The Eltham-Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament is one event we were all lucky to see eventuate in 2020 and organisers have remained patient as to how a 2021 event might look. We’ve endeavoured to work in coordination with the VJBL and in consultation with dozens of associations; from which the Eltham and Dandenong associations have coordinated a plan that will allow 2021 to have a focus on ‘Welcome Back.’
Note that this year we have a closing date of Sunday 10th January so that we have suitable time to fixture the event.
Our tournament for 2021 has been rescheduled to the dates of Sunday 24th January to Tuesday 26th January. We take this opportunity to assure you that Monday 25th will involve games during just the late afternoon/evening, leaving the day vacant, as a work day. We’ve chosen these dates, as it will allow VJBL to take place as has been planned for Friday 22nd January and we’ve left the Saturday to allow associations to operate their junior domestic competitions.
As we all progress out of COVID however, things are going to look different. Fixturing will be simplified, whereby grades of competition will be based in hubs, with all games for a grade of competition being played from the one venue across the event. Grades of competition will be assigned an ‘early’ or ‘late’ fixture. If your team is an ‘early’ then you’ll play 2 games on Sunday morning with two hours rest in between your games. Your team will then be finished for the day! A ‘late’ grade will begin their tournament on Sunday afternoon playing both games with a 2 hour break in between.
Knowing the mad rush we’re all facing to select our Junior Championship teams, we’re removing the ‘Team Entry’ and make it a player registration fee. The intent here is to take the pressure off a Club or a Team Manager forking out money for a team that’s hardly been created. We will guarantee 3 games per team (plus finals) and as such will slash the price of entry to the event.
The aim of both Eltham and Dandenong for our 2021 is to run a COVID safe event with a focus on making this a welcoming return to the sport we all love. This is an incredible event that the Eltham and Dandenong associations are honoured to host. We hope to see you and your members back at the Eltham-Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament for 2021.