The Junior Metro League (MJL) Season for 2026 will start in March and conclude with Grand Finals in July.

As a guide dates for Pre-Season 2026 are:

• Coastal Classic Div 2 teams –  late January/early February
• Coastal Classic Div 1 teams – early-mid/February
• MJL Pre-Season Week 1 – late February, Saturday-Sunday
• MJL Pre-Season Week 2 – early March, Saturday-Sunday
• MJL Pre-Season Week 3 – early March, Saturday-Sunday

Guide for MJL Season: March – July

NSW State Championships and U12 State Challenge for eligible Teams will be played in August/September.

The Senior Waratah League commences in March each year the finals weekend being held in August. The Finals weekend sees the conclusion of the season of the Spalding Waratah League, with semi-finals games played on Saturday with the Grand Finals games played on Sunday.

The NBL1 East Conference dates TBC

Competition games will be played on Sundays (Senior games are played on Saturdays, with some Sunday games). Game times range from 8 am to 4 pm and run for approximately 1-2hrs long with the coach setting the time period required to arrive before the game time. Please see the rules as per BNSW for the different age groups (page 20). This outlines the special rules put in place. We recommend that all parents, players, coaches and managers read this so that they are aware of these rules. Matches will be played on a home and away basis, with home games being played at the Brickpit Sports Stadium at Thornleigh. Away games can be played anywhere within the Sydney Metropolitan Area to the following competing Associations venues. Bankstown, Blue Mountains, Northern Suburbs, Hills, Glebe, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Manly, Macarthur, Parramatta, Penrith, Ryde, Sutherland, City of Sydney and St George. Teams also may be asked to play a “Central Venue Round” which will involve two games on the one day at a central venue. When finalised Game draws (venues and times) can be found on the via BasketballConnect.

Responsibilities for games:

• All team members MUST WEAR only official Spiders uniform items to all games.
• Players must arrive the designated time before the game time (e.g 30 mins prior to start time)
• Each team is required to provide 2 people for bench for each game.
• Parents are required to attend a basic bench course conducted by HKBA prior to the commencement of the season, to assist them to fulfil this duty. All parents must fulfil their bench duty as required by team staff.
• Coaches, team staff, players, parents and spectators are to adhere to all Codes of Conduct and Zero Tolerance Policies adopted by HKBA and BNSW, at all times.

It is a great achievement to be selected for a Representative team. Each player is considered an important member of the Team. Junior Teams consist of 10 Players and Senior Teams 12 players. It is therefore inevitable that at times Court time may be less than expected or experienced before or in Local competitions. It is the Coaches decision how the game is played each week.

Training usually occurs on weeknights either once or twice a week for approximately 1-2 hrs depending on team group, coaches and availability/access to venues. Trainings are considered compulsory and players are expected to attend these sessions. Spiders reversible training singlet must be worn. If you cannot attend training or are running late for training, the coach or manager must be contacted directly (not through someone else) before the session commences. When injured you are still expected to attend games & training (unless you are receiving treatment for your injury at that time). If you are sick & could pass it on to others then you should not attend games or trainings. If you have an injury that will affect your performance in either a game or training session you will need to inform your coach directly. No extra players at Training sessions – Only Players selected through the Representative selection process allowed to attend. For junior teams at least 2 adults and a first aid kit must be present at private training venues, unless the session is at the Brickpit as it is a public venue with staff on duty with access to first aid. This is to ensure the safety of the players.

Venues for the sessions are in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai area some include Abbotsleigh Sports Precinct, Barker Senior and Junior College, Knox Grammar, Ku-ring-gai High School, Mount St Benedict College, St. Leo’s College, St Ives High School, and Brickpit Stadium.

Only COURTS are hired and therefore the other facilities are not to be used such as ovals, stages etc. Do not enter a venue without a supervisor from HKBA/coach as they are there for your safety and have first aid equipment and knowledge of the venue:

Abbotsleigh Sports Precinct, Wahroonga Gate 1A – Ada Ave, Wahroonga (under soccer pitch) Undercover parking with access to courts via carpark

Brickpit Stadium Thornleigh 1a Dartford Rd, Thornleigh

Lawson Centre, Knox Grammar Wahroonga 7 Woodville Ave, Wahroonga Street parking on either Woodville Ave or Borambil Ave No parents on court. No access to equipment or squash courts.

