Golden Bears Basketball is proud to announce the return of the Junior Bears Basketball Club for the 2026 season! Junior Bears is an extension of our varsity basketball program, and will feature a training schedule focused on skill development and advanced team concepts. The 2026 season will begin in April and will conclude in early July, with all practices and training sessions being held at the Saville Community Sports Centre. The program will also include Strength and Conditioning training and education sessions in the Sports Perfromance Centre.
Four Pillars of Golden Bears Basketball
Our youth program will focus on upholding the four pillars of Golden Bears Basketball:
- Respect
- Hard Work
- Discipline
- Accountability
The Junior Bears program is an extension of Golden Bears Basketball. This means that members of Junior Bears will be held to the same high standards as our varsity athletes. All athletes who represent Golden Bears Basketball and the University of Alberta are expected to serve as exemplary ambassadors.
2026 Season Information
The Junior Bears Basketball Club will feature U13, U15, U16 and U17 teams for the 2026 season. Tryouts for teams will be held on February 1st, 2026 at the Saville Community Sports Centre:
- U13s: 2:00PM-3:30PM
- U15s: 3:30PM-5:00PM
- U16s: 10:00AM-11:30AM
- U17s: 11:30AM-1:00PM
Successful athletes will be asked to return for a second tryout on February 8th, 2026.
The fee to attend tryouts is $25 per athlete via online registration or $30 to register in person.
U13 Team Details (DOB: 2013 & later)
Cost: $2,250
Tentative Tournaments*: TBA
*Tournament commitments will depend on scheduling conflicts. Additional exhibition games may also occur during practice slots throughout the season.
REGISTER FOR U13 Tryouts
U15 Team Details (DOB: 2011 & later)
Cost: $2,250
Tentative Tournaments*: TBA
*Tournament commitments will depend on scheduling conflicts. Additional exhibition games may also occur during practice slots throughout the season.
REGISTER FOR U15 Tryouts
U16 Team Details (DOB:2010& later)
Cost: $2,250
Tentative Tournaments*: TBA
*Tournament commitments will depend on scheduling conflicts. Additional exhibition games may also occur during practice slots throughout the season.
REGISTER FOR U16 Team Tryouts
U17 Team Details (DOB:2009 & later)
Cost: $2,250
Tentative Tournaments*: TBA
*Tournament commitments will depend on scheduling conflicts. Additional exhibition games may also occur during practice slots throughout the season.
REGISTER FOR U17 Team Tryouts
Financial Information
We firmly believe that finances should never be a barrier for any child who wants to participate in our club. We are committed to ensuring that all athletes have the opportunity to be part of our program, regardless of financial circumstances.
If you require financial support, we encourage you to explore funding options through programs such as Jumpstart or KidSport.
Additionally, if your athlete is offered a spot on one of our teams, please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss flexible payment plan options. Our goal is to work with families to make participation as accessible as possible.
We are here to support our athletes and their families—because everyone deserves the chance to grow, learn, and play."
