Prior to the start of each season, Puma nominate each team into a grade they feel is the best fit. The grade assigned by Puma prior to the season started is subject to change. Nominated grades for each team undergo revisions by Willetton Stadium, in collaboration with the Junior Working Group (JCWG) during the season's grading meeting. Puma nominates teams into grades without prior knowledge of other clubs' nominations. This information is disclosed during the grading meeting, where representatives from each domestic junior club convene for discussions and voting. Each club has one vote at these meetings.

There is limited regrading by Willetton Stadium and the Junior Working Group after the season start in under 12s to 18s. Regrading can cause issues with competition court grids and competition ladders. 

For our under 8s and under 10s, mini competitions are conducted throughout the season, allowing for grading adjustments, although changes to court allocations still require careful consideration. Under 8s and under 10s regrading is relatively simpler due to the absence of league standings or finals matches.

Players cannot be regraded from their initially registered team without approval from the Junior Working Group. Additionally, new players joining after the season commences must obtain approval before participating, with requests for approval to be submitted through Puma.

Training and attendance at games is compulsory when a team trains or plays. Please advise/discuss with your team Coach and or Manager if you will not be at a game or training each week.

Training

After the Junior Sub Committee grading meeting the competition grid will be created. After this has been completed, the available training courts at Willetton Stadium, ASC and Striker Leeming will be allocated to the clubs. PUMA will also have booked other outside venues for training.

PUMA will try to allocate training half courts to our teams. Every effort will be made to allocate the same court as the teams had in the previous season, BUT this is not always possible. Sometimes the courts available do not match the specific requirements of a team or the court is no longer available. Early training times and courts where the rings can be lowered must go to the younger teams. Times are mostly only available before game times at Willetton Stadium.

Please advise if a team decides to find their own court. The comparable value to allocations by Willetton and PUMA will be provided to the team(s) who organise their own court. The cost of training courts allocated by PUMA is to shared by all players in their season fees.

PUMA may also allocate 3 teams of similar ability and age to a squad training. Court space and available times are scarce and sharing resources may need to be introduced as a result. Some PUMA squad training has already been introduced as a new concept to PUMA but has been used previously with success by other clubs.

Games

Please advise your Coach and or Manager asap if you will be unable to play a game so that they can organise a fill in Player. Coaches and or Managers are asked to arrange eligible fill in(s) and to contact the PUMA contact or age coordinator to discuss and for assistance. It is important to note that age and grade, uniforms and representative status needs to be considered.

PUMA acknowledges that the need for a forfeit may be at short notice. Please call 9310 3388 Willetton Stadium to advise late notice forfeits asap. Please always follow up with notice of an email by an email to admin@willettonbasketball.com.au and to pumawillettonbasketballclub@gmail.com.

Fill-in Players

There are no additional game fees for players who fill in for another Puma team. Players may play up a grade in the under 12s and above categories, up to four times, provided they meet the age eligibility and demonstrate appropriate skills as a representative player.

However, players are not permitted to play down or across grades in under 12s and above. 

If a player participates in playing more than four games up without prior approval through PUMA by the Junior Working Group, they will be deemed, under the Competition ByLaws, to be an illegal Player on the 5th and any further games played up in total across any PUMA teams without approval.

Under 8s and10s

Modified rules are in place in addition to the Competition ByLaws and can be found on the Willetton Tigers Website. Fill ins are very flexible but consideration should be made to avoid as an example for A grade players in C grade out of courtesy.

The Competition ByLaws and Modified Rules can change from season to season.

You can view the Competition ByLaws HERE

You can view the modified rules for under 8s HERE

The PUMA club colours are yellow/gold and black with white and grey trim. PUMA teams should wear the yellow/gold strip unless there is a clash with another PUMA team. 

ByLaw - Team A to reverse their playing tops eg Puma Team A to wear black and Puma Team B to wear Gold unless they can agree otherwise. The Puma yellow/gold strip will not clash with any other club colours.

Fill in Players must wear the same playing top as the team they are filling in for. For this reason each team has been provided with a #0 playing jersey which is to only be used by a fill-in player. If more than one fill in player is required, each player must wear a different number. The team manager is responsible for holding onto the #0 playing jersey, this should be brought to all games in case a fill in is required, there is a blood rule or player doesn't turn up with a top.

Willetton Junior Competition Domestic black shorts are compulsory and can be purchased for $30 from the Willetton Stadium Reception.

Playing tops are supplied each season on loan as part of your season fees. Tops must be returned to the Team Manager or Coach after the last game played for the team each season.

Players may have favourite numbers, but the priority is to supply a good size top for the player. Managers are asked to shuffle tops in the team set to get the correct size and then request extra tops where necessary. Best efforts with numbers are possible but requests cannot be guaranteed.

Players must be in full uniform at games or the Referees will enforce an out of uniform 5 point penalty per player.

Playing tops are on loan to players as part of their Season Fees. Any loss or damage is the responsibility of the family. A replacement top will be supplied at a $50 Fee. The damaged or lost top belongs to Puma.

The club may choose to impose a $20 cleaning fee if required. Playing tops are not to be used in any competition or training session other than for the Willetton Basketball Junior Competition/Puma training session unless the Puma Committee has approved another use.

Players, Families, Spectators and Volunteers are expected to display good sportsmanship before, during and after games. PUMA has a low tolerance to poor behaviour.

PUMA Families/Players are asked to take the time to thank and respect the volunteer Coaches, Managers and Coordinators who work hard to get the Players on the courts each week. The  staff, referees and the opposition also should be respected.

PUMA Families/Players are required to respect the competition officials and opposition clubs/teams.

If the Coach is not satisfied with the referee calls, then they can approach or ask the Team Manager to approach a Referee Supervisor, who wear green shirts with the word Supervisor on the back, for assistance. The Duty Manager at Willetton Stadium Reception can also be asked for assistance. Please contact the PUMA contact with any concerns.

If, you are willing to assist the club please advise where you may be able to assist or make contact to ask where you could help. Volunteers are always needed. Your help would be appreciated.

Families are asked to be prepared to have an adult scorer at each game. Managers will provide a scoring roster. The scorer is to work with the opposition scorer to keep the game score. The electronic scoring device score will stand at the end of the game. Unless agreed to otherwise by both scorers then the scorer from the team listed second on the fixtures should complete the electronic scoring device.