#ProjectSwish 2021: Basketball England's free nets and outdoor court revamp initiative is back

#ProjectSwish is back for a third year – aiming to be bigger and better than ever before! 

The popular Basketball England campaign, which provides free nets for outdoors hoops across the country, has a new target and an expanded remit in 2021. 

With lockdown finally eased and park and playground courts accessible again, BE is determined to put more nets on hoops so ballers can enjoy their basketball again. 

After distributing 2,676 free nets last year, we are aiming to send out 3,000 this year. 

In addition, our specially designed #ProjectSwish ball is also on sale. Proceeds from the ball - created in collaboration with artist Gareth Roberts from Project in the Paint – go towards improving outdoor courts across the country. 

And we are aiming to help facilitate the upgrade and creation of great new outdoor courts in communities across England. 

Basketball England has been involved in five fantastic outdoor court projects in the last few years – and there will be more to come. 

How to get involved 

• If you need a net for the hoop on your outdoor court, we will supply you with a free one to put up. A simple way to make sure you experience the best sound in basketball – the swish of a perfect shot passing through a net. We’ll also add your improved court to our Courtfinder database so other people can come and play. Go to the #ProjectSwish page to get started.  
• You’ll need a ball – what better than the unique, specially designed #ProjectSwish ball – it's a beauty. Buy one from our online shop - the proceeds go towards funding more court renovation projects. 
• If you want to upgrade your local court, whether you are an individual, club, community organisation or local authority, we can help. Hoop or backboard upgrade, line-markings or a full-scale art-court paint job, we can advise - from who to contact to how to fund-raise. See our Court Renovation guide. Let us know about your project here

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The #ProjectSwish story so far 

#ProjectSwish was a big hit in 2019, smashing the initial target of 1,000 nets within the first month as 2,250 nets were put up on courts across the country. 

In 2020, the basketball community went even further. Basketball England sent out 2,676 free nets, 1,023 courts were submitted to us and 410 new courts were discovered.  

BE collaborated with partners on five amazing outdoor court projects, with facilities upgraded at Hendon Park, London, Mandela Centre, Leeds, Meols Parade, The Wirral, Chelmer Green, Essex and Rowntree Park, York. 

Basketball England’s Interim Chief Operating Officer Peter Griffiths said: 

“We’re really excited to be able launch #ProjectSwish for 2021 and support the basketball community. 

“It has been a difficult year for everyone who loves our game, but with outdoor courts accessible again and summer coming, we want to see as many people as possible back enjoying basketball again. 

“Having a net on your hoop is an important part of that and the way the basketball community has got behind #ProjectSwish over the last few years has been brilliant to see. 

“We’re sure that people across the country will continue to embrace the programme and take it to the next level. Get involved.” 

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