The City of Birmingham Rockets are an established basketball programme with over 20 years of experience in player development, providing a structured pathway from grassroots level through to senior National League basketball. The club has supported players in progressing into university, national, and professional environments both in the UK and internationally.

U18 Men is for players currently in Year 11 or Year 12, who will be going into Year 12 or Year 13 in September 2026.

This programme represents the final stage of the junior pathway and is designed to prepare players for senior basketball through a high-performance training environment and competitive National League fixtures.

ELIGIBILITY & PATHWAY

This is not an academy trial.

To be eligible for selection, players must be:

Current players within the Rockets academy programme at BMET Sutton Coldfield College, or
New players who are currently enrolled, have applied, or intend to enrol at the college for the 2026/27 academic year

The U18 programme operates alongside the academy structure, ensuring players can combine education with a consistent basketball development pathway.

COMPETITION STRUCTURE

Players selected into the programme will compete within:
U18 Men’s Premier level (for selected players)

And as part of the academy and if selected

Elite Academy Basketball League (EABL)
Association of Colleges Sport League (AOC)

Placement across these competitions is based on performance level, experience, physical readiness, and commitment.

TRIAL INFORMATION

Stage 1 – Open Trials
Date: Sunday 24 May 2026
Time: 16:00 – 17:45
Venue: Nechells

All registered players will attend this session and be assessed by coaching staff.

Stage 2 – Invitation Only Trials
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 19:30 – 21:00
Venue: Nechells

Only selected players from Stage 1 will be invited to attend Stage 2.

LATE TRIALISTS

Players who are unable to attend their scheduled trial must register via the Late Trialist option (26/27 Season). This allows the club to review availability for alternative assessment opportunities.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Trial fee: £4 per session
Registration must be completed in advance
No walk-ins permitted
Unregistered players will not be able to take part
Players must attend the correct school year group based on September 2026
Final team selections are made after Stage 2
Training begins 1 June 2026