It is peak sports season. The local school gym is booked morning to night, five days a week, with games on the weekends. Schools often host club leagues in addition to their own sports teams, packing the schedule even further. For coaches looking to take their basketball or volleyball teams to the next level, competing over gym rental Chicago practice time isn’t sustainable for the players, parents, and coaching staff. In order to have a practice space rental that’s reliable week after week, finding an indoor sports facility rental outside of the school setting can be a game changer.
In this guide, we’ll walk coaches and program directors through the process of selecting a supplemental indoor practice space, because nothing improves a kid’s skills and love for the game like consistency.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late to Book an Indoor Sports Facility Rental
Scrambling to find a new indoor practice space at the last minute can lead to lost practices and valuable time on the court when your kids could be learning new plays and drills. Having a standing practice space rental at the same time and place every week ensures you’ll avoid last-minute cancellations and gives families the opportunity to plan around their kids’ sports schedules.
Determine Exactly What Kind of Indoor Practice Facility You Need
When you live in the Midwest, you know the weather can change on a dime, not to mention how harsh the winters can be. January in the Chicagoland area isn’t exactly the most opportune time to play basketball or volleyball outside. Having a reliable indoor practice space that can accommodate your team’s needs — from scrimmaging and drill practice to small group sessions and cross-training workouts — boosts productivity and gives your players everything they need to succeed.
Consider Recurring Versus Occasional Sports Facility Rentals
Getting student players on a regular schedule benefits everyone. Coaches know when they need to take time off work, kids know when and where they need to be, and families can plan their weeks around pick-up and drop-off. Consistent practice is also much more beneficial than last-minute cramming before an important game or tournament, and it builds stronger bonds among coaches, staff, and teammates.
Look Beyond the Usual Practice Times
Many parents and guardians can’t leave work to take their kids to practice right after school, so coaches can choose to schedule their practice space rental later in the evening to give everyone the chance to get there on time. A reliable gym rental Chicago facility gives coaches a dependable place to practice and helps kids plan around their practice time.
Evaluate the Entire Sports Training Facility, Not Just the Court
Location, parking, accessibility, and amenities make a big difference for players and their families. The easier it is for a student to get to practice, the more likely they will stick with their sport for the long haul.
Have an Indoor Practice Facility Backup Plan
Like every good idea, you won’t be the only one to have it. You can count on other coaches to have thought of booking an indoor practice space in advance, especially during the busy season and cold winter months. Having an indoor practice space on the books prevents disruptions to training schedules and last-minute scrambling to find a suitable place to ball.
Wintrust Sports Complex: the Sports Training Facility
Wintrust is no stranger to youth sports, as we frequently host camps, tournaments, and clinics for kids of all ages. Our 116,000-square-foot facility features eight gleaming hardwood basketball courts, 16 NCAA volleyball courts, one larger NCAA-regulated championship court, as well as an in-house restaurant, restrooms, and a second-floor mezzanine where kids can hang out before and after practice. Forget to pack an after-school snack? The concession stand has kids covered, and courts are available to rent Monday through Friday. Gym rental Chicago athletes also have access to plentiful free parking and a fully wheelchair-accessible facility.
For rec or private leagues that need a place to battle it out for first place, Wintrust frequently hosts sports tournaments. We’ve seen it all, from cheer competitions to wrestling matches and basketball championships to pickleball duels. We have a meeting room for pregame speeches and secret playmaking, a referee room, and a training room for athletes.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
We love supporting student athletes who take their passions seriously, and we pride ourselves on providing a world-class sports training facility and equipment that helps kids fulfill their potential. At the same time, we also want kids to have fun.
Under the same roof as our sports courts is a full-sized arcade outfitted with the newest games alongside the classics, perfect for an hour of family fun after practice. In case you didn’t get enough competition during drills, our laser tag arena features two floors of obstacles, and players can play as many 10-minute games as they’d like.
Since scheduling regular practices will quickly familiarize players with our facility, parents might as well go ahead and book their kids’ next birthday party in the place they already know and enjoy. The sports party package includes an hour of court time for 10 people along with two large pizzas, arcade cards, and unlimited soft drinks.
Wintrust Sports Complex, Your Reliable Indoor Sports Facility Rental
If you’ve been searching for “gym rental Chicago,” you know how hard it can be to find steady, reliable practice time in a fully equipped indoor practice facility. But student athletes thrive on consistency and make lasting bonds with their teammates over a season of regular practices. Instead of waiting for a last-minute cancellation or trying to squeeze in a few minutes of running plays the day before a big game, take advantage of all the amenities Wintrust has to offer young athletes, coaches, and the families who support them. Contact us today to get the rest of your season signed, sealed, and scheduled.