Varsity Vipers received a grant from the City of Gold Coast's 2025/26 Community Projects Program, with the support of Councillor Dan Doran, Division 11.
What did the grant pay for?
The grant paid for new basketballs in sizes 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Which size does each age group use?
Gold Coast Basketball's junior competition rules set the match ball size for each age group.
- Under 10s use a size 4 ball.
- Under 12s use a size 5 ball.
- All girls and under 14 boys use a size 6 ball.
- Under 16, under 18 and under 21 boys use a size 7 ball.
The four sizes cover every age group at the club, so our players now train with the same ball they play with on game day.
Why does ball size matter?
A ball that fits a player's hands lets them learn to shoot and dribble properly.
A ball that is too big forces a young player to throw it rather than shoot it, and that habit is hard to undo later. The right size from the start builds good technique.
Where are the balls used?
The balls are used at Saturday Skills, where more than 200 juniors train every Saturday morning during the school term at Varsity College. That includes more than 70 Viperball players aged 5 to 7, on court from 8am to 9am.
Every session now has enough balls in the right size for the age group on court, so players spend more time with a ball in their hands.
Thank you to Cr Doran and the City of Gold Coast for backing junior basketball in Varsity Lakes.
