Would you like to see the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament up close and personal? If so, apply here.

MVC tournament officials again have reserved two tournament ball kid positions to Young Saint Louis.com. If selected, you will see two games from right under-the-basket at floor level.

If you'd like the opportunity, just fill out the entry form at the end of this story. Be sure to have your entries postmarked by February 21, 2004. Entries postmarked after the deadline can't be considered.

All fully-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.

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 YSL.com ball kids will share in "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 before games and during halftimes.

(For information about the experiences of past YSL.com ball kids, you can read post-tournament articles. For the 2002 article, click here. For the post-meet article from 2003, click here.)

To apply for one of the 2004 MVC ball kid spots, you need to be between 10 and 13 years of age and agree to work an entire shift. This probably will involve two games, depending on the schedule for your assigned day.

This year's MVC men's basketball tournament will be March 5-8 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 Friday, March 5; four on Saturday, March 6; two on Sunday, March 9. The tournament's final game is Monday, March 4. YSL.com ball kids probably will be assigned to work on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Here's how to enter 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, 2004, 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 2004 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament at the Savvis Center, March 5-8.

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 5-8 meet.