SUGGESTED CHAMPIONSHIP DATES - Knights of Columbus

1 SUGGESTED CHAMPIONSHIP DATES to 14. Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1. Proof of age is required. High Council CHAMPIONSHIP January school-age athletes should be advised to check with their District CHAMPIONSHIP February school athletic directors or their state high school athletic Regional CHAMPIONSHIP (optional) February associations regarding possible eligibility conflicts. State CHAMPIONSHIP March Entries Exact DATES for your area can be obtained from the state program director. State officials should notify each council All competitors must register using the official Knights of Columbus free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP Entry Form/Score well in advance concerning the DATES , times and locations Sheet (#1598). Proof of age must accompany all entry forms. of the regional and state championships. The district Preregistration is recommended, but it is not required. The deputy is responsible for notifying councils of the date, entry form/score sheet and proof of age must accompany time and location of the district competition.

2 The grand participants through all levels of competition. Your council knight or free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP chairman should number must be clearly written on the form. Each youngster notify the council winners of the date, time and location of may compete in only one council competition. Winners will the next level of competition. progress to the district, regional and state levels of competition. International champions are chosen on the Eligibility basis of state-level results. The Knights of Columbus free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP is open to all boys and girls in your community, ages 9 Court/Equipment Each level of competition should be held on any local basketball court or suitable facility approved by and under the supervision of a participating Knights of Columbus council. AGE SPECIFICATIONS. (NOTE: The SUGGESTED ball sizes for each age group are based on national recommendations for youth Rules and Regulations .. 2 basketball teams.). Conducting a Council Ages 9, 10, 11 (Boys & Girls Competitions).

3 CHAMPIONSHIP .. 4 Use a women's regulation-size basketball and shoot from a 12-foot foul line at a 10-foot-high basket. (NOTE: The normal foul line is 15 feet from the Publicity.. 6 basket. Foul lines at 12 feet from the basket for 10- and 11-year-old divisions should be clearly marked Program Supplies .. 8 with athletic or masking tape prior to the competition.). District, Regional & Ages 12, 13, 14 (Girls Competitions). State CHAMPIONSHIP .. 11 Use a women's regulation-size basketball and shoot from the regulation foul line 15 feet from a 10-foot- high basket. International CHAMPIONSHIP .. 12 Ages 12, 13, 14 (Boys Competitions). Use a men's regulation-size basketball and shoot from the regulation foul line 15 feet from a 10-foot-high basket. Page 2. Judges/Scorers/Rebounders warm-up tosses are permitted for the tie-breaker rounds. Successive rounds of five free throws each continue Judges, scorers and rebounders will be selected by the until a winner emerges. free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP chairman at the council level, by the district deputy at the district level, and by International Level International champions are the state deputy at the regional and state levels.

4 The determined on the basis of best scores submitted from recommended minimum is one judge, two scorers and a the state-level competitions in each age category. rebounder at each basket. It is recommended that volunteer parents be utilized in age groups other than the group(s) in which their child (children) competes. The judge will ensure that each participant receives the proper warm-up tosses and will point out any foul- NOTE: shooting violations (see Scoring section). All questions will be resolved by the judges and free Throw In the event that a winner in any CHAMPIONSHIP chairman. Scorers should refer to the scoring instructions included on the entry form/score level cannot participate in the sheet. The rebounder will catch the ball and give to the next contestant. next level of competition, the Scoring second- place winner should Normal rules of basketball regarding free throws apply represent the area for that age for all levels of competition. free Throw violations include stepping on or over the line prior to the ball group reaching the rim, or shots rebounding off the out of bounds basket support and equipment.

5 Scorers should record baskets made and missed on each attempt according to the instructions on the entry form/score AUTHORITY The Knights of Columbus free Throw sheet. It is recommended that multiple scorers be CHAMPIONSHIP program will be under the authority assigned to each basket for scoring accuracy and of the state deputy and state youth director. Any comparison. All scores should be verified before the questions about this program not answered in this next contestant is allowed to shoot. The use of guide should be directed to the appropriate state videotape recording of the competition is not officials or to the Supreme Council Department of recommended to resolve questions on scoring totals. Fraternal Services, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, The judges and scorers and actual entry form/score CT 06510-3326; Telephone (203) 752-4270, sheets should determine final scores. Fax (203) 752-4108. Competition Levels Council Level Each contestant receives three warm-up tosses followed by 15 consecutive free Throw attempts from the appropriate age-designated foul line (see the Court/Equipment/Age section for proper ball sizes and foul line distances).

