Sandringham Sabres team stripped of points, narrowly avoids fine after player age scandal

A junior basketball club in Sandringham has narrowly avoided a fine after a parent incorrectly entered her daughter’s age on registration forms, in the second scandal to rock the team.

Sandringham Sabres basketball club has been rocked by a second scandal, with the club being penalised after a player was found to be playing in the wrong age group.

A junior basketball club has been rocked by another scandal after a parent incorrectly entered her daughter’s age on registration forms, leading the team to lose all of their points for the season.

The Herald Sun can reveal a Sandringham Sabres under 14s female player has been banned from playing for the team for the rest of the 2024 season after complaints surfaced of her mother incorrectly entering her birth date on the player registration form.

As a consequence, the team was stripped of points gained across the home and away season from matches in which the girl played.

The player has also been ruled ineligible from playing within the VJBL with any team until the competition of the 2024 championship season.

The Herald Sun understands the mother incorrectly stated her daughter was born a year after her actual date of birth.

It’s also believed the family involved is a key sponsor at the club.

It comes just a day after the Herald Sun revealed under 16s and women’s coach Hamish Ryan had been replaced by an interim coach after the club received a complaint about his conduct, which has led to an investigation by Victoria Police.

It’s the second scandal to hit the community basketball club, infuriating some parents.

The Herald Sun has attempted to contact Mr Ryan for comment.

Multiple sources involved with the Sabres told the Herald Sun they were “disappointed” at the mother’s actions.

“It’s really upsetting that the whole team has had to suffer the consequences of one parent’s actions,” they said.

A Basketball Victoria spokeswoman said the organisation conducted an investigation after receiving a complaint about a player who was registered with the wrong birthdate.

“Following a complaint, the Sandringham Sabres conducted a check of birth certificates for players of the team in question,” she said.

“Through this process, they found the discrepancy as the mother of the players admitted she had entered the date of birth incorrectly.”

Based on the Victorian Junior Basketball League Rules of Operation, a player “must be under the given age on December 31 of the year of the competition” to be eligible to play.

If they are over age for the competition, it is a reportable offence.

“Sandringham proactively brought this to the attention of BV when this was identified before the finals and the following penalties were applied,” the spokeswoman said.

“The team in which the player participated lost all the Championship Season games that the ineligible player played in and won, with the score to read a 0-2 loss.

“The player has been ruled ineligible from playing VJBL with any team until the completion of the 2024 Championship season.”

The VJBL also waived the $1150 in fines for breaching the rule, with Sandringham Sabres accepting the consequences without challenge.

“There was a breach of rules regarding player registration. The matter was referred to Basketball Victoria who actioned it and issued appropriate sanctions. The matter is concluded,” Sandringham Sabres said in a statement.