Just For The Fun Of It

We are excited to announce we are continuing our partnership with Acme Sport and Promotion to operate an on line store for our families through their web site again this season! Ordering is very straight forward and you access our store on their site through the link https://www.superacme.ca/pete-petersen-basketball-league-online-store/

The store will be open fro Friday September 11 through Monday October 19th and orders will be available for pick up at Acme on Railway Street once you are notified your order is ready. The store will be open again in January for two weeks. We will continue to sell our 2026 T-shirts in person at the gyms at registration and in the fall.

New to the on line store this year are sweatpants, and we have also expanded the colour options available for several of our items.

Sweatpants

Available in Athletic Gray , Black and Navy 

Sizes Youth XS to Adult XXXXL

Toques

Available in black and Gray 

One size fits all

Cotton-Poly Hook-And-Loop Adjustable Cap

Available in Black, Forest Green, Navy and Silver

Performance Polo

Available in Youth, Ladies and Men’s sizes in Black, Forest, Graphite, Navy, Royal and Red

Hooded Sweatshirt

Available in sizes from Youth XS to Adult XXXXL and colours Charcoal Heather, Forest, Maroon, Purple and Red

Quarter Zip

Available in sizes Youth XS to Adult XXXXL and colours Black, Navy, Royal and Red

Performance Shell With Hood

Available in Youth, Women’s and Men’s sizes and colours Black, Navy, Royal, Red and Silver

The family of Neil Neasmith has included our basketball league as one of their preferred donation options for memorial donations in Neil’s memory. We want to thank Mary, Julie, Jeff, and Leslie for this honour. I know how much Neil thought of what we do for the children in the community and appreciate his continuing to make a difference in the lives of our players and their families. 

Donations can be made by e-transfer to roland.billings@sympatico.ca , 

or by cheque to the Pete Petersen Basketball League, 31 Ellerbeck Street, Kingston, K7L 4H5

If by e-transfer, please include your address in the notes so an acknowledgment can be sent. 

Unfortunately, we cannot give tax receipts but will acknowledge your donation and let Neil’s family know of your contribution to our program. Roland

We are now only 2 weeks until registration day, and with our policy changes, we thought it would be good to share with everyone our list of answers to frequently asked questions, We will repost this several more times as we move closer to September 12. PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO QUESTION 2 TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT REGISTRATION DAY.

1) What are the game nights for the upcoming season? Answer: Monday Nights – Biddy Division (boys 11-12) at St. Francis of Assisi; Graduate Division (boys 13-15) at Ecole Cathedrale; Tuesday Nights- Little Guys Division (boys 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi; Wednesday Nights – Girls Division (Girls 11-14) at St. Francis of Assisi; Thursday Nights- Little Gals Division (girls 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi. Graduate games start at 6:00 pm (3 games a night in one hour time slots), and all other divisions start at 6:00 pm with four games in 45 minute time slots.

2) I am going to be out of town on Registration Day and you have no on line registration. How do I get my child registered?

Answer: If you are going to be away on Registration Day you can get someone else to start the registration process for you. They will need the name, date of birth, contact phone numbers, address and e mail address (if applicable) for your player, along with the $10 registration fee. They will be given a copy of the registration form that you will need to sign and bring with you to the player evaluation night. We must have a signed registration form before your child can participate in league activities. 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026 REGISTRATION PROCESS: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

PLEASE DO NOT ASK MEMBERS OF OUR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR YOU. We are very busy on registration day looking after other details of the process.

2 a) Why don’t you have on line registration like other leagues? Answer: Having in person, first come, first served registration equalizes the opportunity for everyone in the community. We allow someone else to register your child as long as you make those arrangements, as a concession to those unavailable at registration time due to work or other commitments. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POLICY CHANGE: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

3) Can we request to be on the same team as another player?

Answer: Due to the large number of requests we receive each year, and our growing number of registrations, we can no longer assure you that player pairing requests will be granted, with the exception of siblings in the same age group, and where a DEFINITE need to ride together has been established and communicated. It has been overwhelming for our volunteers to accommodate these large number of requests while trying to build fair and balanced teams. We believe that this approach keeps us in line with the practice of most other youth organizations. We see our program as a great opportunity for family members and players to meet new friends and neighbours from across our community, establishing friendships that may last for years to come.

4) Can we request to be on a specific coach’s team?

Answer: No, you may not request a coach. 

5) What happens if I miss the player evaluation night? Will my child be “cut” from the program?

Answer: While we hope that all players come out for evaluation night, no one that is registered will be “cut”. All will be placed on a team, and you will be notified what team, and the team practice time in the days following our September 23 coaches meeting.

