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 start at 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.