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Does my child need to register for tryouts?
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Yes. Every athlete wishing to participate in the Nunawading Spectres U12–U18 Representative Tryouts must complete the online registration process.
This includes current Nunawading Spectres athletes.
Previous or current selection within the Spectres Program does not automatically register an athlete for tryouts or guarantee selection for the following season.
Walk-up registrations will not be accepted.
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When do registrations close?
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Registrations close on Sunday 27 September 2026. However, for players new to rep in U12, U14 or U16 Boys, you must register prior to and attend the Pre Tryouts on 13 September.
We strongly encourage families not to leave registration until the final days.
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What age group should my child register for?
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Age groups for the 2026/27 season are:
- U12 – born 2016, 2017 or 2018
- U14 – born 2014 or 2015
- U16 – born 2012 or 2013
- U18 – born 2010 or 2011
Athletes must register and trial within their appropriate age group unless otherwise directed by the Spectres Representative Program.
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My child has never played representative basketball. Can they try out?
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Absolutely.
Athletes do not need previous VJBL experience to register for Spectres Tryouts. However, representative basketball is a significant step from domestic competition and athletes should have an appropriate level of basketball experience and skill before attending.
Athletes who are new to representative basketball and wish to participate in U12, U14, U16 Boys must also register & participate in our Pre-Tryout process.
The Pre Tryout Registration is the same link as the mainstream link.
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My child currently plays domestic basketball with another association. Can they try out?
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Yes.
There is no residential requirement to trial for the Nunawading Spectres.
If selected into the Spectres Representative Program, athletes will be required to comply with the Nunawading Basketball domestic participation requirements outlined within the Player & Parent Handbook and Domestic Participation Policy.
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Do we need to live within the MEBA area?
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No. Selection into the Nunawading Spectres Representative Program is not based on residential address.
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My child currently plays representative basketball for another association. Can they try out at Nunawading?
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Yes, provided all Basketball Victoria Permission to Train requirements have been satisfied.
Athletes currently registered with another Victorian representative association must obtain an approved Permission to Train (PTT) before participating in Nunawading Spectres Tryouts.
If the required approval has not been received prior to the athlete’s scheduled session, they will not be permitted to participate.
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Does Nunawading request the Permission to Train from our current association?
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No.
The athlete/family is responsible for completing the Basketball Victoria Permission to Train process.
Please ensure this is organised early enough for the appropriate approval to be received before your athlete is scheduled to participate.
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Can my child attend Nunawading Tryouts while their current VJBL season is still running?
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Basketball Victoria regulations do not permit athletes to participate in another association’s tryouts until their current VJBL season has concluded.
Families transferring from another representative association must comply with all Basketball Victoria requirements.
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Does an existing representative player attend Pre-Tryouts?
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No.
Pre-Tryouts are specifically designed for athletes who are new to representative basketball and have not previously participated in the Victorian Junior Basketball League.
Athletes currently or previously participating in VJBL should follow the Official Tryout process.
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Does my child need to attend every scheduled tryout?
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Athletes are expected to make themselves available for the scheduled tryout process.
Tryouts occur over multiple stages and the athlete pool is progressively reduced. Missing a session may therefore significantly affect an athlete’s opportunity to be assessed and progress through the selection process.
Families should carefully review the published schedule and plan accordingly.
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What happens if my child is away on holidays during tryouts?
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Family holidays are not considered grounds for special consideration or an alternative tryout.
The Spectres Tryout schedule is published in advance to allow families to plan accordingly, and athletes seeking selection into the Representative Program are expected to prioritise attendance.
There is no guarantee that an athlete who misses scheduled tryout sessions will be provided an alternative opportunity to trial or permitted to enter the process at a later stage.
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What if my child is injured or medically unable to participate?
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Please notify the Representative Program as early as possible.
Medical circumstances will be considered on an individual basis and supporting medical documentation may be requested.
Notification of an injury does not automatically guarantee selection, progression or an alternative assessment opportunity.
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What if my child is unavailable because they are representing Victoria or Australia?
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Athletes unavailable due to recognised higher-level representative commitments should contact the Spectres Representative Program as early as possible.
These circumstances will be considered individually by the Spectres Leadership Team.
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Can my child miss the first few sessions and join the tryout process later?
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Generally, no.
The athlete pool is progressively assessed and reduced throughout the tryout process. Athletes cannot assume they will be able to enter the process at a later stage after missing earlier sessions.
Any exceptional circumstance must be discussed with and approved by the Spectres Leadership Team.
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Can we request a private or individual tryout?
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No.
The published Spectres Tryout process is the primary selection process for the Representative Program. Individual assessments or private tryouts are not ordinarily provided as an alternative to attending scheduled sessions.
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How are players selected?
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Selection is based on a range of factors, including:
- Basketball ability
- Long-term development potential
- Coachability
- Attitude and effort
- Team balance
- Positional requirements
Selection is not based solely on which athlete scores the most points or appears to be the strongest individual player during a particular session.
Teams must be constructed with consideration given to the overall balance and needs of each team and age group.
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Is my child guaranteed a place because they played for the Spectres this season?
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No.
