Season


  • For Boys and Girls Grades 2-12
  • Season runs 6/13-7/31
  • No practices or games over the holidays 7/1-7/4


Teams


  • Fielding multiple teams per grade level.
  • Teams will consist of 8-11 players per team.
  • Teams are divided up based on skill level. We place your child on the best fit team where they can grow with proper development and competition.
  • Teams compete on the Travel Circuit against appropriate competition.
  • National teams are for Grades 9-12
  • Grades 9-12 National teams compete on the Prep Hoops (Exposure Recruiting tournaments). Games are in July only. 2-3 overnight tournaments. Teams compete also in NCAA Live Period Recruiting Events. *No games in June due to High School Summer League. Practice only.​


Practices


  • Teams practice twice a week in the Winnetka/Wilmette area and other surrounding locations.
  • Practices start no earlier than 4:30PM and finish no later than 9:15PM. Younger teams practice at the earlier time slots. Practices are 1 hour and 25 minutes long. ​
  • Max 1-2 teams in a gym with a 10:1 ratio player to coach. Practices consist of skill development as well as building offensive and defensive schemes. Teamwork and defense are the backbone of our philosophy and is emphasized by each coach. Our goal is to build high IQ basketball players


Schedule Flexibility


We understand there are conflicts with other summer sports so we do our best to schedule practices/tournaments to not conflict. Also, if there are many players on one team with similar conflicts we will try and adjust the schedule accordingly.


Tournaments


  • Grade 2 teams play 3 weekend tournaments consisting of 2-3 games either Saturday or Sunday.
  • Grades 3-12 teams play in 4 weekend tournaments consisting of 2-3 games either Saturday or Sunday.  
  • Potential tournament weekend dates are 6/25-6/26, 7/9-7/10, 7/16-7/17, 7/23-7/24, 7/30-7/31.


Professional Coaching


All our coaches have an incredible amount of expertise and experience in coaching basketball. Each one has a passion for teaching the art of the game, offensive and defensive schemes, and the fundamentals and qualities necessary to be a great teammate and player. Their aim is for every player to bond and sync to become a strong unit who succeeds on the court as well as be great people and student athletes off the court. Sportsmanship and teamwork is a core philosophy of each of the Hoops4Health coaches. We also always stress the importance of nutrition, taking care of your mind and body, and excelling in school. ​​​


Nutrition Emphasis


At Hoops4Health teaching a healthy lifestyle is as important to us as teaching basketball fundamentals. Throughout the season players will be reminded about making healthy choices and nutritional sheets will be handed out. At the beginning of the season parents will be sent a healthy food option list to discuss with their kids. During the season there will be one special week dedicated to health and wellness awareness. We will be going over healthy decisions with the kids at practices and will also have some contests and prizes that reinforce healthy lifestyle habits. 


COLLEGE RECRUITING


High School players will have multiple opportunities to play in front of various scouting services and college coaches. We have helped numerous players through the recruiting process. We have built a vast network of scouts and coaches through the years. Our players get maximum exposure to get recruited and continue being a student-athlete at the college level.

  • Waiver form at the link above must be filled out prior to participation. Needs to be filled out only one time for the current year. Fill out a new waiver if any information has changed.

Our Bulldogs Travel program is for all players looking to develop their skills on a more competitive level. It has risen to be one of the most respected clubs throughout the country and well known for developing players. Teams have earned local and national accolades. As well, a number of players have gone on to play High School and College basketball. This program promotes teamwork, friendship, hard work, discipline, sportsmanship, communication, leadership, and a healthy lifestyle. We always provide professional coaching and challenge our players to become not only better players but better people. Our core teaching methods build offensive and defensive team principles, skill development, and fundamentals. Our number one priority is to improve the game of each player and teach how to play structured team basketball. FLIER

Online Playbook & Drills


We are really excited to launch our online portal which has our playbook as well as drills that players can do on their own. We feel this will really enhance the experience for the players. Coaches will refer to these throughout the season. This allows players to study our playbook as well as having many drills to help develop outside of practice.


    Team Achievements


    Since 2010 Hoop4Health's teams have amassed over sixty 1st place tournament finishes and over fifty 2nd and 3rd place finishes. Teams have also competed and shined in National tournaments as well as NCAA LIVE Events in Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Nevada, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indianapolis, Kentucky, and Minnesota. Teams have earned Local and National Rankings. Hoops4Health has many players competing on the freshman, sophomore, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels at their respective high schools including locally New Trier, Loyola Academy, and North Shore Country Day. Hoops4Health has players currently playing college basketball on full athletic scholarships. Above all, a vast amount of Hoops4Health players are excelling in the classroom whether at a young age or preparing to enter college. We continue to provide excellence in fundamental skill development and being role models for the kids. Also teaching them to become young adults that make healthy lifestyle decisions and to excel on and off the court.

