Rules & Regulations

 

Eligibility

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is open to all boys and girls, ages 9 to 14. Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1. Proof of age is required. High school-age athletes should be advised to check with their school athletic directors or their state high school athletic associations regarding possible eligibility conflicts.

 

Entries

All competitors must register using the official Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship Entry Form/Score Sheet (#1598). Proof of age must accompany all entry forms.  The entry form/score sheet and proof of age must accompany participants through all levels of competition. Each youngster may compete in only one council competition. Winners will progress to the district, regional and state levels of competition. International champions are chosen on the basis of state-level results.

 

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

Ages 9, 10, 11 (Boys & Girls Competitions) 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 basket. Foul lines at 12 feet from the basket for 10- and 11-year-old divisions should be clearly marked with athletic or masking tape prior to the competition.)

Ages 12, 13, 14 (Girls Competitions) Use a women’s regulation-size basketball and shoot from the regulation foul line 15 feet from a 10-foot-high basket.

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.

 

Judges/Scorers/Rebounders

Judges, scorers and rebounders will be selected by the Free Throw Championship chairman at the council level, by the district deputy at the district level, and by the state deputy at the regional and state levels. The recommended minimum is one judge, two scorers and a 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 foulshooting violations (see Scoring section). All questions will be resolved by the judges and Free Throw Championship chairman. Scorers should refer to the scoring instructions included on the entry form/score sheet.

 

Scoring

Normal rules of basketball regarding free throws apply for all levels of competition. Free Throw violations include stepping on or over the line prior to the ball reaching the rim, or shots rebounding off the "out of bounds" basket support and equipment. Scorers should record baskets made and missed on each attempt according to the instructions on the entry form/score sheet. It is recommended that multiple scorers be assigned to each basket for scoring accuracy and comparison. All scores should be verified before the next contestant is allowed to shoot. The use of videotape recording of the competition is not recommended to resolve questions on scoring totals. The judges and scorers and actual entry form/score sheets should determine final scores.

 

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 foulline distances). 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.