Youth Sports Spotlight: Championship Hosting and Athlete Selections

Ballarat hosted the 2026 U14 Junior Country Championships for Victorian Country basketball in April, featuring grand finals for boys and girls divisions.

Basketball Championships in Ballarat

The event placed local venues at the centre of Victorian Country basketball activity during April. Grand finals for both the boys and girls divisions were contested as part of the championships.

Futsal Selections

The Ballarat Futsal Club has three young athletes-Josh Burgess, Sadie Smith, and Madeline Hawker-selected for the Victorian team at the 2025 Football Australia National Futsal Championships. Their selection highlights ongoing club involvement in state-level representation.

Awards and Recognition

Lauren Ford, a 16-year-old high-jumping star from Ballarat, was crowned the inaugural female Sports Star of the Year at the UB WestVic Academy of Sport awards. The recognition was presented in connection with local athletics pathways.

Community Programs and Facilities

Ballarat Little Athletics offers a fun sports program for children aged 5 to 15, running every Saturday for kids of all abilities. New youth sport facilities in Wendouree, including a skate and BMX zone, street soccer area, and female-friendly pavilion, were funded by a combined $7.5 million in state government grants to boost community participation.

These elements together support regular Saturday sessions and upgraded spaces for young participants across Ballarat and Wendouree. The $7.5 million in grants provided the basis for the skate and BMX zone, street soccer area, and pavilion additions.

Local families can contact Ballarat Little Athletics through established club channels to learn about Saturday sessions for ages 5 to 15. Information on the futsal selections and basketball championships is available via the listed source links covering those events.