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    Testimonials


    "When I first started playing Hoops4Health in fourth grade I did not know what the newly founded program would give to me. Through a couple of practices, I learned how much the coaches at Hoops4Health actually cared about developing their players to reach their potential. As I got older, I continued to be instilled with knowledge from some great coaches throughout middle school. This is where I learned the dedication and hard work that I would need to become the player that I wanted to be. In high school my love for the program grew as I saw how hard our coaches worked to put our teams in a national schedule to get the most exposure possible. Brendan reached out to so many college coaches for all his players to try and get them all to play at the next level. I would not be the player or person I an today without Hoops4Health and am forever grateful for all the lessons that I have learned. Go Bulldogs!
    ​Brian Conaghan - New Trier High School - UW-Whitewater (D3)


    "Hoops for Health has been great for my sons development in his basketball skills and, more importantly, his learning of how to play the game correctly. The coaches develop players in all aspects of the game to become an all around better player, teammate and person." (Alex Erickson, Parent)​


    ​Hoops4Health gave our athlete a place to both "show and grow." There are a lot of teams that give kids a way to be seen, but few that work on getting better as a player, a teammate, and competitor." Parents of Griffin Ryan. D1 player University of Pennsylvania and former New Trier player.


    Program Discounts


    Hoops4Health travel players get the benefit of receiving 
    15% off all Hoops4Health Camps and Clinics for the season.


    Fee

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    • ​New Player Grade 2: $715 (includes Custom Uniform Package (Reversible Jersey/Shorts, Hoodie, Practice Jersey, Backpack, and socks)
    • Returning Player Grade 2: $595 (Already has uniform package from any season starting Fall 2021)
    • New Player Grades 3-12: $830 includes Custom Uniform Package (Reversible (Jersey/Shorts), Hoodie, Practice Jersey, and Backpack)
    • ​Returning Player Grades 3-12: $710 (Already has uniform package from any season starting Fall 2021)
    • National Team Fee Grades 9-12: $1400 (includes 2-3 overnight tournaments. *Parents cover hotel costs. There are discounted room rates. *Practice only in June due to High School Summer League.  
    • 5% family member discount for 2 family members or more. Inquire within for coupon code.
    • Inquire within for Financial Assistance


    Tryout Information


    • Tryouts will evaluate the players skills through a number of drills and games.
    • Tryout groups will be broken down by age when multiple grades. 
      Players are only required to attend 1 tryout. 
    • If you cannot attend one of the scheduled tryouts or makeup tryout please contact us at support@hoops4health.com
    • Players should bring their own basketball to tryouts
    • Tryout Fee: $20​ *There will be no at the door tryout signups. Pre-register only. Deadline to register is 6/6

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    ​TRYOUT SCHEDULE


    Location​
    Winnetka Community House 
    620 Lincoln Ave. Winnetka, IL

    6/6
    5-6pm - Boys Grades 2-5

    6-7pm - Girls Grades 2-8

    7-8pm - Boys Grades 6-8
    8-9pm - Boys Grades 9-12

    6/7 Makeups 
    5-6pm - Boys Grades 2-5
    6-7pm - Girls Grades 2-8
    7-8pm - Boys Grades 6-8
    8-9pm - Boys Grades 9-12

    Summer Bulldogs Travel

    Playing Time


    Players can expect to play at least 30% of a game. Our belief is that as much as we want our teams to win games its most important that they develop through on court repetitions. This is a key time in their years to build a solid basketball foundation. Players playing time is based off the quality of team member they are (positive impact on teammates, commitment to the team (being on time, attendance, working hard). Practice is key. Being a player who listens and works hard in practices earns playing time. Also, playing time is earned by making a positive impact in games. This means doing positive things on the court such as teamwork, defense, rebounding, scoring, good passing, executing the offenses and defenses properly, taking charges ect. Playing time does not just depend on being a good scorer. As well, being an unselfish team player plays an important role regarding playing time. (High School National Teams do not follow a set minimum playing time).


    ​Development


    This program promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, friendship, hard work, discipline, sportsmanship, communication, leadership, and a healthy lifestyle. We always provide professional coaching and challenge our players to become not only better players but better people. Our core teaching methods build offensive and defensive team principles, skill development, fundamentals, and basketball IQ. Our number one priority is to improve the game of each player and teach how to play structured team basketball. We believe that it's not only about proper practice but making sure players have drills to do on their own to continue their development.