By-Laws

Make sure the team is actually compliant before game day.

• Junior teams need at least 7 registered players before the season starts.
• Every junior coach and team manager must complete/upload the required documentation before participating officially:

Junior coaches/assistant coaches have ongoing accreditation requirements. SBA can conduct random checks, and failure to rectify non-compliance within 7 days can result in the team’s season points being reset to zero.

Make sure every player is correctly registered and appears in PlayHQ before every game. A player not entered correctly can result in a forfeit.

The manager is the person who needs to keep the administrative wheels turning.

• Junior teams communicate with SBA through their Domestic Club representative.
• Entity teams communicate through their nominated Team Contact.
• SBA requires communication to be in writing to admin@sabres.com.au.
• After junior grading starts, players cannot simply move between teams. Requests need to go through the Team Manager in writing to the SBA CEO.
• A player joining after grading needs SBA CEO approval.

• A player can play no more than one age group above their normal age group.
• A junior can play a maximum of two SBA junior games in a week.
• A player cannot register in two teams in the same age group on different days.
• Representative players have additional restrictions and a 14-point team cap.
• Representative players generally have to play in their designated year-of-birth age group before playing up.

A fill-in can only be used when the team has fewer than six eligible players.

If you use a fill-in:

• The team can have a maximum of six players.
• If the fill-in takes the court, another registered player cannot subsequently arrive and take the court.
• Junior fill-ins have restrictions based on age group, grade and representative points.
• A junior player can fill in in a higher grade of the same age group only three times per season; the fourth time makes them ineligible for their lower-grade team.
• A senior fill-in can play one game unregistered, but must be registered before playing a second game.
• Breaching fill-in rules can result in a forfeit.

For most competitions, a player needs to have played 7 fixtured games during the season to qualify for finals. Byes don’t count. A team receiving a forfeit does count that game for finals qualification.

• Daytime Ladies and Over 35s require 5 games.
• There are possible dispensations/exemptions, but these have deadlines. Don’t wait until finals week to discover a player is ineligible.

• Players
• Coach
• Manager
• Scorer
• Spectators.

For junior games, only the Head Coach or, if absent, the Team Manager may speak to referees during timeouts or half-time to ask a question.

• Parents and other spectators should not approach referees during play.
• A behavioural technical foul also has a sin-bin consequence: the player leaves the court and cannot return until five minutes of playing time have elapsed.
• Two behavioural technical fouls in one SBA domestic season result in a two-week suspension from SBA competitions.

• Is registered.
• Has the correct uniform.
• Has no jewellery.
• Has suitable hair/accessories.
• Has trimmed/covered fingernails.
• Arrives early enough to be ready for the warm-up.
• Has plenty of water.

For junior games, don’t bring a basketball into the stadium — SBA provides warm-up balls.

This is important. The By-Laws make the team responsible for its spectators, and conduct outside the spirit of the game can result in penalties. So "I’m only a parent" isn’t necessarily a defence.

If the stadium temperature reaches 35°C, SBA’s Extreme Heat Policy can be activated. Under the policy:

• Halves are shortened by two minutes.
• Half-time becomes five minutes.
• There is a mandatory timeout around the halfway point of each half.
• Everyone should actively monitor players for heat stress and encourage fluids.
• At 40°C, games are cancelled.

Parents therefore have a role in watching for signs that their child isn’t coping with the heat.

Child safety is expressly stated as SBA’s number-one priority. Parents, spectators, players, coaches, managers, officials and volunteers all have to comply with applicable child-safety legislation, Basketball Victoria/SBA policies and safeguarding requirements.

• Be properly registered.
• Make sure your name/details are correctly recorded in PlayHQ.
• Wear the correct uniform.
• Remove jewellery.
• Have appropriate nails/hair/equipment.
• Arrive on time.
• Listen to your coach.
• Treat referees, opponents and teammates respectfully.

Don’t play under another player’s name. Doing so can cause a team forfeit.

• Maximum one age group up.
• Maximum two SBA junior games per week.
• You cannot register in two teams in the same age group on different days.
• Representative players have additional rules.

If you’re thinking of playing up, ask your manager before you play, rather than assuming you’re eligible.

