Junior Representative Basketball
Rep Tryouts for the 2027 season are now Open
VJBL Overview
Blackburn Vikings enter representative teams in the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) each season. The VJBL is the highest level of junior competition in the state of Victoria for boys and girls aged from Under 12 to Under 20 and organised by Basketball Victoria.
In order to try out for state teams and beyond, players must play for a VJBL team.
Games are played on Friday nights throughout both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, where players will have the opportunity to represent Blackburn against other associations. Our teams train twice a week with players having access to a high level of coaching within their teams but also on an individual level when offered the opportunity to be part of our Blackburn Elite Academy.
Players from a number of domestic clubs come to play representative basketball for Blackburn Vikings who are committed to developing their basketball skills and understand of the game. Junior representative basketball opens a pathway for players with the ability to play at an elite junior level that can lead as far as the Senior ranks in the state wide Big V competition.
Playing in the VJBL
Representative basketball is a team sport, and every player on a Vikings roster has an important part to play — but court time isn't spread equally at this level. Coaches weigh up determining factors such as when deciding who plays and when: how a player treats teammates and coaching staff, their basketball ability, how coachable they are, and whether they're showing up ready to put in the work to follow team instructions and keep improving as the season goes on.
Most Friday nights, you'll find the Vikings playing out of our home courts at Slater Reserve in Blackburn or Donvale Indoor Sports Centre (DISC) in Donvale — though like every club in the competition, we travel to away venues across Melbourne and Victoria.
In 2026, Blackburn entered 23 junior championship teams in addition to fielding Senior Men’s and Women’s Big V teams.
Blackburn Vikings runs a substantial junior representative program alongside Senior Men's and Women's teams in the Big V, giving players a genuine pathway from junior rep basketball right through to senior competition.
The VJBL itself is structured across three tiers:
Victorian Championship (VC) is the highest junior level in Victoria — the toughest level junior basketball in Victoria has to offer, with only 20 teams earning a spot statewide
Victorian Junior League (VJL) makes up the rest, split into divisions (VJL1, VJL2, VJL3 and so on), each typically made up of around 10 teams.
Regional League — U12 and U14 age groups
Travel restrictions apply: VC through VJL4 teams are limited to a 210km travel radius; VJL5 and below to 170km.
Geographic pools in the Regional League help meet these requirements.
Players come from multiple domestic clubs to play representative basketball for the Blackburn Vikings.
U20s is played on Sunday evenings, with games played at hubs rather than a traditional home and away set up.
Our VJBL Player Guidelines
New to Rep?
Our Rep Ready Academy prepares domestic players for VJBL tryouts
Competition Formats
Under 12 Boys and Girls
Victorian Championship (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 1-4 (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 5 (3 pools of 10 teams)
Regional League (Reminder of teams, separated in geographical pools)
Under 16 Boys and Girls
Victorian Championship (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 1-3 (1 pool of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 4 (2 pools of 10 teams)
Regional League 5 and below (3 pools of 10 teams)
Under 14 Boys and Girls
Victorian Championship (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 1-3 (1 pool of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 4 (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 5-8 (3 pools of 10 teams)
Regional League (Reminder of teams, separated in geographical pools)
Under 18 Boys and Girls
Victorian Championship (2 pools of 10 teams)
Victorian Junior League 1-4 (1 pool of 10 teams)
Regional League 5 and below (3 pools of 10 teams)
Ready to Elevate Your Game?
Reach out now to progress your basketball journey.
