Kanata Youth Basketball Association looking for gym space after major spike in registrants

The Kanata Youth Basketball Association is having to turn players away, as it deals with a major increase in interest.

Association President Jeff Wilson says his organization typically sees a 1 to 2 percent increase in registrants, year-over-year, but this year that number is up to 10 to 15 per cent.

“A lot of the families and kids getting into [basketball], they're certainly wrapped up in the excitement that overtook the nation when the [Toronto] Raptors were on their [NBA] championship run,” explains Wilson.

The Kanata association has about 1,200 members. The largest increase in participants has been in the 11-14 age range, and Wilson doesn't believe this will be a one-time wave in the growth of the sport.

“Basketball is one of those sports that has a wide range of accessibilty to a lot of people, in termsof the time commitment, the finanical commitment.”

The problem, according to Wilson, is finding enough gym time in the Kanata area, in order to accomodate so many additional teams.

“We're actually having to turn people away because we don't have financially viable access to facilities,” he said.

Wilson added that the youth basketball program has the resources and coaches, but this is one issue they will look to correct for future seasons.