SWISH looking for volunteers

BONNERS FERRY — The third annual Swish three-on-three street basketball tournament will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1 on Main Street in Bonners Ferry.

Anyone interested in registering a team must do so by Monday, July 19.

Last years event drew more than 300 players and over 600 spectators to downtown, attracting players from Kalispell and Columbia Falls, Mont., Coeur d’ Alene, Spirit Lake, St. Maries, Spokane, Wash.,  Paulson and Canada in 2009.

Brad Holifield is the tournament director this year, volunteering for the position after Brett Brown resigned at the end of last year’s tournament.

Holifield is hoping for another successful year drawing people from other areas to Bonners Ferry.

“Volunteers are needed for the event, we have about 40 but can use at least 40 more, the more the better,” said Holifield.

Volunteers to score and time keepers are needed as well as court monitors. This year, they are doing something a little different, Holifield said.  For the youth groups ages 9 through 12 referees will be monitoring the courts.

Traditionally, in street basketball the teams call their own fouls. With the younger age groups it is a little more difficult because of their young ages and the referees are brought in to help keep peace among parents, according to Holifield.

Before  resigning, Brown planned on raising money through Swish to provide outdoor basketball courts on the slab at Boundary County Fairgrounds. By the end of summer he may see it become a reality.

“We already have break-away rims and backboards are being made as well,” said Holifield. “We (Swish) have made finishing this project our goal.”

The outdoor court is under a roof and will have foul lines painted and is  protected from rain or snow.

The organization sent out 273 registration forms to past teams who are on their mailing list.

Last year 80 people volunteered with the tournament; Holifield would like to see more this year. Volunteers should be 18 or older.

 A meeting will be held for all volunteers to go over  rules and regulations and to detail what is expected of them well before the tournament, Holifield said.

“The important thing about these tournaments, is to keep the games moving,” Holifield said. “It is hard to keep games staring on time when you don’t have enough volunteers.”

Holifield plans on arranging committees who will be designated specific tasks.

Check out Swish’s new Web site at bfswish.com, from  here a registration form can be printed out.

Swish also has a Facebook page.