6) What do I do if I find out that my child has a conflict with another activity or decides they don’t want to play this season?

Answer: Please notify us as soon as possible by e mail (roland.billings@sympatico.ca), by phone (613 548-8790), or message through the web site or Facebook page. We will likely have a waiting list in each division of players that want to play, and an early decision on your part will get one of them into the league. 

6a)Minimum Attendance: Given that in most seasons all divisions operate with a player waiting list, and to ensure access to the program should be maintained as soon as possible during the league year, player attendance will be tracked by divisional convenors. Action to contact a player not attending will be initiated after two consecutive missed weeks of play including evaluations and team practice week, and if a player is absent for 50% of league activity through the first eight games of the season (evaluation night, practice week and eight games), they will be notified that they have been deemed to have withdrawn from the league and will be replaced by a player from the waiting list. The exception to this will be a player that has notified us of their extended absence due to an injury. 

7) How often will there be practices and what time of day will they be held?

Answer: In each division there will be one evaluation night practice in the week after registration following the schedule distributed at registration and that will be published here after registration day. In the week after the coaches meeting (September 23) there will be one practice with your team on the same game nights and time slots outlined in question one above. Once games begin there are no more practices. 

8- What player medical condition details do you need for my player?

Answer: We need as much detail as possible on the registration form to help us make sure convenors and coaches are aware of potential issues. All allergies, as well as any medical diagnosis and / or behaviours that could impact their participation need to be disclosed to us. While all are welcome in the league, we are only looking to better understand the needs of our players, and create a more successful time for each player to help ensure a positive experience for all participants and volunteers involved.

We join the Kingston Sports Community in mourning the passing of Neil Neasmith yesterday. I was deeply saddened last evening to learn of the passing of a long time member of the league family and supporter of what we do, with the loss of Neil Neasmith. Neil was an amazing basketball player and referee, a baseball and softball player, and for many years a passionate tennis player at the Kingston Tennis Club. He is also a member of the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame.

A long time teacher and principal with the Frontenac County and Limestone boards of education, he influenced countless young lives over the years, and he continued to be an educator within the local basketball referee’s board, teaching the rules and ethics of the sport to aspiring officials like me. I had the pleasure of seeing him play in the border league when I was in high school, and when I joined the referee’s board, Neil became a teacher and mentor for me, and those years calling games together cemented our friendship that we have cherished. Having someone with Neil’s dry whit and sense of humour got us through many games that were a challenge to call.

For the league, Neil and his dear wife Mary were fixtures at all of our fund raising events over the years, and it was not unusual to find an envelope with a donation dropped through our mail slot or delivered in person.

To Mary, and Neil’s children Julie, Jeff, and Leslie , and to their partners and his beloved grandchildren, please accept the condolences of the league family. Know that Neil was a difference maker in the lives of our players and their families, and in the lives of all he taught and worked with over the years. He was a mentor and most of all, a friend, and he will be missed. Roland

We are now one month until registration day, and with our policy changes, we thought it would be good to share with everyone our list of answers to frequently asked questions, We will repost this several more times as we move closer to September 12.

1) What are the game nights for the upcoming season? Answer: Monday Nights – Biddy Division (boys 11-12) at St. Francis of Assisi; Graduate Division (boys 13-15) at Ecole Cathedrale; Tuesday Nights- Little Guys Division (boys 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi; Wednesday Nights – Girls Division (Girls 11-14) at St. Francis of Assisi; Thursday Nights- Little Gals Division (girls 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi. Graduate games start at 6:00 pm (3 games a night in one hour time slots), and all other divisions start at 6:00 pm with four games in 45 minute time slots.

2) I am going to be out of town on Registration Day and you have no on line registration. How do I get my child registered?

Answer: If you are going to be away on Registration Day you can get someone else to start the registration process for you. They will need the name, date of birth, contact phone numbers, address and e mail address (if applicable) for your player, along with the $10 registration fee. They will be given a copy of the registration form that you will need to sign and bring with you to the player evaluation night. We must have a signed registration form before your child can participate in league activities.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026 REGISTRATION PROCESS: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

PLEASE DO NOT ASK MEMBERS OF OUR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR YOU. We are very busy on registration day looking after other details of the process.

2 a) Why don’t you have on line registration like other leagues? Answer: Having in person, first come, first served registration equalizes the opportunity for everyone in the community. We allow someone else to register your child as long as you make those arrangements, as a concession to those unavailable at registration time due to work or other commitments. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POLICY CHANGE: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

3) Can we request to be on the same team as another player?

