Domestic basketball is your local junior competition, run by the association nearest you. There's no tryout, games are usually on the weekend, and your child plays other teams inside the same competition. It's where nearly every player in Victoria starts.
Written by Cameron James, founder and head coach at Liddicoat Basketball. Over a decade coaching junior basketball in Melbourne, including at Big V level, and rep teams from Under 12s through to Under 18s.
Last updated August 2026.
You join a club, the club puts your child in an age group, and the association grades the teams into divisions. There's no selection trial to get in.
If you don't have a club, ring the association that covers your suburb and tell them your child's age. Getting placed in a team is the normal path and they do it constantly.
Melbourne doesn't have one domestic competition. It has several, each covering a different part of the city, and they're run by different bodies.
| Competition | Short for | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association | EDJBA | Eastern suburbs |
| Community Basketball League | CBL | Run by Camberwell Basketball |
| Greater Eastern Basketball Conference | GEBC | Eastern suburbs |
| Northern Junior Basketball League | NJBL | Northern region |
This list covers the largest metro competitions rather than every one in Victoria. We're adding a detailed page for each, and regional competitions after that.
EDJBA lists 22 member clubs across Melbourne's eastern suburbs, from Balwyn and Hawthorn out to Warrandyte and Doreen.
Camberwell Basketball started its Community Basketball League in February 2022 with more than 450 teams, and reports more than 520 teams playing in winter 2026.
Junior domestic competitions run modified rules to keep games playable and safe. EDJBA, for example, operates a no zone defence policy, a mercy rule and a concussion policy.
The no zone rule is the one parents ask about most. It means teams have to defend player to player rather than sitting in a zone, which stops one tall kid parking under the ring and forces everyone to learn to defend.
No. Domestic is open entry. You join a club and the association places your child in an age group, then grades the teams into divisions.
Usually on the weekend, though the exact day and time depends on the competition and the age group. Confirm with your association, because it varies.
Competitions like EDJBA run a no zone defence policy so teams defend player to player. It stops games being decided by one tall player standing under the ring and makes every child learn to defend properly.
More on start here
Next questions parents ask
Every competition in this guide
Facts on this page were compiled from the official sources below and written up in our own words. Dates, fees and venues change every season, so confirm anything you are relying on with the association directly.
This page was last updated August 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Tryout windows, grading, key dates and what each level actually costs. Written for Victorian basketball parents, sent when something matters, not every week.