Selection into the Nunawading Spectres Representative Program is never guaranteed.
All athletes are reassessed through the annual tryout process, including returning Spectres players.
Previous team placement does not guarantee selection or placement at the same level for the following season.
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If my child progresses to the next session, does that mean they have made a team?
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No.
Progression through one stage of tryouts does not guarantee progression through subsequent stages or final team selection.
The athlete pool will continue to be assessed and reduced throughout the process.
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Can we nominate which team we want our child selected into?
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No.
Families register to trial for the Nunawading Spectres Representative Program, not for a particular numbered team.
Final team placement is determined through the selection process.
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Can we request a particular coach?
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No.
Coach appointments and player selections are separate processes. Families cannot nominate or condition their acceptance on being placed with a particular coach.
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Can parents speak with coaches during tryouts about their child's selection?
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No.
Parents and guardians must not approach coaches or selectors during the tryout process regarding player assessment, selection or team placement.
This allows coaches and selectors to focus entirely on evaluating the athletes participating.
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Can I ask a coach how another athlete is performing or why another player was selected?
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No.
Nunawading Basketball will not discuss another athlete’s assessment, selection, development or team placement with a parent or guardian.
Any communication regarding selection must relate only to your own child.
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How many teams will there be in each age group?
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The final number of teams is determined by the Spectres Representative Program following consideration of athlete numbers, playing depth, coaching availability and the appropriate competitive environment for athletes.
Registering for tryouts does not guarantee that a particular number of teams will be entered within an age group.
As a guide, the Nunawading Spectres are planning to field the following teams in each age group.
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Age Group
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Boys
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Girls
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U12
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8
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6
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U14
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7
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5
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U16
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5
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4
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U18
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4
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3
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U20
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1
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1
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When will teams be announced?
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Every effort will be made to release team selections on Saturday 10 October 2026.
Families should monitor the email address supplied during registration for selection communications.
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If my child is selected when does training start?
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Training for selected teams is scheduled to commence Sunday 11 October 2026.
Families should therefore be prepared for the Representative Program commitment to begin immediately following team selections.
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How much does the program cost?
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The 2026/27 Spectres Representative Program Registration Fee is $690 per athlete, including GST.
Successful athletes will receive a Team Selection Offer, PlayHQ registration link and payment instructions.
Payment must be completed in full by 7:00pm Monday 12 October 2026.
Payment plans are not available.
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Does the $690 fee include the new Spectres uniform?
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No.
The Official Spectres Uniform Pack is an additional cost.
All athletes selected into the 2026/27 Representative Program will be required to purchase the new uniform. Full details regarding the package, inclusions, pricing and ordering process will be released prior to team selections so families can review this information before accepting an offer.
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Do returning Spectres players need to purchase the new uniform?
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Yes.
The Spectres are moving to a new official playing uniform for the 2026/27 season. All selected athletes, including returning players, will therefore be required to purchase the new Official Spectres Uniform Pack.
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Does my child need to play domestic basketball at Nunawading if selected?
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Yes.
Athletes selected into the Nunawading Spectres Representative Program are required to comply with the program’s domestic participation requirements.
Families should review the Player & Parent Handbook and Domestic Participation Policy for the full requirements and timelines applying to selected athletes.
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What happens if my child is offered a place but we don't accept or pay by the deadline?
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Team places are not confirmed until the Team Selection Offer has been accepted, PlayHQ registration completed and payment made in full.
Failure to complete these requirements by the stated deadline may result in the position being offered to another athlete.
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What are Pre-Tryouts?
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Pre-Tryouts are designed for athletes who are new to representative basketball and have not previously participated in the VJBL.
They provide first-time representative athletes with an opportunity to experience the tryout environment while assisting the Spectres Program with participant assessment and management ahead of Official Tryouts.
Pre-Tryouts will be held on Sunday 13 September 2026 at The Summit Sports Complex for the U12, U14, U16 Boys age groups.
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My child was born in 2018. Should they trial for U12 or the Spectres Development Squad?
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Athletes born in 2018 are age-eligible for U12 Representative Tryouts.
Nunawading Basketball is also introducing a Spectres Development Squad (U11) for athletes born in 2018 who are preparing for future representative basketball.
Further information regarding the Development Squad will be released separately.
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My child was born in 2019. Can they trial for U12?
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No.
Current Basketball Victoria regulations do not permit quadruple bottom-age athletes to participate in VJBL competition.
Athletes born in 2019 will instead be eligible for the Future Spectres (U10) development pathway, with further information to be released separately.
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Where is the U20 Tryout information?
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U20 Spectres Tryouts are being managed separately.
The published U12–U18 schedule does not apply to U20 athletes. Further U20 information will be released separately.
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STILL HAVE A QUESTION?
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Before contacting the Representative Program office, please ensure you have reviewed:
- The 2026/27 Spectres Tryout Information
- The 2026/27 Spectres Tryout Guidelines
- The 2026/27 Spectres Player & Parent Handbook
- The Spectres Domestic Participation Policy
If your question is not addressed within these resources or the Frequently Asked Questions above, please contact:
Simone Hallett
Representative Program Administrator
simone@nunawadingbasketball.com.au