Answer: Due to the large number of requests we receive each year, and our growing number of registrations, we can no longer assure you that player pairing requests will be granted, with the exception of siblings in the same age group, and where a DEFINITE need to ride together has been established and communicated. It has been overwhelming for our volunteers to accommodate these large number of requests while trying to build fair and balanced teams. We believe that this approach keeps us in line with the practice of most other youth organizations. We see our program as a great opportunity for family members and players to meet new friends and neighbours from across our community, establishing friendships that may last for years to come.

4) Can we request to be on a specific coach’s team?

Answer: No, you may not request a coach.

5) What happens if I miss the player evaluation night? Will my child be “cut” from the program?

Answer: While we hope that all players come out for evaluation night, no one that is registered will be “cut”. All will be placed on a team, and you will be notified what team, and the team practice time in the days following our September 23 coaches meeting.

6) What do I do if I find out that my child has a conflict with another activity or decides they don’t want to play this season?

Answer: Please notify us as soon as possible by e mail (roland.billings@sympatico.ca), by phone (613 548-8790), or message through the web site or Facebook page. We will likely have a waiting list in each division of players that want to play, and an early decision on your part will get one of them into the league.

6a)Minimum Attendance: Given that in most seasons all divisions operate with a player waiting list, and to ensure access to the program should be maintained as soon as possible during the league year, player attendance will be tracked by divisional convenors. Action to contact a player not attending will be initiated after two consecutive missed weeks of play including evaluations and team practice week, and if a player is absent for 50% of league activity through the first eight games of the season (evaluation night, practice week and eight games), they will be notified that they have been deemed to have withdrawn from the league and will be replaced by a player from the waiting list. The exception to this will be a player that has notified us of their extended absence due to an injury.

7) How often will there be practices and what time of day will they be held?

Answer: In each division there will be one evaluation night practice in the week after registration following the schedule distributed at registration and that will be published here after registration day. In the week after the coaches meeting (September 23) there will be one practice with your team on the same game nights and time slots outlined in question one above. Once games begin there are no more practices.

8- What player medical condition details do you need for my player?

Answer: We need as much detail as possible on the registration form to help us make sure convenors and coaches are aware of potential issues. All allergies, as well as any medical diagnosis and / or behaviours that could impact their participation need to be disclosed to us. While all are welcome in the league, we are only looking to better understand the needs of our players, and create a more successful time for each player to help ensure a positive experience for all participants and volunteers involved.

We wanted to remind all players in our program that the final date for Piercing Season is only 9 days away, and the 8 week window is closed.

If anyone is planning on getting ears pierced or other studs put in, you need to understand some upcoming dates.
Registration for next season is Saturday September 12
Player Evaluations are the week beginning September 14th
Team Practices are the week beginning September 28th. That would be the date piercings would need to be removed to participate.

Medical opinion is that any new piercings must be left with the stud in place for a minimum of six weeks, and preferably eight weeks before they can be taken out. That means the six week window closes August 17th and the eight week window closed August 3rd.

Please remember – the prohibition on wearing jewelry while playing basketball is a basketball rule, not a Pete Petersen Basketball League Rule, and any piercings done after the above 6 week date means the player will not be able to participate until the piercing object can be safely removed. Taping over is not permitted.

We want to thank Shanice and Sarah, Queen’s Women’s Volleyball coaches, and their players for the VERY generous donation of gently used shoes to our program! This is the second year they have come through with a donation for our players to use as needed.

Shanice and Sarah, thank you for believing in what we do for the children around us. You are difference makers in the lives of our players and their families, and both you and your players should be very proud of that. THANK YOU!

Yes, just 46 sleeps left until Registration Day 2026 on September 12th, and for some of you night 46 may not afford you much sleep. As we have in previous posts we are including here answers to frequently asked questions about our registration process, as well as reminders about changes we have made to that process to make things clear for everyone. If there are questions you still have after reading this please do not hesitate to contact us.

1) What are the game nights for the upcoming season? Answer: Monday Nights – Biddy Division (boys 11-12) at St. Francis of Assisi; Graduate Division (boys 13-15) at Ecole Cathedrale; Tuesday Nights- Little Guys Division (boys 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi; Wednesday Nights – Girls Division (Girls 11-14) at St. Francis of Assisi; Thursday Nights- Little Gals Division (girls 8-10) at St. Francis of Assisi. Graduate games start at 6:00 pm (3 games a night in one hour time slots), and all other divisions start at 6:00 pm with four games in 45 minute time slots.

2) I am going to be out of town on Registration Day and you have no on line registration. How do I get my child registered?