6 To break a tie, contestants take a second round of five free throws. No warm-up tosses are permitted for the tie-breaker rounds. Successive rounds of five free throws each continue until a winner emerges. District, Regional, State Levels Each contestant receives three warm-up tosses followed by 25 consecutive free throw attempts from the foul line. To break a tie, contestants take a second round of five free throws. No Page 3. free Throw Championships are Set a time and place. Contact fun and easy to conduct. Here parks, schools, community are steps to follow to ensure a centers or youth centers and successful free Throw reserve a basketball court. Ask CHAMPIONSHIP . local sports teams, colleges or universities to work with your COUNCIL COMPETITION council on the free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP as part of their free Throw Championships community outreach program. should never be held on a While January is the month for school day unless all conducting a council participants are able to attend. competition, councils can be flexible and work around the This could be a good schedules of such teams.

7 All membership recruitment local competitions should be opportunity. Some of the fathers scheduled so that the winners attending your event are likely can participate in the district skating rinks, shopping centers, to be practical Catholics who competitions. YMCA and YWCA buildings and the council home. On the poster are eligible to join a council. Contact the schools in your area indicate the name of the contact Have one of two Knights from to explain the program. Seek person, the date, time and your Membership Committee permission of the location of the competition, and set up a table for recruiting. principals/athletic a telephone number to call for Stock it with membership directors/superintendents to additional information on the pamphlets and Form 100's to conduct the program as part of competition. Supplement these hand out. To grab their their physical education or posters with newspaper ads, attention, use a poster such as intramural program, or ask for an radio and TV spots and other #4355 E, In Service To One, In endorsement encouraging publicity.

8 Additional posters are Service To All (available from students to participate in this available at no charge from the in the supply catalog) or set up community sports program. High Supreme Council office. some refreshments. Make sure Preregister contestants whenever school athletes should be you get the phone number of possible. reminded to check with their potential recruits to perform state high school athletic adequate follow-up procedures. association about possible Preregistration will boost the eligibility conflicts. Contact number of participants and save The council free Throw officials from the town recreation time at the actual event by CHAMPIONSHIP chairman should: department or local youth making the competition run basketball leagues to promote the quicker and smoother. Distribute Always use the program's competition among their players. entry forms/score sheets to official name: Knights of Teams and schools can hold aforementioned locations. Columbus free Throw preliminary competitions to Personally deliver entry CHAMPIONSHIP .

9 Determine winners by age groups forms/score sheets to physical to advance to the council education teachers and coaches Order the Knights of Columbus competition. Make sure that when possible. Try to collect free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP Kit entry forms/score sheets are (#FT-KIT) using the order form distributed in advance to the on page 5 of the Council Report Forms Booklet (#1436) on officials of the leagues or coaches Cash or bonds must of the teams. page 9 of this booklet, or at not be awarded at any Complete Display program posters level of competition and submit the form to the prominently to generate Department of Fraternal since that may attention and participation. Ask Services. Order as early as to display posters in schools, compromise the possible. youth centers, church halls, amateur status of the libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, contestant. Page 4. completed forms and proof-of- their free throws at a special Sew-on patches (#FT-P) bearing age documents before the time, and will be disqualified the phrase Knights of Columbus competition to get a general if allowed to do so.

10 free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP are estimate on the number of available from the Supreme participants. Plan the Present participation certificates Council Supply Department. competition based on these (#1597) to all participants, and Patches can be ordered in numbers. Have an council champion certificates packages of 25 at a cost of $29 by announcement made in school (#1809) to the winners at the using a Requisition Form (#1) or or send out a reminder of the end of the competition. The the coupon on page 9. These competition immediately before free Throw CHAMPIONSHIP Kit patches may be presented to the event. Be ready to accept contains 75 certificates for participants and/or champions. entry forms/score sheets from competitors. Twelve walk-in participants on the day Champions' certificates are also Personalize the sample press of the competition. included. release on page 6 by announcing the council winners and send Build public interest. Use the The Supreme Council Supply copies to local and diocesan sample press release shown on Department has available newspapers and radio stations.