Minnesota Swish Basketball

Minnesota Swish Basketball Club Program

Program Details
Minnesota Swish is a Twin Cities West Metro spring and early summer basketball club program. It is provided by Hoops Training Director Andrew Dahl (www.HoopsTraining.com). More info about Coach Dahl and the Swish program is available on the ABOUT US page above.

Players from all communities and areas are welcomed to try out and participate.

Tournaments
Teams participate in six Minnesota-based tournaments with the possibility of swapping one out-of-state tournament within driving distance (Iowa, Sioux Falls, Wisconsin). Teams also will have the option to add additional tournaments for around $50 per player if a particular team wants to play more than six.  Tentative tournament weekends for 2018 include:

Most tournaments are 2-day (both Sat and Sun) events with 3 or 4 games guaranteed. The TEAM page above has an example of what 2017 Swish teams played at each age level. 

Practices
Team practices will be in the following area schools & gyms:  Waconia, Victoria, Chaska, and Chanhassen

There will be at least 12 practices throughout the season.  Typically 2 practices per week or possibly just one if there isn't a tournament the upcoming weekend or player schedules dictate.  We will take input on practice scheduling from online registration forms or you may bring to tryouts a list of dates to avoid having practices.

Player Fee
Cost is $650.00 per player (no fee to tryout)

Includes Jersey, Shorts, and Warm-up Shirt which are all yours to keep after the season.  Although there is no fee to tryout, we will need a commitment by that night by paying the full team fee that you are willing to play on a team if selected. Checks (payable to Hoops Training) or cash are preferable.  Can also take credit cards through PayPal.com.  Contact AndrewDahl@HoopsTraining.com for credit card option details or payment plan options.

Program Philosophy & Goals
The goal each year is to give kids in the area a chance to:

• Gain valuable playing experience with 18 to 25+ games
• Be challenged by playing with and against better players and athletes
• Experience a different coaching style and hopefully learn new skills, learn from game situations, and learn to play with more intensity, aggressiveness, and toughness.
• Come back an improved player ready to contribute at a higher level in the 2018-19 school season!

MN Swish teams will have intense practices with a focus on skill development and improving game situation knowledge.  A few specific skill areas teams will work on developing include:
1) Finishing strong around the basket
2) Creating scoring opportunities with good footwork and fakes
3) Handling pressure - both dribbling, passing, and pivoting
4) Defensive positioning, intensity, communication, and boxing out

Not a lot of time will be spent on learning plays that won't benefit athletes in the future.  Each team will have a motion offense and keep good spacing on the floor with the option to add a few sets and plays.  Defense played will be primarily man-to-man with occasional zones, traps, or presses.

Rosters: Nine or 10 players will be selected to each team roster. 

Playing Time:  Coaches will be instructed to play each athlete in both halves of each game and at least 30% of the game's total
minutes while still trying to win the game and have the team's top line-up in during crucial times.

Coaches:  We have a number of excellent coaches lined up for 2018.  Not all coaches have been matched to teams at this point.  There may be a need for a couple more coaches depending on number of athletes at tryouts.  Anyone interested in a paid coaching position should contact Andrew Dahl at 651-592-6099 or AndrewDahl@HoopsTraining.com as soon as possible.

Hotels/Transportation:  
No hotel rooms (in tournaments where that may be necessary) or transportation is provided. Players & families will be on their own to decide where to stay and/or coordinate rides.

Option to order Minnesota Swish gear for the 2018 season! 

http://stores.thinkittheninkit.com/apparel/2018MinnesotaSwish

Deadline to get orders in: 11:59pm on Monday, April 9th!!!

Orders will be delivered by the May 5-6 tournament weekend.