Don’t just turn up and play. The rules depend on:

• Your normal team.
• Your age group.
• Your grade.
• Whether you’re a representative player.
• How many times you’ve already filled in.

For juniors, filling in four times in a higher grade of the same age group can move you out of eligibility for your lower-grade team.

For most competitions, you need 7 fixtured games to qualify for finals. So if finals matter to you, don’t assume "I’ve been registered all season" means you’re automatically eligible. You actually need the required games.

You cannot take the court with:

• Jewellery.
• Shorts with pockets/zips/buckles.
• Certain loose hair accessories.
• Non-compliant compression garments.

Your singlet needs an appropriate number on both front and back.

If you’re bleeding, you must leave the court and cannot return until the bleeding has stopped and the blood has been removed from you and your uniform.

A behavioural technical foul isn’t just "two free throws and move on."

• Under SBA’s rules, a behavioural technical can trigger a five-minute sin-bin.
• Two behavioural technical fouls in the same SBA domestic season results in a two-week suspension. Further behavioural technicals can result in additional two-week suspensions.

So: play hard. Compete hard. Don’t lose control.

• Every player who is actually playing is properly registered to the team.
• The correct players are entered in PlayHQ.
• A player is never put on the scoresheet/PlayHQ under another player’s name.
• Any fill-in is genuinely eligible.
• The team has the required scorer.
• Players have the correct uniform and equipment.
• The team has enough players to start.

MBA specifically says that only players actually taking the court should be selected in the game lineup, and that teams are responsible for getting player eligibility right.

This is probably the single biggest administrative change to understand.

MBA’s February 2026 By-Law 8 changes were designed to:

• clarify clearance rules for clubs and independent teams;
• protect junior club development pathways, particularly U16 and below;
• prevent groups of players from effectively bypassing transfer restrictions by creating new independent teams;
• recognise that older junior age groups have different social/retention needs.

MBA’s current fill-in rules are quite specific.

This is another thing the manager should monitor rather than discover at finals time. MBA’s rule is that a player must have:

• taken the court and played at least 50% of the scheduled games during the season.

Importantly, MBA says that grading games count towards finals qualification, and games played in another division of the same age group can count.

For Winter 2026, MBA used the first four rounds as grading.

• Rounds 1–2 = initial grading.
• Rounds 3–4 = secondary grading.
• Divisions can change during this period.
• The ladder is reset after Round 4.
• From Round 5, the regular competition structure is in effect.

This is important when explaining results to parents: a grading result isn’t necessarily a normal-season ladder result.

Also, MBA’s uniform penalties were not enforced during the first four rounds of Winter 2026, with the full uniform policy applying from Round 5.

The team needs a competent scorer. MBA’s published by-law material specifies that each team supplies a scorer, with the scorer acting as a game official and expected to be impartial.

The manager should therefore have a scoring roster rather than discovering five minutes before tip-off that nobody knows how to score.

MBA’s published by-law material requires four registered players on court to start a game. The older published MBA by-law material also sets a late-start/forfeit mechanism, so managers should treat the scheduled start time seriously rather than assuming there is unlimited grace time.

MBA has a formal uniform policy and applies penalties for non-compliance. The published MBA by-law material specifies:

• uniform requirements;
• approved player-number ranges;
• penalties for uniform breaches;
• fingernail requirements;
• appropriate footwear;
• jewellery restrictions.

For managers, the simplest approach is:

For junior domestic competitions, MBA’s published rules say:

• No basketballs are to be brought into the stadium, except that a coach may bring one team ball for warm-up purposes.

MBA provides the match ball. So don’t have parents filling the entrance with basketballs.

One particularly important MBA rule is the restriction on zone defence. The published MBA by-law material provides penalties for playing a zone during the regular season:

• First offence — written warning.
• Second offence — loss of premiership points / forfeit.
• Third offence — forfeit plus a fine.

There are separate, escalating consequences during finals.

MBA has a formal Zero Tolerance Policy covering:

• players;
• coaches;
• team managers;
• parents;
• spectators.

It specifically addresses:

• persistently challenging referees;
• abusing officials;
• abusing players;
• abusing coaches/team officials;
• abusing other spectators;
• inappropriate sporting behaviour;
• damaging property.

