All boys and girls ages 9-14 who attend public schools, private schools or are home-schooled are invited to participate in the local level of competition of the 52nd Annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship in Platte City.
The local competition is sponsored by Twelve Apostles Knights of Columbus Council No. 16189 of Platte City, Missouri, and will be held on Sunday, Jan. 15, from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Platte County Community Center North YMCA gymnasium (south gym) located at 3101 Running Horse Road in Platte City.
Participants may arrive, register and shoot their free throws at any time between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15.
There is no charge.
In the event of inclement weather on January 15, the contest will be rescheduled at the same location on a date to be determined, pending the availability of the facility.
Parking is available on all sides of the Platte City YMCA. Guests should enter the YMCA through the main door on the west side of the building. Beverages and small snacks are available for purchase in vending machines in the YMCA.
All contestants will compete in their respective age and gender divisions, and will be required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent on the registration form at the contest.
NOTE—The age of each participant is based on his/her age as of Jan. 1, 2023.
A boy or girl may only compete in one local council level competition each year within the Knights of Columbus.
Each contestant receives three warm-up tosses, followed by fifteen consecutive free throw attempts. Rules are in place to break ties.
Boys and girls, ages 9, 10 and 11, will use a women’s regulation-size basketball, and will shoot from a 12-foot foul line at a 10-foot-high basket.
Girls ages 12, 13 and 14 will use a women’s regulation-size basketball, and will shoot from the regulation foul line of 15 feet at a 10-foot-high basket.
Boys ages 12, 13 and 14 will use a men’s regulation-size basketball, and will shoot from 15 feet at a 10-foot-high basket.
All basketballs used in the contest must be provided by the Knights of Columbus.
Certificates and patches will be presented to all contestants. Winners’ certificates and plaques will be awarded to each champion of each age and gender division.
High school-age athletes (team members age 14) must consult, in advance, with their schools’ athletic directors or the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) regarding possible eligibility conflicts.
Local council winners on Jan. 15 will advance to compete in the Knights of Columbus District 5 (Missouri) Free Throw Championship.
District Free Throw champions will advance to compete in the Kansas City (Missouri) Regional contest. All regional free throw winners in Missouri will advance to compete in the Knights of Columbus State of Missouri State Free Throw Finals. International free throw champions will be announced later by the headquarters office of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Conn., based on scores from the state-level competitions.
Since its beginning in 1972, approximately four million youths have participated in the Free Throw Championship.