Penrith and District Basketball Association runs the Penrith Panthers rep program and junior local competition through nine affiliated clubs, playing at five schools and St Clair Leisure Centre. New players enter rep through Rep Rookie trials, which for the 2027 season were held on Sunday 27 September and Sunday 4 October, before the main trials for returning players.
Last updated 9 October 2026.
Penrith and District Basketball Association (PDBA) runs basketball across the Penrith area, and its representative program is the Penrith Panthers. Its website is penrithbasketball.com.au. Junior players come through nine affiliated clubs that play in PDBA's local competitions: CPSM, Montgrove, Regentville, Glenmore Park, Nepean, St Clair, Joeys, Owls and Wollemi.
PDBA's venues page lists five schools and St Clair Leisure Centre as its playing venues. In a media release dated Tuesday 29 September 2026, PDBA and Basketball NSW said they had agreed in principle to pause the Panthers' NBL1 East team for one season and return in 2028. The release quotes Basketball NSW citing the challenges of securing a suitable long-term home venue. The Panthers will still field men's and women's teams in the 2027 Waratah League, with home games in Penrith.
PDBA describes 2026 as an extraordinary season for its Under 14 Panthers. It says the boys and girls both earned places among the best 48 club teams in Australia at the Under 14 Junior Club Championships in Willetton, Western Australia, after a standout Basketball NSW Junior Premier League (JPL) campaign. For 2027, Basketball NSW's Waratah Junior League Rules of Operation list a league called the Waratah State Championships alongside the Metro Junior League (MJL) and do not mention the JPL.
Penrith uses a two-step entry, and the timing matters. The main 2027 junior trials are strictly for players who have previously represented PDBA. Everyone else starts at the Rep Rookie trials, and successful rookies are invited by email to the main trials. For 2027 the Rep Rookie trials were held on Sunday 27 September and Sunday 4 October at St Pauls Grammar, so both had passed when we checked on 9 October 2026.
PDBA says a player who missed either Rep Rookie date had to contact the association before the trial with a valid reason for an exemption, and that Basketball NSW gives associations a designated trial window in October. If your child is new and missed the Rookie dates, contact the office to ask whether any option remains. A player selected as a development player in 2026 goes straight to the main trials, and a rookie who progresses does not pay a second trial fee.
The main trials run for three weeks in each age group, from Tuesday 6 October to Sunday 1 November, mostly at St Pauls Grammar in Cranebrook. Under 16 and Under 18 girls start at Nepean High School on Sunday 11 October, and one Under 12 boys session is at Penrith High School. The 2027 age groups are Under 12 for players born 2016, 2017 or 2018, Under 14 for 2014 and 2015, Under 16 for 2012 and 2013, and Under 18 for 2010 and 2011.
The trial pages say costs are listed, but no trial fee appeared in their text when we checked, and no rep season fee was published. Ask the office: officials@penrithbasketball.net or 02 4731 3252.
| Page | Link |
|---|---|
| 2027 main junior rep trials (returning PDBA players) | Penrith junior representative trials |
| 2027 Rep Rookie trials (new players) | Penrith Rep Rookie trials |
Most of the venues are in residential areas, and PDBA asks families to be respectful and quiet coming and going. St Pauls Grammar is the main trial venue: enter from Taylor Road by the south gate only.
| Venue | Address |
|---|---|
| St Pauls Grammar | 52 Taylor Road, Cranebrook NSW 2749 |
| Nepean High School | 115-119 Great Western Highway, Emu Plains NSW 2750 |
| Penrith High School | 158-240 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 |
| Jamison High School | 222 Evan Street, South Penrith NSW 2750 |
| Kingswood High School | 131 Bringelly Road, Kingswood NSW 2747 |
| St Clair Leisure Centre | 6 Botany Lane, St Clair NSW 2759 |
Juniors play in PDBA's local competition through the nine affiliated clubs, in divisions for every skill level. The winter 2026 junior grand finals were played on Saturday 19 September 2026 at St Pauls Grammar, in age groups from Under 10 to Under 18. PDBA says a new summer junior competition is starting shortly. New or returning players register their interest through the junior competition form on the Juniors page, or contact one of the clubs directly.
PDBA's fees page lists competition fees for senior teams only, so ask your club what junior game fees will be. Every player needs annual registration, which includes injury insurance and Basketball NSW affiliation. The current 12-month fees are $150 for players 12 and over, $120 for ages 8 to 11 and $50 for Under 8s. Six-month fees are $95, $75 and $35.
A player already registered with Basketball NSW through another association completes a cheaper secondary registration with PDBA instead. Registration is through the Basketball Connect app, and PDBA issues no refunds once a player has taken part in any game or training.
All of PDBA's term programs below are at Penrith High School, run for 8 weeks each term, and accept Active Kids vouchers. Ford Aussie Hoops, for 5 to 10 year olds, runs this Term 4 on Thursdays from 15 October (4:30pm to 5:30pm), Fridays from 16 October (4pm to 5pm) and Saturdays from 17 October (8am to 9am). New members pay $150.50 plus a $50 starter pack, and returning members pay $150.50.
Mini Dribblers is for ages 2 to 4, on Saturdays from 10am to 10:45am, and the Under 8's program is for ages 5 to 7 who already have some skills, on Saturdays from 9am to 10am. Both cost $110. Hoop Time is for 11 to 14 year olds of all abilities, on Tuesdays from 4:30pm to 5:30pm from 13 October, at $130. In the school holidays, the Mini Panthers camp is for children aged 5 to 10.
PDBA selects development players into the Panthers program, and its FAQ confirms that 2026 development players go straight to the following year's main trials. The site does not explain how development players are chosen or what the role costs, so ask at trials.
The Panther Development Program (PDP) is for aspiring rep players who already understand the basics. It runs for 6 weeks on Thursday nights at Nepean High School, with 12s and 14s from 5pm to 7pm and 16s and 18s from 7pm to 9pm, and PDBA lists it as a post-season program. The Prep 4 Rep Camp, a two-day holiday camp run by PDBA rep coaches for players aiming at the 2027 program, was listed for 8 and 9 October. For players aged 11 to 14, Hoop Time is a steady term option alongside local competition.
For local competition, contact one of the nine affiliated clubs or submit the junior competition player interest form on the Juniors page. Make sure your child's annual registration is current in Basketball Connect before the first game.
For the Panthers, new players come through Rep Rookie trials, so contact PDBA about next steps if those dates have passed. Rep enquiries go to officials@penrithbasketball.net or 02 4731 3252, and program enquiries to development@penrithbasketball.net.
Through Rep Rookie trials for players who have never represented PDBA. Successful rookies are invited by email to the main trials. For the 2027 season the Rep Rookie trials were on Sunday 27 September and Sunday 4 October.
Mostly at St Pauls Grammar, 52 Taylor Road, Cranebrook, entering by the Taylor Road south gate. Under 16 and Under 18 girls start at Nepean High School, Emu Plains.
PDBA's current 12-month registration is $150 for players 12 and over, $120 for ages 8 to 11 and $50 for Under 8s, with six-month options of $95, $75 and $35.
Yes. This Term 4, Ford Aussie Hoops runs at Penrith High School on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting Thursday 15 October. New members pay $150.50 plus a $50 starter pack.
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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 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
