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 Knights of Columbus 53rd Annual Free Throw Championship in Platte City, Missouri.
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. 14, from 12 noon-2 p.m. at the Platte City Middle School gymnasium located at 900 Pirate Drive in Platte City.
Participants may arrive and register at the event at any time after 11:30 a.m.. Contestants may shoot their free throws at any time between 12 noon and 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14.
There is no charge to participants, parents or guardians for competing in the contest. In the event of inclement weather on January 14, organizers will try to re-schedule the contest at the same location on a date to be determined, pending the availability of the facility.
The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship only measures an individual’s ability to shoot and make consecutive, individual free throws. This competition DOES NOT measure team playing, dribbling, field goal shooting, passing, rebounding or other basketball skills.
The Platte City Middle School is located at 900 Pirate Drive, directly south of the QT Convenient Store and Gasoline Mart in Platte City, Missouri. The school and gymnasium are located approximately .2 of a mile west of the stoplight at the intersection of Platte Falls Road and Kentucky Avenue in Platte City.
Free parking is available in the large lot in the rear of the Platte City Middle School. Guests should enter and exit the Platte City Middle School only through the rear four doors of the building. The gymnasium will be on your left upon entering the four rear doors of the school. The front main doors of the school will be locked, and will not be used.
All contestants will compete in their respective age (9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) and gender (Boys and Girls) divisions. All participants will be asked their age and date of birth, and written parental/ guardian consent on the registration form will be obtained at the contest.
NOTE—The AGE of each participant is based on his/her age as of January 1, 2024.
A participant may reside in either Missouri or Kansas.
A boy or girl may only compete in ONE local council level Free Throw Championship each year within the Knights of Columbus.
Each contestant receives three warm-up tosses, followed by 15 consecutive free throw attempts. Rules are in place to break all 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. Individuals will not be permitted to use their own basketballs during the free throw competition.
Certificates of participation will be presented to all contestants. Winners’ certificates and winners’ plaques will be awarded to each champion of each age and gender division.
High school-age athletes (high school 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. 14 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.
