Norwich Elks hold free throw competition for kids
NORWICH – With over 3 million participants annually, the Elks National Free Throw “Hoop Shoot” contest will begin with a local contest on Saturday.
The contest, sponsored by the Norwich chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, is open to children ages 8 to 13. The contest is free to participants.
Children competing in the contest are split into age groups, depending on their age as of April 1, 2008. Each participant is given the chance to shoot 25 free throws. First, second and third place winners are determined in each category and the winner will have the chance to advance to the district competition for the chance to go to the state, regional and national competitions.
“We usually have a good turn out,” said Bill Aitken, an Elks Club member. “The Y basketball program is on Saturdays, so we do it at the same time, and it works out well that way.”
The Elks have sponsored the program for over 30 years. “It turned out to be a good thing that kids liked doing,” Aitken said. The program is open to both boys and girls and according to the Elks, it teaches kids about the important values of respect, dedication, loyalty and self-esteem.
It takes approximately eight to ten volunteers to run the competition, which focuses on one age group at a time. Generally children in the eight to nine year age bracket begin the contest, with boys shooting at one end of the gym and girls at the other. The contestants line up and are each given the chance to shoot five warm-up shots before beginning the competition.
Registration for the competition begins at 2:30, and the contest begins at 3 p.m. and usually lasts until about 5, depending on the number of participants. Winners will be asked to provide a birth certificate to verify age.
Aitken explained that while it takes hard work to go all the way to the national competition, it can be done. He explained that a Norwich youth went all the way to the finals in the 1990s. The names of the top six national finalists are inscribed in the Nasmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
For more information about the contest, call Tom Revoir at the YMCA at 336-9622 ext. 29 or visit the web site at www.elks.org/hoopshoot.cfm.
The contest, sponsored by the Norwich chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, is open to children ages 8 to 13. The contest is free to participants.
Children competing in the contest are split into age groups, depending on their age as of April 1, 2008. Each participant is given the chance to shoot 25 free throws. First, second and third place winners are determined in each category and the winner will have the chance to advance to the district competition for the chance to go to the state, regional and national competitions.
“We usually have a good turn out,” said Bill Aitken, an Elks Club member. “The Y basketball program is on Saturdays, so we do it at the same time, and it works out well that way.”
The Elks have sponsored the program for over 30 years. “It turned out to be a good thing that kids liked doing,” Aitken said. The program is open to both boys and girls and according to the Elks, it teaches kids about the important values of respect, dedication, loyalty and self-esteem.
It takes approximately eight to ten volunteers to run the competition, which focuses on one age group at a time. Generally children in the eight to nine year age bracket begin the contest, with boys shooting at one end of the gym and girls at the other. The contestants line up and are each given the chance to shoot five warm-up shots before beginning the competition.
Registration for the competition begins at 2:30, and the contest begins at 3 p.m. and usually lasts until about 5, depending on the number of participants. Winners will be asked to provide a birth certificate to verify age.
Aitken explained that while it takes hard work to go all the way to the national competition, it can be done. He explained that a Norwich youth went all the way to the finals in the 1990s. The names of the top six national finalists are inscribed in the Nasmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
For more information about the contest, call Tom Revoir at the YMCA at 336-9622 ext. 29 or visit the web site at www.elks.org/hoopshoot.cfm.
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