Early registration for the Fort Lee Girls’ Recreation Basketball League’s 2012-2013 season ends Thursday evening, and league president Michael Klein is hoping to get as many girls signed up as possible, reminding people that the next chance to sign up won't be until late October

All girls in grades 3 through 8 who attend an elementary school in Fort Lee, Lewis F. Cole Middle School or a private school, or those who are Fort Lee residents are invited to participate, according to Klein.

Registration is at the Jack Alter Fort Lee Community Center Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. The registration fee is $95 per player.

Games, which start in December and end in March, are played once a week, and teams practice “at least once a week,” Klein said.

“Last year was our most successful season, with over 260 girls playing on 22 teams,” he said. “For the first year ever, we had three separate travel teams competing in the Tenafly Travel League.”

This year, Klein is hoping for even more, anticipating more than 270 girls, from beginners to more experienced players, all of whom get the opportunity to “learn basic basketball skills and the concepts of teamwork in a fun, exciting environment.”

“It just seemed like last week when our 6th and 7th grade travel teams took home championships in the Tenafly Travel League,” Klein said. “We closed that chapter and open a new one starting with early registration this week and next week.”

He said travel teams are so eager to get on the court, they’re already asking him for gym time, a request he’s never heard as early as September in the seven years he’s been with the league.

Klein also pointed out that most of the league’s seventh- and eighth-graders this year started with the recreation league when they were just third-graders “and have now matured into excellent athletes.”

“The 7th and 8th grade division this year is stacked with talent and will be one of the most exciting divisions to watch,” he said. “I'm excited myself to watch four games every Saturday at the middle school starting in January.”

Early registration is important, Klein added, because it enables him to project numbers for the upcoming season and prepare coaches a little earlier this year than he’s been able to in the past.

“Hopefully [we can] have some coaches clinics in conjunction with the girls varsity basketball coaches Stacey Zafiris and Billy Straub,” Klein said. “They both show lots of interest in ‘the feeder program,’ which is great. They both are doing a great job coaching at the high school level. I see them start with freshman and turn them into competitive varsity players by their junior year.”

For more information email Michael Klein at MKGATORS22@AOL.com or visit the league’s comprehensive website for up-to-date information and announcements.