Light of Christ Centre, St Leo’s Catholic College Waitara end of Yardley Ave, Waitara Street parking only. Court located in building next to oval. No parents on court. No food or drinks to be consumed inside. All bags must be left on verandah. No access to equipment or stage.

Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills 449C Pennant Hills Road

Multi-purpose Hall, Barker Junior School Hornsby Clarke Road Hornsby. Street parking only.

Rosewood Centre, Barker College Hornsby Unwin Rd, Hornsby Undercover parking after 6pm. Access to courts from carpark. No parents on court. Only water allowed on court. No food permitted in building.

St Ives High School Yarrabung Rd, St Ives

Managers are the heart and soul of our teams making sure everything is ready for games and everyone is organised and aware of what is happening. This position is usually a volunteer parent giving their time and effort to support your children. Prior to commencing duties as a Manager for a Representative Team, it is imperative that the “Working with Children’s Check” be completed online with a copy provided to the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Basketball Office. The Website link is https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-organisations/working-with-children-check – Fill out the volunteer/student application. Manager Responsibilities include:

• Uniforms: includes jerseys for games and notifying team where/when uniform shop is, or advise about online spiders shop
• First aid kit (provided by HKBA). Organise with coach to have first aid kit/ice at training. If there is anything missing from your kit email info@hornsbyspiders.com.au
• Drink bottles and bottle carrier: look after team bottles for season,  ensure filled for games. At the end of the season bottles are distributed to the players and the carrier returned to HKBA.
• Organise bench roster (2 people from each team required to do bench duty each game)
• Game balls: to be given to referee prior to game. They will select the best ball from either team.
• Communication and liaison: facilitate communication between team, coaches and association.
• Check that players and parent are happy for players to be videoed and photographed, for example, for training purposes that will be shared and viewed by coaches and players.
• IMPORTANT if there is any conflict regarding coaches/parents DO NOT GET INVOLVED but contact Representative Program Director Consult/refer to grievance policy
• Social Media updates: messaging game updates and/or photos for Facebook/Instagram updates. This responsibility can be delegated to other parents. See the Facebook ‘policy’ I on page 16 for what this entails
• Transport of referees to away games/competitions. Referees are also members representing Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Spiders, welcome them when they travel with you – it can be a lonely job at times. It is the requirement of our teams to provide an Official during Coastal Classic and Preseason Games and any Central Venue Games.

Representative uniforms and accessories for our Representative Teams and staff are available for purchase online through our supplier Athlead. ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 30TH NOVEMBER 2025.

Compulsory purchase of following items:

• Shorts
• Training singlet
• Short or Long sleeve Warm up top

Optional Extras:

• Sports bags
• Backpack
• Hoodies
• Long sleeve Tee
• Tracksuit pants

Socks are available to purchase directly from HKBA office. Playing singlets are supplied to be worn only for the games and then must be returned to the manager who looks after them for the season. They must never be taken home and washed separately. Do not put tape or anything on the Jersey that may mark it. Do not remove tags.

Representative shorts are only to be worn at training or games. They are not allowed to be worn at local competitions or other events without approval from HKBA.

Annual Representative Levy
Every Representative player is charged an annual levy. For 2026 this levy is TBC for those who participate in the Spiders local competition and TBC for Development Players (train ons who do not play).

The cost of the levy for those players who do not play in the Spiders local competition has been set at TBC for the year.

Payments are due TBC.

BNSW Registration
All Players need to have a current BNSW registration, the cost belongs to the individual player. Register online using the following link (Players registration may still be valid in which case it should be renewed when due to expire)

Uniforms 
All players items must be purchased online through our supplier Athlead. Mandatory items are:

• Reversible game shorts
• Training singlet
• Warm up top (short or long sleeve)

Optional:

• Sports Bags
• Backpack
• Tracksuit pants
• Long sleeve warm up
• Hoodies
• Fleece
• Socks $15 (from office)

Representative Program 2024

Conditions of Entry

Code-of-Conduct-Players

Code-of-Conduct-Spectators

Code-of-Conduct-Coaches-Officials

BNSW-Zero-Tolerance-towards-Inappropriate-Behaviour-November-2023

BNSW Spalding Waratah Junior League By-Laws

BNSW Spalding Waratah Senior League By-Laws

BNSW Mitsubishi NBL1 East By-Laws