MBA can require a person to leave the venue immediately, and a parent/spectator can face suspension or Tribunal action. Repeated behaviour can also affect their child’s participation.

Support your child. Let the coach coach. Let the referees referee. MBA has an explicit zero-tolerance approach to abusive or inappropriate behaviour.

Don’t arrange a fill-in yourself and tell the manager: “We’ve got a mate who can play.” The player may be ineligible.

MBA says fill-ins cannot come from the same division and there are limits on how many times they can fill in. An ineligible fill-in can cause a forfeit.

Ask the Team Manager first.

A child being registered with a team does not automatically mean they qualify for finals. MBA requires participation in at least 50% of scheduled games, with specific rules about what counts and doesn’t count.

So if finals matter: don’t assume registration = finals eligibility.

For Winter 2026, the first four rounds were grading rounds, with divisions able to change and the ladder reset after Round 4. So a poor Round 1 result isn’t necessarily an indication of where the team will finish.

MBA explicitly identifies the safety, participation and empowerment of children as its number-one priority and maintains child-safe policies alongside its competition rules. That means parents should treat concerns about behaviour, safety or inappropriate conduct as genuine issues to be raised through the appropriate club/MBA process.

WBA has different rules for junior and senior competitions, so don’t assume a rule applying to one applies to the other.

Junior competitions have their own documents covering:

• registration and qualification;
• timing;
• scoring;
• finals;
• clearances;
• fill-ins/transfers;
• mercy rule;
• late starts;
• zone defence;
• uniforms;
• player points;
• player/coach behaviour.

Senior competitions have a separate set of documents and rules. WBA runs senior domestic competitions Sunday through Thursday, with men’s, women’s and mixed competitions.

WBA uses PlayHQ for registration and team administration.

• For senior teams, existing team representatives receive a PlayHQ link to register the team and pay the team entry fee. New teams have a separate registration process.
• For juniors, make sure every player is properly registered and appears on the official team list.

Never do this: “They’re registered with the club, so we’ll just put them on.” The player needs to be correctly registered/qualified for that team and competition.

This is one of the most important WBA rules.

WBA has specific Fill In and Transfer Player Rules for juniors, and senior competitions have their own registration/fill-in requirements.

For seniors, WBA’s competition information says a fill-in can play a maximum of two games before completing registration. If registration isn’t completed, the relevant results can be forfeited and the team loses ladder points.

This is particularly important for WBA junior teams. WBA allows representative players to play domestic basketball, but uses a points system to balance domestic competitions.

The current published policy says the team must not exceed 30 total points. The system applies to representative players, domestic players and relevant fill-in/emergency players.

WBA specifically lists a U8, U10, U12 & U14 Zone Defence Rule in its Junior Domestic documents. So coaches in those age groups should not assume that ordinary FIBA defensive tactics automatically apply.

WBA’s mercy rule applies to U8, U10, U12 and U14. When the leading team reaches:

• 10 points ahead in U8
• 20 points ahead in U10/U12/U14

the defending team must retreat and remain inside its defensive three-point line when the opposition gains possession from an inbound or made basket. The team must still play man-to-man defence under the no-zone rule.

WBA has a specific Late Start Points policy for junior competitions. One of the easiest ways for a manager to prevent unnecessary penalties is simply to have everything organised before the scheduled game time.

• players there;
• uniforms sorted;
• scorer organised;
• paperwork/LiveScore sorted;
• alternate uniforms sorted if necessary;
• team ready to take the court.

WBA’s uniform policy says all players must wear matching-colour singlets and matching-colour shorts. A particularly useful detail: navy, royal blue and black count as different colours.

If there is a uniform clash, the away team changes. The away team is the team listed second/right-hand side in the fixture.

WBA provides alternate singlets for hire:

• $20 per set if arranged at the cashier;
• $10 if organised and ready before the match.

WBA has a specific Scoring Rules and Information document for both junior and senior competitions. The manager should therefore have a roster for:

• scorer;
• scorer backup;
• people who know the LiveScore/scoring process.

Don’t rely on one parent who happens to know how it works.

WBA’s standard finals structure is:

• Semi-final: 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd.
• Winners meet in the Grand Final.

