When and where are the games held?
Due to increased demand, Wizards are planning a new schedule for junior fixtures.
Games will be played at Northside Indoor Sports Centre, 20 Cambewarra St, Zillmere or South Pine Sports Complex, 620 South Pine Rd, Brendale.
- All U12 to U18 Div 1 teams to play on Friday nights at Zillmere or Brendale
- U12 to U14 Div 2 and below to play on Sundays from 11am at Zillmere
- U10 all divisions, and U16 to U18 Div 2 and below to play on Saturdays at Zillmere
- All U21 teams to play on Wednesday nights at Zillmere
When and where are the trials?
Trials for Summer Season 2023-24 will be held on Saturday 7 October at Northside Indoor Sports Centre, 20 Cambewarra St, Zillmere.
U10 (born 2015, 2016) – 11:30am to 12:15pm
U12 (born 2013, 2014) – 11:30am to 12:15pm
U14 (born 2011, 2012) – 12:30pm to 1:15pm
U16 (born 2009, 2010) – 1:30pm to 2:15pm
U18 (born 2007, 2008) – 2:30pm to 3:15pm
U21 (born 2004, 2005, 2006) – contact Jim Barry at r[email protected] for expressions of interest
Players must have registered and paid their BQ fees and season fees to take part in the trials. This is for insurance purposes. Information about the fees are on the Northside Wizards website at https://northsidewizards.com/junior-player-registrations/. The option to pay by two instalments is now available. The second instalment is due prior to the start of the season.
Players are expected to attend the trials to enable the coaching team to assess players’ skill levels relative to other players. Players are placed into teams based on their performance at trials, so please make this a priority.
If any players can’t make the trials, please let us know beforehand by emailing [email protected].
How do I register?
Registrations opened on 15 August 2023. The registration link is on our Facebook page.
Players who do not register early cannot be guaranteed a spot in a team next season.
We have over 40 teams and are always interested to hear from potential coaches and managers, please indicate your interest in these roles by signing up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44ACAC2AA5F5CF8-202324.
Confirmation of the correct age cut offs is on the Northside Wizards website at What Age Group Will My Child Play In? – Northside Basketball Inc. (northsidewizards.com).
How do the trials work?
Players who don’t attend the trials cannot be assured of a spot in a team.
There will be no spectators allowed into the venue during the trials. Only prospective coaches, assistant coaches and club committee members will be allowed to enter.
All players are to bring a basketball clearly marked with their name, and a water bottle. Please wear a singlet as we will be writing numbers on the boys’ arms to help identify them during the trials.
Please ask players to try their hardest throughout the trials so they are placed in a team that is the right level for them.
Players will be placed into teams and graded into division levels.
Please don’t ask for players to be moved after the trials.
Occasionally we will need to move players during the grading process, please be open to any changes requested. The aim is for players to have a positive experience of basketball.
How does the competition work? When are the finals?
Summer Season is in Terms 4 and 1 (October to March) and Winter Season is in Terms 2 and 3 (April to September), both with finals at the end of the season.
Northside Wizards offers a Wiz Kidz skills development program for players from 4 to 7 years of age.
Wizards also offer a Seniors competition for players who are 15 years and older.
Can players be put into teams with their friends?
We make all efforts to place players in teams based on their skill and ability. This helps ensure that players have a great basketball experience during the season. We do know that some players may want to play with their friends. During the trials, boys will be placed in teams of different playing abilities. We can’t guarantee that friends will be placed together but we will consider requests only where players are the same playing ability.
Can players play with friends in an older age group? They go to school together.
Players must play in their correct age group. This a Wizards requirement.
When and where will training sessions be?
Training sessions are likely to be on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. The earliest slots are given to the youngest teams. With more than 40 teams to find slots for, the more flexible coaches can be about times and venues the better.
Training times are only released once we have formed teams and allocated coaches. Our main priority when scheduling training is coach availability followed by venue allocations.
How will I know what team my son has been placed in?
Team lists will be emailed once available. Please also note that during the 2 week grading period, players may be moved between teams.
Do I need to buy a uniform?
Once games start, all boys must wear plain black shorts (no pockets for safety reasons or large logos). Wizards have supplies of shorts available for purchase at Zillmere for $25. Suitable shorts are usually available in the active wear section of K Mart, or at Rebel.
All players will be provided with a club singlet for actual games. These singlets remain the property of Chermside Redbacks.
For training sessions, players should wear their own singlet.
How do I know when the games are on?
Your team manager will confirm the game times each week. Games for the whole season are scheduled at the beginning of the season. Minor changes may happen week to week. You can look up the confirmed game times yourself on the BasketballConnect app. Game times may change at short notice. Please check the app the day before the game.
Season dates are published here.
Where can I look up the results of the games?
Game results will be published on the BasketballConnect website.
BasketballConnect also provides a great app to view game day and season stats from team results to individual players.
You can also make your team a favourite, so you can view upcoming fixtures and the competition ladder. The app automatically recognises which teams are associated with the email address you create the account with, so use the email address that you have registered with us.
Any late changes to the draw should be finalised by the day before the game.
Northside Wizards has signed on for Glory League which films all games at Northside Indoor Sports Centre. Glory League gives all players a link to view the game online if they are linked in with that game via BasketballConnect. This is a wonderful feature that allows people to watch highlight packages, send copies of games to loved ones interstate or overseas, and for coaching development & referee development. This is an added cost to the player season registrations of $10. The $10 is paid per season just as part of the season registration fees.
You will receive an email each week from Glory League after the first game at Zillmere or Brendale. Check your junk mail folder if you do not receive the email.
Glory League also has an app.
Who coaches the teams?
Coaches are usually parents or relatives of players in each team. Elder siblings of players are also welcome and it is a great way for young people to develop leadership and teaching skills. Current and past players are encouraged to apply.
For the younger age groups, it is also helpful to have an assistant coach who can act as a backup if the coach can’t make it to training or to a game. All prospective coaches will be asked to attend both trials to help with team selection.
Could anyone willing to be a coach or assistant coach this season please contact Jim Barry our Coach Coordinator at <mailto:[email protected]>
Jim provides coaches with coaching resources. Northside Wizards has also developed some coaching resources. There are also coaching courses available through Wizards.
Who manages the teams?
Managers are usually a parent of one of the players in the team. The main roles of the team manager are to deal with team communications, singlet management and score bench roster management.
All parents are expected to take turns on the score bench at games. There will be a paid Wizards staff member on the score bench who can help inexperienced parents with operating the scoreboard or the scoring system.
How do I contact club committee members?
All club committee members are volunteers with families and full time jobs and may not be able to respond immediately to emails. Northside Wizards prefers that all communications are by email, to make the roles manageable for busy parents.
Anne Li, Registrar <mailto:[email protected]>
Jim Barry, Coach Coordinator <mailto:[email protected]>
Jim Barry, Club Manager <mailto:[email protected]>
Leah Edmonds, Uniform Coordinator <mailto:[email protected]>
Cassie Parker, Saturday Age Group Coordinator
How do I keep up to date with the latest news?
Keep an eye on our Facebook page here.