Be a ball kid at MVC
basketball meet. Apply here

Would you like to see the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball meet games up close and personal? Young Saint Louis.com can give you a chance.

MVC tournament officials again have reserved two ball kid spots in the tournament for readers of YSL.com. For a chance to be an official YSL.com ball kid, just fill out the attached registration. Entries must be postmarked by Friday, Feb. 21, 2003.

All completed applications will be put into a hat and two winners will be drawn. Winners will be notified by phone. MVC tournament managers will give advance training before you go on the floor.

This YSL.com activity is open to both boys and girls, ages 10 to 13, in the metro St. Louis area. That's the target audience for this website.

Ball kids are stationed under the baskets during the games. Their work is important because they keep the floor clean so players don't slip and hurt themselves. Also, the kids wipe down the whole floor at half-time of the games.

The ball kids get some "perks" while working the games. Of course, there's free admission to your assigned games. You'll also get a MVC T-shirt. Kids get free snacks and soft drinks in the tournament media room.

There's also the opportunity to mix with the players and coaches of the tournament teams.

(For information about the experiences of past ball kids, you can read articles from last year. For 2002 stories, click here for January 2002, click here for March, 2002, and click here for April, 2002.)

To apply for one of the YSL.com ball kid spots, you need to be between 10 and 13 years of age and agree to work an entire shift. That might involved two games, depending on the schedule for your assigned day.

This year's MVC men's basketball tournament will be March 7-10 at the Savvis Center in downtown St. Louis. The winner of the 10-team tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA's national tournament.

The schedule calls for two games on Thursday, March 7; four on Saturday, March 8; two on Sunday, March 9. The tournament's final game is Monday, March 4. YSL.com ball kids probably will work on either Saturday or Sunday.

Here's how to enter in the YSL.com ball kid drawing:

1. Print out the following entry form.
   
   
2. Fill in your name, address and telephone number.
   
   
3. Have a parent/guardian sign registration, giving permission for you to work the games.
   
   
4. Mail your entry to:
   
   MVC Ball Kids
   Young Saint Louis.com
   231 S. Bemiston, Suite 800
   Clayton, MO 63105
   
   
5. Only registrations postmarked on/before Feb. 21, 2003, will be included in the drawing.

-------------Clip here and mail-------------

YSL.com Entry for MVC Ball Kids Drawing

______ (Check) Yes, I would like to be a ball kid for the 2003 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament at the Savvis Center, March 7-10.

Name: ________________________________ Age: ______

Address: _________________________________________

City: _____________________, State: _____, ZIP: ________

Contact phone no: (____) ___________________

* I, ________________________________, as parent/guardian for __________________________ give my permission for him/her to work as a MVC ball kids during the March 7-10 meet.