Each year men’s and women’s teams representing their respective state and territories compete at the U16 National Championships, and in doing so, form a vital pathway from participation through to elite competition for the nation’s junior athletes.

These championships allow young Australian basketballers to display their talents against the best athletes in their age group from across the country and provide a pathway to progress through our junior and youth programs to hopefully one day represent Australia.

New South Wales won the inaugural U16 Men’s Championship in 1955 after defeating Victoria and sixteen years later South Australia won the first Women’s Championship in 1971.

In 2008, 53 years after the first Men’s Championship and 37 years after the Women’s Championship was introduced, 28 teams (14 men’s and 14 women’s) from across Australia and New Zealand competed for two national titles with Victoria Country (Men’s) and Victoria Metro (Women’s) walking away with the championships.

Norma Connolly

The Girls U16 Australian Junior Champions will be presented with the trophy named in honour of Queensland coaching legend, Norma Connolly.

Norma began coaching juniors in Mackay in the early 70’s and has coached across all levels from U8’s to U18’s. She coached women’s teams at State and National Championships for over 20 years. Norma was appointed as Head Coach of the National Junior Development Program for North Queensland in the early 1990’s and was named as a Queensland Academy of Sport/Intensive Training Centre Head Coach for the junior female program in 1994. Norma was also part of three FIBA Junior Women’s World Championships as Team Manager in 1993, 1997 and 2001.

As the founding Head Coach of the Townsville State High School Basketball program known as the ‘Tropics’, Norma has influenced thousands of players and coaches throughout Queensland during her remarkable career. Norma consistently preaches good sportsmanship to all teams.

Norma is a life member of Mackay Basketball, and the show court at Candlestick Park is known as the Connolly Court in her honour. Basketball Australia recognized her commitment with a Service Award for her work as Manager of the Gems in 2003. In 2007 she was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport of basketball. Norma has also been awarded OAM in recognition of her outstanding services to basketball.

Robert Young OAM

The name Robert Young is etched upon the Australian U16 Boys Australian Junior Championship Shield and for good reason. Robert is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Queensland Basketball.

Bob first played the sport as a 14-year-old at the Brisbane YMCA and Legacy Club in 1948. He started a career in basketball administration by becoming the Secretary to both the Queensland and Brisbane Basketball Associations in 1960. After three years of service as an executive of the Australian Junior Basketball Council, he became Secretary in 1971. He held the position of Junior Commissioner from 1986 until 1992.

Bob has since represented Basketball Australia internationally as an administrator on eight occasions in Europe, Asia, and North America. He has been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia, the Australian Sports Medal and is a life Member of the Queensland and Brisbane Basketball Associations.

In 2006, Bob was presented with Basketball Australia’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame Dinner, for his part in the development of junior basketball in Queensland.

Trish Fallon Fair Play Award

As part of Basketball Australia’s ongoing strategy to promote respect of the officials by players, coaching staff and supporters it was decided to introduce the Basketball Australia “Fair Play Award” to the U16 Championships.

The award is to recognise the region that conducts itself in a respectful manner over the course of the Championship. The award, over time, is designed to:

• Promote sportsmanship at a young age
• Encourage respect for the officials
• Foster positive support of team by parents and supporters
• Reward responsible coaching, and
• Generally emphasise the positive values of RESPECT, COMPETITIVE UNDERSTANDING and COOPERATION.

The games played during the Championships are evaluated on six different criteria:

• Technical Fouls
• Positive Play
• Respect toward the Opponent
• Respect towards the Officials
• Behaviour of Team Officials (Coaching Staff, Managers etc.)
• Behaviour of Team Supporters

In 2013, the Fair Play Award at the Under 16 Australian Junior Championships was named after Triple Olympian and Australian Basketball Hall of Famer, Trish Fallon. Trish enjoyed an outstanding basketball career, serving as captain and on-court leader as the Australian Opals emerged as one of the greatest teams in the world.

Trish was a scholarship holder at the former AIS (now Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence) and competed in the U16, U18 and U20 Australian Junior Championships. Starting her international career at 18 years of age, Fallon progressed to play in three Olympics winning a medal at each: Bronze in 1996 – Atlanta, Silver in 2000 – Sydney and 2004 – Athens.

Trish was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 after playing 224 games for Australia and captaining the Opals 34 times.

Trish also appeared in 251 WNBL games, playing a vital role in two championship teams (Sydney Flames in 1993 and 1997), and also winning the Grand Final MVP trophy in 1997.

Fallon is honoured to lend her name to such an important award, saying: “Whether they win or lose, we should be teaching our kids to be playing the right way and I hope this award stands out among other awards as the one coaches and parents encourage their kids to strive for.”

Previous Recipients of the Trish Fallon Fair Play Award

2004 – Victoria Country
2005 – Queensland North
2006 – Victoria Metro
2007 – Northern Territory
2008 – Tasmania
2009 – Queensland North
2010 – Tasmania
2011 – Northern Territory Men
2012 – Queensland South Women
2013 – New South Wales Metro Women
2014 – Australian Capital Territory Men
2015 – Western Australia Metro Men
2016 – Western Australia Metro Women
2017 – New South Wales Metro Women
2018 – Western Australia Country Men
2019 – Queensland South Women Metro Women
2021 – South Australia Country Men
2022 – New South Wales Country Women Metro Women
2023 – Victoria Country Women