The Playball Bayside after-school basketball competition is the perfect midweek activity for kids who love the game of basketball! Played during the week by school year levels, this format makes it easy for friends and classmates to team up and enjoy a fun, social, and energetic competition.
Tuesday
Year 5 Girls
Year 6 Girls and Boys
Wednesday
Year 5 Boys
Friday
Year 1 Girls and Boys (Training and Competition options available for Term 1)
Year 2 Girls and Boys
Year 3 Girls and Boys
Year 4 Girls and Boys
Registrations close June 29th
Playball Tuesday Term 3/4 Calendar
Playball Wednesday Term 3/4 Calendar
Playball Friday Term 3/4 Calendar
Playball Bayside FAQ
Playball Bayside is our after-school basketball competition for primary-school kids run by Melbourne Central Basketball Association (MCBA).
It’s as simple as getting a group of your classmates together and registering a team.
Tuesday: Year 5 Girls; Year 6 Girls & Boys
Wednesday: Year 4/5 Boys
Friday: Years 1–4 Girls & Boys
Games are 45 minutes long and played from 4:00pm through to 7:00pm
The majority of games are played out of Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) but we also use a number of 1 & 2 court venues across in the local area
Important Information for 2026!
In 2026 we will be making some changes to our fee structure to bring it in closer alignment with other MCBA competitions.
Team Registration: $200 per season
This payment secures your place within the competition for both terms. Previously, this amount was factored into the cost each term that you were invoiced.
Match Fees: $102.50 per match
If a team plays all 19 rounds, then this constitutes a $5 increase across the season. An increase which covers an annual increase to referee reimbursement rates by Basketball Victoria. As previously stated, match fees will now be collected on a per match which means a saving of $102.50 when your team is allocated a bye which has increased from $80 previously.
Forfeit Fees:
Over 24 Hours Notice – $115 (a $15 reduction from last season)
Under 24 Hours Notice – $200
This constitutes a $15 reduction from last season when providing over 24 hours notice of the forfeit. If less than 24hrs notice is provided then all expenses are incurred therefore the higher rate is charged.
All teams will now complete their payments online through TeamPay (with the exception of clubs who request to be invoiced). This platform allows team managers to:
- Pay for team sheet fees on a per game basis rather than per term providing greater transparency for all participants
- Collect payments directly from each player through the app reducing the requirement for team managers to collect funds themselves. In managing byes and forfeits this will reduce any requirement for funds to be managed through invoices/credit notes and allows immediate benefits to teams
- Pay for multiple matches at a time should you wish or spread out the team sheet fees weekly to reduce the financial impact on families of collecting all fees in a bulk payment
- Receive automated notifications for forfeits and submit your own forfeits through the app rather than having to e-mail the Association
- Transfer game payments when an opposition forfeits, without needing a credit note
We believe this will streamline administration for team managers and make team payments easier and more transparent. The TeamPay system will bring the Playball Bayside competition in line with other Associations throughout Victoria and their collection of team sheet fees.
Club teams will still be invoiced for the season should they request to do so.
Melbourne Central Basketball Association is excited to partner with Diamond Sports to deliver high-quality, affordable uniform options for all teams. A new online ordering website will go live on 12 December 2025, making it easier than ever to design, order and customise your gear.
Diamond Sports Stock Designs
Choose from existing Diamond Sports colourways.
Reversible Jersey: $46.75 inc. GST
Playing Shorts: $33 inc. GST
Reversible Jersey and Playing Shorts: $79.75 inc. GST
Diamond Sports Custom Designs
Requires a supplied team logo. Includes 2 design amendments.
Reversible Jersey: $53.35 inc. GST
Playing Shorts: $38 inc. GST
Reversible Jersey and Playing Shorts: $91.35 inc. GST
Logo Design
Custom Logo Design – $85 inc. GST
For logo design, please contact communications@mcba.net.au
Custom pricing includes the first 2 amendments. Any further changes are charged at $15 + GST per amendment.
Each sale will be individually manufactured and delivered to the team, incurring a $10 + GST delivery fee and 4-6 week turnaround time.
The move to PlayHQ has highlighted significant fixture balance issues caused by multiple bye requests. MCBA is committed to improving fixture consistency and release timelines.
Each team may request one school-related bye per season (not per term).
This change is based on team feedback and aims to:
- Support fair and balanced fixturing.
- Reduce delays in fixture releases.
- Maintain competition consistency.
Teams are entitled to one bye request per season, which can be scheduled for school-related commitments. If your team requires a bye, please submit your request using the forms linked below before the season begins, as late submissions may not be accommodated.
No. Byes incur no team sheet fee and effectively provide a team credit of $102.50.
Focus Areas for Improved Competition in 2026!
In 2025 when acquiring Playball Bayside, with the competition mostly running with only 1 official per game, MCBA put in place a two-year technical officials development plan to invest significantly in increasing our referees and increase the training and development of our current referees. In the past 6 months we have successfully trained 40 new referees, implemented improved referee coaching procedures and upskilled 30 of our current referees to achieve a higher level.
We thank all participants for your continued support as we are only 6 months into a 24 month plan, for those who are unaware, it takes approximately 12 weeks to train a referee to the point that they are able officiate a game without the assistance of a senior referee. So, we appreciate your understanding as we continue to grow and invest in this area.
With our continued emphasis on strengthening our referee program in 2026, our goal is to provide two referees on all matches, regardless of the venue. This investment supports better game management, improved development opportunities for officials, and a higher-quality experience for players and coaches.
MCBA are committed to creating a positive environment for all our participants. To assist with this, we are currently creating a behavioural framework. This framework will provide clear behaviour guidelines to all involved in the game from players, spectators & coaches through to officials and supervisors.
We hope the implementation of this framework will serve to alleviate some of the behavioural concerns that have been flagged to us throughout this past season.
Stay tuned for further information about this!
MCBA has made many strides for the Playball Bayside competition in 2025 through moving the fixturing to PlayHQ for families to be able to enjoy live score updates, the benefits of Glory League for games at MSAC and for families to be able to access MyHoops to check out player stats.
As we have moved the competition to PlayHQ, in managing bye requests we have noted that the impact to fixture balance has been significant. We have heard your feedback from those who have raised concerns, and we wish to confirm our commitment to improving the fixture balance in the future.
To ensure a fair and balanced fixture for every team, a maximum of one school related bye request per team will be permitted per season (not per term). This adjustment has been made in response to team feedback and reflects our commitment to keeping the competition as even and consistent as possible, this will also assist the Association with fixture balance and timeframes for release with the current system causing unbalanced fixturing due to byes and delays in releasing fixtures which can make it difficult for families who need to plan ahead.
A reminder that byes will not incur any team sheet fee payment which results in byes being a credit to the team of $102.50 instead of the $80 from previous seasons.