Tara Murray
The next step in Westgate Imperials’ Big V journey is underway with the club given approval to enter a youth league women’s side next year.
The Imperials entered the Big V competition this year for the first time with a youth league men’s side having set up a strong program in recent years.
Westgate tasted instant success, winning the youth league 2 men’s title. They will have the opportunity to play off for division 1 next season.
The club had been keen on adding a women’s youth league side to further develop their program.
Vice-president Sarah Simpson said it was exciting to get the go ahead. The club announced they had been given the go ahead on Tuesday.
“It was awesome,” she said. “That was the plan to grow into having youth league womens.
“Our female program has gone from strength to strength having started it a year or two after the boys program.
“We wanted to have that pathway for our girls and there’s so many young females excited about playing youth league.
“That opportunity is now presenting for next season.”
The Imperials under-18 girls recently won the Victorian Junior Basketball League 1 competition showing they already have talent within the club.
Next season the club is hoping to have two under-18 girls, three under-16, five under-14 and three under 12 girls teams in the VJBL competition.
Simpson said there had been massive growth in their girls program in recent years.
“It is really good and something we’re happy about,” she said. “We’ve strategically held back some growth in the boys programs to maintain space for the girls’ sides.
“There’s been some high quality growth and there’s a very big trend of girls wanting to play basketball.”
The Imperials had considered looking at entering a open men’s team for next year, but Simpson said they decided to wait a year and then look to apply in 2026.
Simpson said many of the youth league players would age out then and they would be in a good position for the club to make that next step.
The Imperials have now opened applications for the coaching role for the youth league women’s side.
Simpson said they had a couple of coaches they were looking at, while also keen to see who else is out there.
Tryouts will commence soon for the team.
Details on the coaching role: www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4032584957
