Hundreds line up early for Pete Petersen Basketball League registration
It’s the kind of sight that you typically only see during concert ticket sales for world-famous artists, but this was “just for the fun of it”.
On the very early morning of Saturday, September 7th, hundreds of Kingstonians lined up outside of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic School on Wiley St to register their children for the Pete Petersen Basketball League.
Lindsey Yonick-Mundacruz and her husband tag-teamed to ensure she was first in line. “He arrived at 4:45 yesterday afternoon,” she said, “and then I traded off with him at 11:30 last night, after I was done work.”
She was joined in line shortly thereafter by Sara Thompson and Teresa Steele.
League organizer Roland Billings says the crowd size is not unusual.
“It varies year to year. Some camp out overnight…most arrive between five and seven. Last year for our younger girls group you could have walked in at 10:25 and registered, but the first one in line for that age group was there at 2 am.”
Billings says the reasons for the popularity of the league are two-fold. “The affordability of paying $10 for the season is a big draw, and we have a good reputation in the community too,” he said.
While registration only technically began at 9 a.m., league organizers were also on-hand many hours beforehand to make sure that registrants were comfortable and enjoying their time in line.
“People visit in line, and we give out coffee, juice and donuts too when we get there,” said Billings.
“We always fill up, so that will mean 474 players on 38 teams in 5 divisions, and we keep a waiting list in all groups in case players drop out because of other activities. People line up very early on registration day because we go first come first served to keep access equal for everyone every year. No on line registration and no pre-registration,” he continued.
“It is a nice atmosphere. I regret that every year a few people don’t get in.”
More information about the league can be read at justforthefunofit.ca.
The couple that was first spent 20 hours of their lives waiting in order to save $100. There’s gotta be a better way.
I got there @ 10:00 Friday night and waited 10 hrs and 4 of it was in the rain. It got pretty cold around 2:00 a.m Saturday morning, but you do what you got to do for your kids. I love the League, I played as a kid from little guy right up to graduate League, loved every yr. Now I want my Daughter to experience the fun and excitement of playing. Her second yr and she’s fell in love with the sport. Thanks alot.
Tom Allinson
I got there at 10 Friday night and waited until 8 Saturday morning three of those hours was sitting in the rain with an umbrella and around 2 in the morning Saturday it got pretty cold to respond to the guy above you do what you got to do for your children even if you have to wait 10 hours to do it I played as a kid rate from little guys up to gradual League it’s an awesome League for the price of $10 and a note standing banquet at the end of the year how can you beat it so for those of you that didn’t get in remember next year go super early and if you are crazy as the rest of us you will get your child in hahaha it’s worth it seeing the smile on my daughter’s face knowing as last year we got there at 7 in the morning and we didn’t get in and she was very upset and tears I think next year there shouldn’t the number system that way some people that are the lineup don’t hold on to five or more IDs and sign in all those kids at once when it’s not fair for the rest of the people way down in lineup there has to be a better way all in all it’s a great League and I think everybody should play and have a chance
Why cant anyone get this going in the east or west end
Ifor one would volunteer..I’m sure more people would as well