Basketball Victoria is excited to build on the success of the Big V Youth Qualification in 2025.
Launched in 2024 as the inaugural event for youth men and women, the Youth Qualification Series or variations of a grading system, had been discussed for many years prior. The introduction of the initiative in 2024 saw significant success and positive progress to our youth competitions. Earlier this year, Montmorency Secondary College hosted the Youth Championship and Youth One Men’s and Women’s series, while Eagle Stadium hosted the Youth One and Youth Two Men’s and Women’s event.
Basketball Victoria is thrilled to announce that the Qualification Series for 2025 will be played at Narrandjeri Stadium (Thornbury) for Youth Championship and Youth One Men and Women and Altona Sports Centre for the Youth One and Youth Two Men and Women.
Mark your calendar for Sunday February 9, 2025. Please see the fixture below.
VYCM/YL1M
Played @ Narrandjeri Stadium
- Game A - Knox v Geelong United - Winner to VYCM, losing team to play winner of Game D
- Game B- Keysborough v Hume City - Winner to VYCM, losing team to play winner of Game C
- Game C - Ballarat v Blackburn - Winner to play Loser of Game B, losing team to YL1
- Game D - Ringwood v McKinnon - Winner to play Loser of Game A, losing team to YL1
YL1M/YL2M
Played @ Altona Sports Centre
- Game G - Camberwell v Pakenham - Winner to YL1, losing team to play winner of Game J
- Game H - Collingwood v Westgate - Winner to YL1, losing team to play winner of Game I
- Game I - Altona v Sunbury - Winner to play Loser of Game H, losing team to YL2
- Game J - Sherbrooke v Whittlesea - Winner to play Loser of Game G, losing team to YL2
VYCW/YL1W
Played @ Narrandjeri Stadium
- Game A - Nunawading v Pakenham - Winner to VYCW, losing team to play winner of Game D
- Game B - Diamond Valley v McKinnon - Winner to VYCW, losing team to play winner of Game C
- Game C - Eltham v Geelong United - Winner to play Loser of Game B, losing team to YL1
- Game D - Knox v Albury/Wodonga - Winner to play Loser of Game A, losing team to YL1
YL1W/YL2W
Played @ Altona Sports Centre
- Game G - Wyndham v Western Port - Winner to YL1, losing team to play winner of Game J
- Game H - Hume City v Bellarine - Winner to YL1, losing team to play winner of Game I
- Game I - Whittlesea v Sunbury - Winner to play loser of Game H, losing team to YL2
- Game J - Craigieburn v Sherbrooke - Winner to play loser of Game G, losing team to YL2
Big V League Manager Matt Royal said “We're thrilled to bring back the Big V Youth Qualification Series in 2025 after its highly successful inaugural year. It is exciting to see this series become a key part of the pre-season of our Youth competitions. We have received feedback from the 2024 event, tweaked a few things in what we hope sees the 2025 event being even better. It was evident this year that this event means a lot to associations as teams gained excitement during finals knowing they had qualified for next year's event and others ensuring they weren’t in the mix at the lower end of the ladder come season end.”
This qualification series allows the likes of Pakenham’s Youth Men an opportunity to progress into the Youth One competition. This group, although they did not win the championship, went 22-0 for the regular season and made their way to the grand final - a team well deserving of an opportunity to move up a division.
Continuing the process from 2024, teams competing in the Youth Qualification are not by choice but are earned and created post Youth League Finals. For teams to qualify to play in the series they must finish in the top 4 or bottom 4 of their competitions, post finals. Not only will the Qualification Series again be a highly competitive environment for players, coaches and teams but Basketball Victoria will continue to utilise this event to provide development opportunities for Technical Officials and look to expand this into association game day staff, to improve standards across the competition.
Always looking to improve the Big V League, this initiative looks to enhance all Youth Competitions and create the best basketball experience for all teams and participants in the Big V competition.
