The University of Manitoba is hoisting up hoops and throwing open a new outdoor, drop-in basketball program for inner-city youth over the summer at the centrally-located Bannatyne campus.

The free Summer Weekend Inner-City Supervised Hoops (SWISH) program runs every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from June 30-August 11, 2012 in Parking Lot E (McDermot Ave. at Tecumseh St). Transportation for inner-city youth is also being provided at no cost.

Supervised activities for 12-18-year-olds will include three-on-three basketball, dribbling and passing competitions with prizes, running clinics, and pickup games. A shade tent will be set up and water provided. On rain dates, the basketball program will move indoors to the Joe Doupe Gym.

“We are delighted to offer a safe play environment over the summer for inner-city youth to shoot hoops and have fun,” said Dr. Brian Postl, Dean of Medicine. ”It is extremely gratifying to partner with our neighbouring community agencies and others to provide free top-notch basketball clinics and programming for kids in our community.”

The site will be supervised by paid university-aged students and community residents with inner-city community experience. Volunteers, primarily from U of M Bison Sports and the basketball community, will also be on site to lend their expertise and skills to the SWISH program.

SWISH, initiated by the Faculty of Medicine, is a joint partnership between University of Manitoba Faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy, Kinesiology & Recreation Management, Dentistry, School of Medical Rehabilitation, Bison Sports and Coalition of Community-Based Youth Serving Agencies, City of Winnipeg and Basketball Manitoba.

Community partners include Rossbrook House, Spence Neighborhood Assoc., Boys & Girls Club, Indian & Metis Friendship Centre, IRCOM, inner-city schools, Basketballs for Inner-city Kids, Winnipeg Police Services, Sport Programs in Inner-City Neighbourhoods (SPIN), and Winnipeg Transit.