Hockey Wanganui operations manager Kylie Penn said the increase in numbers was "stressful, but a good stressful".
"The increase in numbers means the Wednesday junior games are split between City College and Gonville Domain," Penn said yesterday.
"It's become a real squeeze to get all the games played. We startat 3.40pm and try and get it finished by 5pm before it starts getting dark. That means this year we have moved 60 kids from City College to play at Gonville to ease the pressure and account for the increase in numbers this season."
Penn said the Fun Sticks grade for Year 1-2 students had eight teams registered last season, but that had swelled to 13 this season. The Mini Sticks (Year 3-4) had gone from 12 teams to 15, the Kiwi Sticks (Year 5-6) 19 to 21 and the Kwik Sticks (Year 7-8) six-aside team had increased by two.
The Kwik Sticks, however, play at various venues on Mondays. "We have had to say no to those still wanting to register for the Kwik Sticks. In total the increased team numbers equates to about 110 extra kids and that's huge. It's stressful, but a good stressful," Penn said.
The secondary school grade had also increased with Wanganui Collegiate School adding an extra three teams to the eight that played last year.
"Collegiate is very strong now with 11 teams in total. I probably put the increases down to the infrastructure hockey has here in Whanganui at the moment. Collegiate has just appointed an extra hockey person and we (Hockey Wanganui) have fairly good resources, although that could also be increased," Penn said.
