Basketball Victoria is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative in the Big V competition for 2024 – the introduction of the ‘Youth Qualification Series’ for Youth Men and Women. The Youth Leagues have long been a vital development pathway for associations connecting their Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) program to their respective Senior teams, but with the growth and expansion of Youth Leagues over the years, associations have called for more opportunities to move divisions going into a new season.
The Youth Qualification Series will be one to mark in your calendar - Sunday February 11 2024, as it will see teams match up in search of promotion to a higher division for the 2024 season!
Big V League Manager Mark Jeffers said.
“A grading concept has long been spoken about, but this initiative was one of the success stories that stemmed from our Big V Association Forums held in September 2022. A few suggestions had been raised to us, so we pitched a concept at the four forums, before having this format accepted by associations at the 2022 Annual Commission Meeting. We look forward to it being an exciting day of basketball that flows into a more competitive season.” he said.
“We’ve put in place a format that has teams at the lower end of the ladder, having something to play for. Evidence in recent years suggests there are some similarities of teams season to season at the higher and lower ends of Youth ladders. This format should allow teams to rise or fall to the level relevant for their team in that season and we’re looking forward to it!”
Associations won’t be able to just enter the Youth Qualification Series; they’ll have to earn it! Post-2023 finals positions will determine a team’s eligibility for the Youth Qualification Series.
For both the Youth League Men and Youth League Women, the top 4 teams of Youth League 1 (after the 2023 finals), will go head-to-head against the bottom 2 teams from each conference in the Victorian Youth Championship to decide which teams will play in which divisions for 2024. This will be the case for the bottom 4 in Youth League 1 competing against the top 4 teams (after the finals) in Youth League 2. In VYC 13th-16th will be determined based on win/loss record and head-to-head if required.
The Qualification Series will have additional benefits, with the day also planned to have development opportunities for Technical Officials and Association Game Day staff in the lead-up to the official season.
This exciting new initiative is one in a series of concepts being worked through with associations, aimed at improving the basketball experience for our associations and all of the participants in Big V competitions.
Please see below the structure for the Youth League Qualification Series:
