WHAT IS WARRANDYTE VENOM?

WHAT IS WARRANDYTE VENOM?

In recent years there is every chance you have heard about the Warrandyte Venom basketball program, which is based at Warrandyte Sports Complex (Anderson Creek Primary School). The program is growing quickly and is today recognised as an advanced rep-ball club, a home to more than 320 players at the representative level.

As is often the case in sport, it is taken for granted that people what the program is about, how it fits into junior basketball, along with other important factors like costs, training sessions, coaches and playing times/venues.

Hopefully this information helps to answer some of those questions and also provides you with a better understanding of the Venom program and the fantastic pathway it provides to young basketball players in our region.

Additionally, if you have questions feel free to contact the club, or we're sure many families from the likes of Warrandyte Redbacks, Park Orchards Steelers or Maroondah Magic (amongst others) already involved in Warrandyte Venom will be happy to assist.

Firstly, allow us to explain how the Venom program fits into the basketball pathway.

You are probably already involved with a domestic basketball club that plays in the EDJBA on Saturdays (Redbacks / Steelers) or possibly in the Kilsyth competition (Magic / Phantoms  etc)  all of which have fantastic programs and enjoy a very strong reputation for developing players and providing a family-friendly club.

Warrandyte Venom doesn’t compete in the same competition as these clubs, rather Venom is the next level up and represents the region. Venom welcomes players from all local domestic clubs and provides them with an opportunity to play at the next level against other regions.

Venom games are played on Friday nights, generally with games played at 6.40pm, 7.40pm, 8.40pm and 9.40pm.

Our region includes areas such as Warrandyte, Park Orchards, Warrandyte South, Donvale, Doncaster East, Wonga Park, Warranwood, North Ringwood, Croydon North and Croydon Hills.

Warrandyte Venom is a part of Warrandyte Basketball Association and is administered by the WBA committee. Many domestic clubs in the region feed into the Venom program.

Warrandyte Basketball Association has a full-time General Manager, a part-time Player Development Manager, a boys Director of Coaching and a girls Director of Coaching.

Including junior domestic teams, Aussie Hoops and senior domestic teams, all up Warrandyte Basketball is home to more than 1000 players.

We encourage Venom players to keep playing at their domestic club. In most cases, once a player begins in the Venom program you will see their game rapidly improve at domestic level. We do not dictate which domestic club you should play for - we want Venom players to stay true to their home domestic club and to represent them with pride, enjoying the opportunity to play basketball with their mates.

Venom plays in the VJBL (Victorian Junior Basketball League), which is the highest level of junior basketball in Victoria. Games are played on Friday nights at venues across Melbourne. The VJBL is the largest junior league of this level in the world with approximately 1000 teams.

Venom’s home courts are Warrandyte Sports Complex, Park Orchards Primary School and Croydon Hills Primary School.

More than 40 associations play in the VJBL, covering all regions of Melbourne and some country areas such as Geelong, Ballarat, Traralgon and Bendigo.

The VJBL caters for boys and girls with age groups starting at Under 12 and going to Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20. Players can start in the Venom program from as young as 8.

We conduct selection tryouts each October (starting October 6 this year) and these are open to all players. We strongly encourage domestic players to attend and push for selection at the next level. We also welcome players from other rep-ball programs who may be looking for a fresh start at a club that has some very unique values.

The VJBL season lasts a full year (not Summer & Winter like domestic) and runs from October through until September.

If the team your child plays in makes a Metropolitan Grade (high level) then there can be some travel, however the largest group of clubs in the VJBL are based in the East, North-East and South-East, which limits travel requirements. 

If the team your child plays in makes a Regional Grade (lower level) then the majority of your games will be at local venues (East).

Training sessions are held at least once per week and run for a minimum of 90 minutes. These sessions are largely based on advanced teaching of skills, structures, fitness and overall discipline with experienced coaches.

Training sessions are held at Warrandyte Sports Complex and Croydon Hills Primary School, with Luther College and Warrandyte Secondary College also used for some sessions. Unlike other rep-ball clubs, we do not run training sessions all on a Sunday (for example), rather we have teams also training mid-week, which we find some families prefer.

Warrandyte Venom does not ask families to pay extra money for training. All costs are built in to the registration fee - there are no hidden surprises.

All Venom coaches have experience at coaching basketball, in most cases at an advanced level. Many Venom coaches do not have children in the program, they are dedicated to coaching and do so at the representative level with Venom.

In the last seven years the Warrandyte Venom program has increased dramatically. Including our senior program, we have grown to 37 Venom teams representing the region. 

Venom has experienced Coaching Directors. They are Nicole Howard for girls (Championship-winning Big V coach and 2013 Big V Coach of the Year) and Ross Charles for boys (many years of senior playng and coaching experience, highly-respected coaching director of more than a decade).

Generally, annual registration costs $275, while the uniform is purchased (and owned) for about $45 for a singlet and $45 for shorts. Other merchandise is available, however you can purchase this as you please. The Venom registration fees remain the lowest in the VJBL. We believe in providing an affordable program for all players and families.

Every Venom team competes in a minimum of two tournaments per year, which usually involves between 5-8 games over a weekend. These tournaments prove to be fantastic for the players and the parents. We encourage teams to compete in tournaments including Eltham (Australia Day weekend) and Nunawading (Queen’s Birthday weekend).

The Venom program is very family friendly. We conduct a number of club functions each year, plus we have an exciting pathway that sees many of our juniors progressing and competing at a senior level for the Venom in the Statewide Big V competition.

Venom commenced (2011) sending teams on tours to the USA each December to play against High School teams and experience US College and NBA games, along with meeting new people, experiencing another country and sightseeing. This year (2013) will mark our third tour with 30 players and parents going on a three-week tour.

Warrandyte Basketball believes in open communication and always welcomes input, feedback and involvement by its members and families. We email weekly updates to all members and regularly add stories and updates on the club website - www.warrandyte.basketball.net.au

In addition to its playing programs, Warrandyte Basketball also conducts a number of skills sessions for players, including Shooting Classes, the Warrandyte Basketball Academy, Future Forces and School Holiday Camps.

We sincerely hope this answers a few questions you may have about Venom. We will soon embark on our annual tryouts, which are conducted in early October. Again, if you want to know more please feel free to call or email the club.

We look forward to seeing you during the Venom tryouts, starting Sunday October 6.

 




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