Free Throw Contest on Saturday

It’s time for Orange and Woodbridge youngsters ages 10-14 to sharpen those free-throw shooting skills! The Holy Infant Council of the Knights of Columbus #12523 is conducting its eighth annual Free Throw Contest on Saturday, January 14 at the Holy Infant School gymnasium, 450 Racebrook Road, Orange, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

All Orange and Woodbridge residents ages 10 through 14 as of January 1, 2012 are invited to participate. 

Entry into this contest is non-denominational. Entrants may arrive at any time during the period the contest is in progress to take their free throws.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, regional and state competitions.  International champions are announced by the Knights of Columbus international headquarters, located in New Haven, based on scores from the state-level competitions. 

Last year, more than 200,000 young people participated in over 3,000 local competitions in the United States and five other countries.  

Boy and girl winners are recognized for each age group.  In recent years, more than a dozen winners of the Holy Infant competition have gone on to the Regional contests, and there have been three state champions and seven state finalists who came from Orange or Woodbridge.  

All contestants on January 14 will be recognized with a handsome certificate of  participation. 

Contestants are required to furnish written proof of their age, except that previous years’ participants need not provide proof of age again. A copy of the birth certificate is preferred, and must be provided at the time of entry. 

A short entry form will also be completed at the time of entry, and a parental/guardian consent signature must be provided at that time.  

Each contest participant will be given three warm-up free throws.  The contestant will then take fifteen consecutive free throw attempts. 

Ten and eleven year-old contestants shoot from 12 feet; 12-14 year-olds will shoot from the standard 15 feet.  Girls will use basketballs sized for women and girls. 

Otherwise, normal rules of basketball regarding free throws apply for all levels of competition.  For example, violations include stepping on or over the free throw line prior to the ball reaching the rim.

The Knights of Columbus is an international Catholic family fraternal service organization with over 1.8 million members in more than 13,000 local councils.  The Holy Infant Council was established in Orange in 1999.  The Knights of Holy Infant Council, with nearly 80 members, sponsor projects to benefit their church, community, families and youth.