Answer: If you are going to be away on Registration Day you can get someone else to start the registration process for you. They will need the name, date of birth, contact phone numbers, address and e mail address (if applicable) for your player, along with the $10 registration fee. They will be given a copy of the registration form that you will need to sign and bring with you to the player evaluation night. We must have a signed registration form before your child can participate in league activities.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE BEGINNING WITH THE 2026 REGISTRATION PROCESS: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

PLEASE DO NOT ASK MEMBERS OF OUR LEAGUE EXECUTIVE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR YOU. We are very busy on registration day looking after other details of the process.

2 a) Why don’t you have on line registration like other leagues? Answer: Having in person, first come, first served registration equalizes the opportunity for everyone in the community. We allow someone else to register your child as long as you make those arrangements, as a concession to those unavailable at registration time due to work or other commitments. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING POLICY CHANGE: While we will allow persons that are not able to attend registration in person because of work commitments or personal circumstances to have another register their player, no individual may register more than 3 players on registration day effective immediately.

3) Can we request to be on the same team as another player?

Answer: Due to the large number of requests we receive each year, and our growing number of registrations, we can no longer assure you that player pairing requests will be granted, with the exception of siblings in the same age group, and where a DEFINITE need to ride together has been established and communicated. It has been overwhelming for our volunteers to accommodate these large number of requests while trying to build fair and balanced teams. We believe that this approach keeps us in line with the practice of most other youth organizations. We see our program as a great opportunity for family members and players to meet new friends and neighbours from across our community, establishing friendships that may last for years to come.

4) Can we request to be on a specific coach’s team?

Answer: No, you may not request a coach.

5) What happens if I miss the player evaluation night? Will my child be “cut” from the program?

Answer: While we hope that all players come out for evaluation night, no one that is registered will be “cut”. All will be placed on a team, and you will be notified what team, and the team practice time in the days following our September 23 coaches meeting.

6) What do I do if I find out that my child has a conflict with another activity or decides they don’t want to play this season?

Answer: Please notify us as soon as possible by e mail (roland.billings@sympatico.ca), by phone (613 548-8790), or message through the web site or Facebook page. We will likely have a waiting list in each division of players that want to play, and an early decision on your part will get one of them into the league.

6a)Minimum Attendance: Given that in most seasons all divisions operate with a player waiting list, and to ensure access to the program should be maintained as soon as possible during the league year, player attendance will be tracked by divisional convenors. Action to contact a player not attending will be initiated after two consecutive missed weeks of play including evaluations and team practice week, and if a player is absent for 50% of league activity through the first eight games of the season (evaluation night, practice week and eight games), they will be notified that they have been deemed to have withdrawn from the league and will be replaced by a player from the waiting list. The exception to this will be a player that has notified us of their extended absence due to an injury.

7) How often will there be practices and what time of day will they be held?

Answer: In each division there will be one evaluation night practice in the week after registration following the schedule distributed at registration and that will be published here after registration day. In the week after the coaches meeting (September 23) there will be one practice with your team on the same game nights and time slots outlined in question one above. Once games begin there are no more practices.

8. What player medical condition details do you need for my player?

Answer: We need as much detail as possible on the registration form to help us make sure convenors and coaches are aware of potential issues. All allergies, as well as any medical diagnosis and / or behaviours that could impact their participation need to be disclosed to us. While all are welcome in the league, we are only looking to better understand the needs of our players, and create a more successful time for each player to help ensure a positive experience for all participants and volunteers involved.

We wanted to remind all players in our program that Piercing Season is almost over! If anyone is planning on getting ears pierced or other studs put in, you need to understand some upcoming dates.

Registration for next season is Saturday September 12
Player Evaluations are the week beginning September 14th
Team Practices are the week beginning September 28th. That would be the date piercings would need to be removed to participate.

Medical opinion is that any new piercings must be left with the stud in place for a minimum of six weeks, and preferably eight weeks before they can be taken out. That means the six week window closes in 22 days on August 17th and the eight week window closes in 8 days on August 3rd.

Please remember – the prohibition on wearing jewelry while playing basketball is a basketball rule, not a Pete Petersen Basketball League Rule.

Tonight I had the pleasure along with Pat Adams , of attending the 2026 Ontario Volunteer Service Awards ceremony for our region. This year seven of our league volunteers were recognized for their contributions to our program, and included five adults along with two youth volunteers. Recognized tonight from the league were Keith Alcock, Luis DeMatos, Liam DeMatos, Paul Kealey, Sarah Fahy, Marley Heyman and Lisa Roberts, along with volunteers making a difference throughout our region. In total, 1090 years of volunteering were recognized – a tribute to the strength of volunteerism around us.

My personal thanks to our volunteers that were recognized tonight and to the many hundreds of volunteers over the years that have sacrificed so much of their personal time to make a difference in the lives of the children around us. Roland