Travel Basketball Chicago: Train Like A Shark On One Of The Top Teams
Our Commitment to Travel Basketball in Chicago
At Sharks Basketball Academy, we're not just about playing the game; we're about nurturing a love for basketball and fostering personal growth every step of the way. From 3rd grade through 12th grade, our basketball program provides young players in the Chicagoland area with the tools they need to thrive on and off the court.
​Developing Chicago Players Through Training, Teamwork, and Passion
At Sharks, we believe basketball is more than just a sport; it's a journey of self-discovery and growth. Our vision is to empower every player with the skills to excel in every game, guided by dedicated coaches who emphasize camaraderie, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Whether a part of our boys teams, girls teams, or even one of our seasonal camps, each athlete will take home lessons and values that last a lifetime.
About Our Travel Basketball Program in Chicago
Our travel basketball program in Chicago operates seasonally and offers both boys and girls at various grade levels to compete at a higher level. Each travel team participates in regular training, practices, and exciting tournaments throughout the season. During each travel season, players practice two times a week with professional coaches and compete in exhilarating tournaments on the weekends. These tournaments, filled with excitement and camaraderie, typically consist of 2-3 games per day, providing ample opportunities for players to showcase their talents and bond with teammates.
Why Tryouts Matter for Our Sharks Basketball Teams
Tryouts are mandatory for all travel basketball teams because they allow our coaches to carefully evaluate each player's skills, commitment, and fit with the team dynamic. By creating cohesive rosters, our basketball program ensures that every player has the opportunity to play, learn, and grow within a positive team environment while being supported by coaches who know what it takes to succeed.
What To Expect from Our Program
Our seasonal travel team timelines:
Fall Travel Basketball: mid-August through mid-October
Winter Travel Basketball: mid-November through early March
Spring Travel Season: mid-March through the end of May.
Here's what to expect from our basketball program in Chicago:
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Practice: Twice a week, train with experienced coaches to hone their skills and build team chemistry.
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Games: Get ready for an action-packed season with 16-20 games scheduled throughout.
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Locations: Practices will rotate between Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, and Bellwood, providing convenient access across the city and suburbs.
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Uniforms: We're sticking with the sleek look of our 2023 season uniforms, available for order as needed. Plus, this season includes team shoes, ensuring our players look sharp and play their best.
Our basketball program prepares boys and girls to compete with confidence in basketball leagues, travel tournaments, and future school teams. The lessons, skills, and responsibilities taught at Sharks Basketball Academy help shape tomorrow's champions both on and off the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
​How much money is travel basketball?
At Sharks Basketball Academy, we strive to keep travel basketball in Chicago as affordable as possible while maintaining a high-quality experience. Our goal is to offer young athletes the opportunity to hone the sport of their dreams at competitive costs.
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Contact us today to find out our latest pricing for Sharks travel basketball.
Is travel basketball worth the cost?
Absolutely! Travel basketball builds skills, confidence, and teamwork through high-level games and training. Our travel teams in the Chicagoland area prepare players for the competition of league games, the thrill of championships, while reaping the rewards of discipline.
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What age is good to start basketball camp?
At Sharks Basketball Academy, we train players as early as Kindergarten and help them hone their skills up to the 12th grade. While the ideal age will depend on each player's interest, we recommend starting your athlete off as early as they show interest.
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How many players are rostered for games?​
To maximize every player's court time, we try to bring at least 8 and no more than 10 players to each game.
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When/Where does my team practice?​
Prior to the season, we have gym time secured at our various gyms. We put our practice schedule together based on the needs of each team/coach/availability. Once we receive all the tryout responses, we then put our practice schedule and rosters together. Our practices start no earlier than 5:00p and end no later than 9:30p with our lower levels generally practicing in the earlier time slots and older teams later in the evening. A full season practice schedule should be available the week after tryouts. Practices are typically Monday-Thursday with the occasional Fridays as needed.
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When does the tournament schedule get released?​
The tournament organizations we operate with release their game schedules and locations the Thursday before the weekend. As soon as the schedule gets released to us, we do a quick double check and forward it to our families. This is typically the most frustrating part of the season for weekend planning purposes however, this is out of our control.
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Where are the games?​
The tournaments we operate with typically utilize multiple locations every weekend. While we do not get sent the location until the Thursday before the weekend along with game times, common locations are in the Lisle, Aurora, Lombard, Deerfield, Schaumburg areas to name a few.
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How do we pay for the season/what is the refund policy?​
After verbal confirmation from tryouts, an invoice will be sent to the email address on file for credit card payment. Alternate methods of payment/arrangements available upon request only. Please note, there are no refunds once payment has been submitted, no exceptions.
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Are there additional fundraising requirements for the program?​
NO. All season costs are included in the season fee.
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Who is my coach?​
While we know who will be coaching from our staff prior to tryouts, our staff meets after the tryout is complete and we make sure the right coaches are at the right levels for our teams. This information will be provided before the start of the season.
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How is playing time decided in games?​
Playing time is at the coaches' discretion, always. Our coaching staff bases our playing time decisions on work ethic, attendance, performance and game situations. Playing time related questions should be directed to the team coach, preferably from the player first, at a mutually agreed time to discuss. Parents should never discuss an issue with a coach immediately preceding or following a team meeting without confirming a good time with the coach first. Expect our coaching staff to hold all players accountable both at practices and at games. We expect all players to give 100% effort at all times and to always be engaged with the team and coach for the duration of any team meeting (practice or game).
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Who do I contact for information during the season?​
info@sharksbasketballacademy.com is your main source for info. We encourage families to direct team specific questions directly to their coach but this email address will be your center for information and you should get a response the same day. Weekly emails will be sent Fridays with next week's schedule and game schedules will be sent Thursdays throughout the season. Our general Sharks text line is 847.773.1894 and goes directly to the email address (Matt).
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What happens at the end of the season?​
Current players in good standing with their teams will have the first opportunity to lock in a roster spot for next season. Roster invites for our next season will be sent prior to the end of the current season at the appropriate time.
