Hoopfest/Ignite Basketball

• Midnight Basketball is now called The Ignite Basketball Association (IBA).

• For the last eighteen years Hoopfest has collaborated with Spokane Public Schools and conducted the Midnight Basketball League for students in grades six through eight who attend several schools within the District’s central urban neighborhoods. The target population comes from an area in our community with high poverty and unemployment rates, more crime, greater substance abuse issues, and higher presence of gangs.

• IBA has been a huge success with nearly 400 students participating in the Thursday practice sessions and weekend games and workshops. This program provides a safe and positive environment for many children, which allow them to learn about teamwork and sportsmanship while giving them the tools they need to combat social challenges they face on a daily basis.

• Perhaps of greater importance, this program has brought families closer together by providing an avenue for them to spend significant time together. Each Saturday night begins with a workshop for the students. Craig Ehlo and many GU athletes have been among the guests over the last few years.

• The league will run from October 28 through December 1. Games are played on Saturdays and begin November 3 at Rogers High School. The weekly workshops will begin at 7:00 pm on Saturday nights with games scheduled from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm. One hour practices are held during the week at local middle schools.

         We need coaches!

• Coaches are needed to run the mid-week practices and oversee the Saturday night games each week. Each coach will have two or three teams that will practice together. We encourage all coaches to have an assistant or a co-coach. No experience is necessary!

Please contact the Hoopfest office by September 30 if you would like to help or need more information. Contact Chad at (509) 624-2414, ext. 314 or at chad@spokanehoopfest.net.