23rd September by the VJBL.

Pre Tryout Dates and Times:

Pre Tryout – Under 12 Girls (2014/2015/2016)

Tuesday 17th of September: 6.30pm – 8.00pm at Southern Basketball Centre, Tulip Street, Courts 1-4.

Pre Tryout – Under 12 Boys (2014/2015/2016)

Wednesday 18th of September: 5.00pm – 6.30pm at Southern Basketball Centre, Tulip Street, Courts 1-4.

Pre-Tryout – Under 14 Girls (2012/2013)

Wednesday 18th of September: 4.00pm – 5.00pm at Southern Basketball Centre, Tulip Street, Courts 1-4.

Pre-tryout – Under 14 Boys (2012/2013)

Thursday 19th of September 6.30pm – 8.00pm at Southern Basketball Centre, Tulip Street, Courts 1-4.

2025 VJBL Season Age Groups (Year of Birth)
Under 12	2014 & 2015 & 2016
Under 14	2012 & 2013
Under 16	2010 & 2011
Under 18	2008 & 2009

Sabres Tryout Calendar (October/November 2024)

To help with families planning around school holidays, Sabres tryouts for the 2025 VJBL season will commence the final weekend of the Term 3 school holidays.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS:

• 2024 Sabres Players will receive a separate registration link via TEAMAPP
• Parents are not permitted to watch/be present at any of the tryouts.
• Sabres teams will be entered in the Southern Peninsula tournament across the weekend of Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of November.
• Sabres Preliminary teams can and will be changed subject to player fit/ability throughout the pre-season practice matches and up until the end of VJBL Grading Phase #1.
• Please refrain from approaching the coaches involved in tryouts to find out how your son or daughter went during a tryout session. Coaches are also asked not to disclose information about the tryouts to parents.
• Games are played on Friday Night all across Melbourne including Geelong and other regional centres like Traralgon, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong
• Training for Under 12s, Under 14s and Under 16s is conducted on Sunday mornings and mid-week
• Both training sessions for Under 18s are conducted mid-week
• Birth Certificates for each player will be sighted by SBA staff prior to payment of fees. Age groups run January 1st – December 31st. no exceptions.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT:

• Season fees for Sandringham Sabres are $695, which cover coaches, court hire and practice matches. There is a small discount for early payment.
• Weekly scoresheet fees which are at the discretion of the VJBL and its venues
• Uniform try on days will be hosted at Southern Basketball Stadium on Monday 21st October and Wednesday 23rd October from 5pm – 8pm. Athletes must be fitted and orders placed for uniforms no later than 11th November to ensure delivery is completed in time for the Australia Day Tournament. Uniform link tbc.

TEAM SELECTION:

• We anticipate being in a position to announce Preliminary Sabres Squads on the SBA website by Sunday the 13th of October.
• Selectors will be nominated and selected by SBA Coaching Directors Simon Giovannoni and Rachael Vanderwal with input from Assistant DoCs.
• There will be between six and eight selectors on court during any one tryout, including SBA Coaching Directors; no other Sabres coaches are permitted at the sessions.
• To maintain the integrity of the tryout process and in line with our policy, no parent of a child playing in the age group will be permitted to be at the tryout process.
• All players who are trying out for the Sabres program must be playing domestic in the SBA junior domestic competitions in their own age group in either A Grade or B Grade commencing Autumn season commencing January 2025

2024 On-Court Selection Criteria Includes:

• SAMS feedback from previous seasons;
• Performance at tryouts;
• Level of skill in dribbling, passing, shooting, finishing and defensive ability;
• Demonstrated understanding of Sabres Style of Play;
• Decision making and athletic potential;
• Team balance (1,2,3,4 & 5);
• Discipline and engagement in practices;
• Knowledge of game plays;
• Coachability;

SABRES TRAINING:

• Sabres Training will begin on Monday the 14th of October.

VJBL GRADING:

• VJBL Grading for the 2024 season commences on Friday the 15th of November.
• Final VJBL Cross-over games before the Christmas break will be played on Friday the 6th of December.

PRE-SEASON PRACTICE MATCHES:

• Friday 25th October versus Dandenong Rangers ( Girls at Sandringham / Boys at Dandenong)
• Sunday 27th October versus Casey Cavaliers (Boys at Sandringham/Girls at Casey)

Financial Commitment

Any questions can be directed to: Tryouts2025@southernbasketball.com.au

Under 12 Girls (Born in 2014/2015/2016)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Sunday 6th October	8.00am – 9.30am	Under 12 Girls
Tuesday 8th October	6.00pm – 7.30pm	Under 12 Girls
Tulip Street	TIME:	Court 5, 6, 7, 8
Sunday 13th October	8.00am – 9.30am	Under 12 Girls

Under 14 Girls (Born in 2012/2013)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Sunday 6th october	10.00am – 11.30am	Under 14 Girls
Thursday 10th October	6.00pm – 7.30pm	Under 14 Girls
Tulip Street	TIME:	Court 5, 6, 7, 8
Sunday 13th October	10.00am – 11.30am	Under 14 Girls

Under 16 Girls (Born in 2010/2011)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Sunday 6th October	12 noon – 1.30pm	Under 16 Girls
Thursday 10th October	7.30pm – 9.00pm	Under 16 Girls
Tulip Street	TIME:	Court 5, 6, 7, 8
Sunday 13th October	12 noon – 1.30pm	Under 16 Girls

Under 18 Girls (Born in 2008/2009)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Friday 4th October	6.00pm – 7.30pm	Under 18 Girls
Tuesday 8th October	7.30pm – 9.00pm	Under 18 Girls
Friday 11th October	6.00pm – 7.30pm	Under 18 Girls

Under 12 Boys (Born in 2014/2015/2016)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Saturday 5th October	8.00am – 9.30am	Under 12 Boys
Wednesday 9th October	5.30pm – 7.00pm	Under 12 Boys
Sunday 13th October	8.00am – 9.30am	Under 12 Boys

 Under 14 Boys (Born in 2012/2013)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Saturday 5th October	10.00am – 11.30am	Under 14 Boys
Monday 7th October	5.30pm – 7.00pm	Under 14 Boys
Sunday 13th October	10.00am – 11.30am	Under 14 Boys

Under 16 Boys (Born in 2010/2011)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4
Saturday 5th October	12 noon – 1.30pm	Under 16 Boys
Wednesday 9th October	7.00pm – 8.30pm	Under 16 Boys
Sunday 13th October	12 noon – 1.30pm	Under 16 Boys

Under 18 Boys (Born in 2008/2009)

Tulip Street	TIME:	Courts 1, 2, 3, 4	Court 2	Court 3	Court 4
Friday 4th October	8.00pm – 9.30pm	Under 18 Boys
Monday 7th October	7.00pm – 8.30pm	Under 18 Boys
Friday 11th October	8.00pm – 9.30pm	Under 18 Boys

ABSENCES DURING TRYOUTS:

If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled tryout sessions (boys or girls), or have any questions please contact Directors of Coaching:

Sabres Boys program:

Simon Giovannoni: simon@southernbasketball.com.au

Evan Vallance: evan@southernbasketball.com.au

Sabres Girls program:

Rachael Vanderwal: rachael@southernbasketball.com.au

James McQuellin: james@southernbasketball.com.au