Hills Hornets Basketball: a parent's guide

Who the Hills Hornets are

Hills Basketball Association Ltd runs basketball in The Hills, and its representative teams are the Hills Hornets. The association built the Hills Basketball Stadium in Castle Hill in 1995 with four courts and extended it to six courts in 2017. It also manages the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex in Kellyville and the Dural Recreation Centre.

The association describes its rep program as one of the largest and most successful in New South Wales. In general it enters three teams of each gender in each of Under 12, 14, 16 and 18, depending on player numbers, coaches and venues. On fielding three teams, the handbook says preference will be given to the Under 12 and Under 14 age groups so more athletes have the chance to develop.

Hornets trials for 2027

Hills holds rep trials in October every year for the following season. For 2027, the open trials were held at Hills Basketball Stadium from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 October, so they had already happened when we checked on 9 October 2026. Online registration had closed for several groups while the association completed pre-trial administration, with registrations still taken at the front desk before trials started.

Invitational trials run on Sunday 18 October and Sunday 1 November for every group. The middle session is on Sunday 25 October, a weeknight or a Saturday, depending on the group, and several of those are at Bernie Mullane. Under 16 and Under 18 girls have no open trial: all of them attend Trial 1 on Sunday 18 October. Spectators cannot attend trials, and players who cannot make a date must lodge an exemption request.

The 2027 age groups are Under 12 for players born 2016, 2017 or 2018, Under 14 for 2014 or 2015, Under 16 for 2012 or 2013, and Under 18 for 2010 or 2011. The Rep Rookie trial for players born 2018 is on Sunday 1 November 2026 from 8am to 10am at Hills Basketball Stadium. A 2018-born child who wants a shot at an Under 12 team registers for the Under 12 open trials instead, and if not selected can attend the Rookie trial without registering again.

Players who have played junior rep elsewhere register as transfer players and must submit a permission to trial form. Hills accepts a maximum of two transfers per junior age group from other associations in the Metro league. Families who have moved into The Hills Council region must apply for special consideration not to be counted as transfers.

Rep fees and what a season involves

The latest rep fees Hills has published are for 2026. The Junior Rep Program page lists $1,050 for a player, $850 for a development player and $750 for a Rep Rookie, each starting with a $200 non-refundable acceptance fee. The Rep Rookies page shows a different schedule under its 2026 heading, $200, $250 and $250 with due dates in 2025, so check the Rookie figure with the association. The fees do not cover uniforms beyond the playing top, or player registration. The Rep Rookies page says 2027 fees are still to be confirmed.

The Hornets handbook offers a $50 per person reduction for the second and later sibling in rep, on written request, and fee relief for genuine financial hardship, handled in confidence case by case. Active Kids vouchers can be used for rep fees.

The handbook says every Hornets junior rep team has 10 rostered players and may add up to two development players. All junior rep players must also play in the Hills Winter local competition, at least 50% of games, unless they get a written exemption. The handbook sets the aim for the Under 14 Premier team as preparing for and qualifying for the National Club Championship.

Where the Hornets play

Hills Basketball Stadium is the primary venue, with six courts and 132 car spaces. The summer local competition is spread across Castle Hill, Kellyville, Dural and Bella Vista Public School, so check your team's draw each week.

Local competition

The Summer 2026/27 season starts in the week of Monday 12 October 2026 and ends on Saturday 10 April 2027. Juniors have a holiday break from Wednesday 16 December 2026 to Monday 1 February 2027. Miniball, Under 9 to Under 12, plays on Saturdays with lowered rings at 8ft 6in, a size 5 ball and the coach allowed on court. Under 9 boys and girls and Under 10 girls are non-competitive, with no results or ladder recorded.

Under 13 to Under 18 play on weeknights by age and gender. As examples, Under 13 boys play Monday, Under 13 and Under 14 girls play Tuesday, Under 16 boys play Wednesday, Under 15 and Under 16 girls play Thursday, and Under 17 and Under 18 play Friday.

Summer 2026/27 fees, as published on 9 October 2026: the team entry fee is $90 for Miniball and $100 for Under 13 to Under 18, and game fees are $98 per game for Miniball and $103 per game for juniors. Game fees are a team cost, split among the players. Player registration is extra and annual, and includes injury insurance and Basketball NSW affiliation. The registration table on the summer page was still headed 2025 when we checked, so confirm the current amount with the association.

Junior team entries for summer opened on Thursday 20 August and closed on Friday 21 August 2026. If your child has no team, Miniball players born 2016 to 2019 who enter as individuals are gathered into teams through the Stingers club, and older players can use the Individual Player Noticeboard.

Programs for younger kids

Little Hoopers is for 3 to 5 year olds, children born 2021, 2022 or 2023: 45-minute weekly sessions for 9 weeks at Castle Hill, Kellyville or Dural, costing $148 online or $158 at the front desk. First-time attendees get a reversible singlet.

Hornets Academy skills sessions are one-hour lessons for girls and boys aged 5 to 16, with no experience needed, at the same price. Some sessions are girls only or boys only. Term 4 2026 runs from Monday 12 October to Saturday 12 December, and bookings are needed each term.

If your child misses selection

Hills has several pathways for players who miss a team. Each junior rep team can carry up to two development players, and the selection policy says a development player can become a full player if they replace one. The Rep Rookies squad gives 2018-born players who were not selected regular elite training and two carnivals. Rep Rookies are not classed as rep players, so the local competition rep rule does not apply to them, though Hills says a Rookie being moved up into a rep team is most likely not going to happen.

For local competition players, the Hornets Development Program (HDP) runs term sessions and holiday camps for those who want to take the next step. Only current Hills local competition players can attend.

Emerging Athletes is a strength and conditioning program for Under 12 to Under 16 at the Dural High Performance Centre: Term 4 2026 runs on Thursdays from 15 October to 10 December for $235. Prep4Reps, a 6-week Term 3 program for Under 12 to Under 16 players who have not played rep, ran before this year's trials and is worth planning for next year.

How to join

For local competition, a team manager aged 18 or over enters the team when entries open each season, and individuals use the noticeboard or the Stingers club for Miniball. Competition enquiries go to competitions@hillshornets.com.au or 9894 8944.

For the Hornets, register for the right trial on the rep trials page: open trials for new and transfer players, invitational trials for current Hornets, and Rookie trials for 2018-born players. Rep enquiries go to reps@hillshornets.com.au.