Youth Activities
As Knights of Columbus it is our responsibility to provide our youth with the means and the opportunities to become personally committed and involved in meeting the challenges of our times. Today’s youth are looking for a challenge, for responsibility, for faith and trust. The youth of today are often condemned because of the uncontrolled actions of a minority of young people.
There is a great deal more that all of us can do to improve our youth programs. We need to recruit as many of our members as possible to work with our young people. As adult leaders we will help mold our young people into the leaders of tomorrow. We will have the opportunity for what they are saying.
The Knights of Columbus has five programs that are for the youth of our community. Four of these programs are conducted on the international level. They are the Columbian Squires, the KofC Free Throw Contest, the KofC Soccer Challenge, and the KofC Substance Abuse Poster Contest. The fifth program is conducted only at the council level and that is the KofC Essay Contest. Each of these programs has something to offer to our youth.
For further information on any of these programs, look in your Council Report Forms Booklet. Just send in the appropriate form (soccer, free throw, poster, etc) to receive a kit with all of the information needed to implement any one or all of the programs mentioned above. All of the program information and forms are also available on the Supreme website (www.kofc.org) or contact the State Youth Activities Director, Keith Cahill.
The Columbian Squires
The Columbian Squires is a leadership development program for young Catholic men ages 10-18 years old. There are over 25,000 Catholic young men in over 1,500 local units, called Circles, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Guam, and Poland.
The Squires program is designed to develop young men as leaders who understand their Catholic religion, who have a strong commitment to the Church, and who are ready, willing, and capable of patterning their lives after Christ. Contact Mike Madden for more information.
Free Throw Championship
Since 1972, councils have sponsored the Knights of Columbus International Free Throw Championship for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14.
The championship is set up to have the contestants compete within their own gender and age group tossing 15 consecutive Free Throw attempts. All competition starts at the local level. Winners move on to the district, regional, and state levels. From there, some make it to the international level for championship competition in their group.
The recommended time frame for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is:
- Council Championship—January. The time and place is the responsibility of each participating Council. The entry form/score sheet and proof of age of each winner are to be forwarded to the District Deputy after the local competition.
- Regional Championship—February. The District Deputies of each region are responsible for determining the time and place for their regional competition.
- State Championship—March. The time and place will be determined for the State competition by the Youth Director
There will be NO CASH AWARDS of any kind to any winner at any level of competition. This must be adhered to so as not to jeopardize the amateur status of any winner.
More information and rules for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship can be obtained by sending in Form FT-KIT that is found at www.kofc.org/forms, Council Reports Form Booklet (#1436) or by contacting the State Free Throw Championship Chairman, Tom Johnson, SA.
Soccer Challenge
The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is a competition designed for players to demonstrate the most basic soccer skill—the penalty kick. Open to all boys and girls in your community, ages 10-14, where each player will be allowed 15 shots at the goal from the penalty line (12 yards from the goal). Winners progress to the regional, state, and international levels.
The recommended time frame for the Soccer Challenge is:
- Council Competition – September. The time and place is the responsibility of each participating Council. The entry form/score sheet and proof of age of each winner are to be forwarded to the District Deputy after the local competition.
- Regional Competition – October. The District Deputies of each region are responsible for their regional competition.
- State Competition—November. The time and place will be determined for the State competition by the Soccer Challenge Chairman.
There are to be NO CASH AWARDS of any kind to any winner at any level of competition. This must be adhered to so as not to jeopardize the amateur status of any winner.
More information the rules for the Soccer Challenge can be obtained by sending in Form #SC-KIT that is found atwww.kofc.org/forms, Council Reports Form Booklet (#1436) or by contacting the State Soccer Challenge Chairman, Keith Cahill
Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest
Entries in the Knights of Columbus Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest must fall under one of these topics: Alcohol Awareness and Abuse or Drug Awareness and Abuse. Each poster must include a slogan reflecting either of the topics and an original visual image. Posters may only be entered under one topic.
The Knights of Columbus Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest is open to all young people between the ages of 8 and 14. Contest entrants compete in one of two age groups—ages 8 through 11, and ages 12 through 14.
The recommended time frame for the substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest is:
- Local Competition—January
- District/Regional Competition—February
- State Competition—early March
- International Competition—March 31st deadline at Supreme
More information and the rules for the Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest can be obtained by sending in Form #SA-KIT that is found at www.kofc.org/forms, Council Reports Form Booklet (#1436) or by contacting the State Substance Abuse Awareness Poster Contest Chairman Keith Cahill.