If there are 10+ teams in a section, WBA can split the competition into Gold and Green finals series.

WBA has a specific Player and Coach Behaviour Policy, as well as broader child-safety and member-protection policies. There is also a Sin Bin Rule.

The policy framework covers:

• players;
• coaches;
• team officials;
• parents/spectators;
• child safety;
• appropriate behaviour.

WBA specifically lists both a Concussion Policy and Heat Policy. This means coaches shouldn’t make their own informal decision such as “He seems okay, let him go back on.”

If concussion is suspected, follow the WBA/Basketball Victoria process. Likewise, during extreme heat, follow the WBA Heat Policy rather than relying on normal game arrangements.

Let the coach coach and the referee referee. WBA requires team representatives to ensure players and guests are familiar with the Basketball Victoria Code of Conduct. Players also agree to the relevant terms when registering through PlayHQ.

• arrives on time;
• has the correct uniform;
• has appropriate basketball shoes;
• has water;
• has removed jewellery;
• is properly registered;
• knows where/when the game is;
• is ready to play.

And check the fixture. If your child is playing away, the team may have a uniform-clash responsibility. The away team may have to change singlets.

This is a common trap. If the team is short, ask the Team Manager first.

A player who looks like an obvious replacement may not satisfy WBA’s fill-in, transfer, player-points or registration rules. For juniors, the player-points system can also matter if the player is a representative player.

For juniors, a player needs six qualifying games, and grading games don’t count. For seniors, the requirement is eight games.

So if your child has missed a lot of games, ask the manager during the season, not the week before finals.

WBA has a dedicated concussion policy. If your child takes a significant hit and there is a concern about concussion, tell the coach/official immediately.

Don’t encourage a child to “shake it off” because it’s an important game.

If you’re watching U8–U14 basketball, you may see the leading team stop pressing even though it could easily continue. That’s intentional.

• U8: +10
• U10/U12/U14: +20

At these thresholds, the Mercy Rule requires the leading defensive team to retreat behind its defensive three-point line when the opposition gains possession. It’s designed to promote sportsmanship and prevent games becoming demoralising blowouts.

This is perhaps the easiest rule to remember: play under your own registered name. Don’t jump onto the court using a teammate’s name because the team is short.

WBA can award a forfeit if an incorrectly named player is discovered after the match has been finalised.

Don’t assume that because you’re registered with a club, you can play any WBA team. Your registration, team and competition need to line up.

If you’re changing teams or clubs, ask before registering/playing. WBA has specific junior clearance and transfer documents.

Don’t just accept: “They need someone — you can play.” Check with the manager.

For seniors, WBA allows a fill-in to play up to two games before completing registration. Junior fill-in rules are more detailed, so the manager needs to check the specific competition.

Playing representative basketball doesn’t necessarily stop you playing domestic basketball. But for junior domestic competitions, WBA uses the 30-point team cap to balance teams containing representative players.

So don’t assume: “I’m eligible, therefore the team can use me.” The whole team’s points total matters.

For U8–U14:

• U8: +10
• U10: +20
• U12: +20
• U14: +20

Once triggered, the leading team’s defence retreats behind the defensive three-point line when the opposition gets possession. If you’re a player on the leading team, that means: don’t press. Retreat and defend properly.

If you’re playing U8, U10, U12 or U14, your coach may tell you that you must play man-to-man. That’s because WBA has a specific No Zone rule for these age groups.

So “Just stand in the paint and protect the basket” may not be legal defensive instruction. Listen to your coach and understand the defensive system before game day.

Your team needs consistent uniforms. WBA’s policy requires:

• same-colour singlets;
• same-colour shorts.

The shorts can be a different colour from the singlet, but all teammates’ shorts must match. And remember: navy ≠ royal blue ≠ black under the WBA uniform policy.

A referee can make a bad call. That doesn’t give you permission to abuse them. The WBA behaviour framework exists alongside Basketball Victoria’s Code of Conduct.

Good player rule: question respectfully if appropriate. Never turn frustration into abuse.

Don’t hide an injury because you want to stay on court. WBA has specific concussion and health/safety policies. Your long-term health is more important than one domestic basketball game.