Knights of Columbus Council 1033

The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is a competition designed for players aged 10-14 to demonstrate the most basic of soccer skills — the penalty kick. The goal will be divided into a series of five scoring zones. The upper corners of the goal will be designated as 20 point zones. Llower corners will be designated as 10 point zones and the central region is worth 5 points.
Each contestant receives three practice kicks followed by fifteen consecutive kicking attempts from the 12-yard penalty line. If necessary, a tie-breaker will be conducted as follows:

• each contestant will have three kicks from three yards behind the penalty kick line
• if contestants are still tied, they will move back another three yards (line of goal box known as “the 18”) for an additional three kicks each
• if still tied, the contestants move back another three yards and are each given three kicks consecutively until the tie is finally broken
• all tie-breakers will occur after the normal competition is completed or at the discretion of the Soccer Challenge chairman in the interests of fairness and practicality.

A male and female winner from each age group will advance to the diocesan competition, then the state competition. International champions are chosen on the basis of state-level results. In the event a winner at any level cannot participate in the next level of competition, the second-place winner can serve as replacement. Winners must notify the Soccer Challenge chairman immediately if they are unable or unwilling to attend the diocesan competition so the second-place winner may be notified in a timely manner to serve as substitute.

Eligibility & Registration
The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is open to all boys and girls 10-14 years old residing in Kaukauna, attending a Kaukauna school, or members of a Kaukauna-based soccer club. Eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of the September 1st immediately preceding the state level competition.

***High school athletes should check with school athletic directors or athletic associations regarding possible eligibility conflicts. The Knights of Columbus will bear no responsibility for any problems or injuries resulting from voluntary participation in this event.

All competitors must register in advance using the form on this website and print a copy of the official Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge Score Sheet.  Proof of age and parent permission must accompany all score sheets at check-in and at all subsequent levels of competition. A 'traveling card' will be given to winners at each level. It must be retained by participants and presented at the subsequent level in order to participate. Entrants without a valid 'traveling card' will not be allowed to compete.

Scoring & Judging
Normal rules of soccer regarding penalty kicks apply for all levels of competition. Ages 10-11 use a #4 regulation-size soccer ball. Ages 12-14 use a #5 regulation-size soccer ball. All ages shoot 12 yards from the goal. Penalty kick violations include stepping on or over the line prior to the kick, and any contact made with the ball counts as a kick. Scorers record shots made and missed according to the instructions on the entry form/score sheet. Kicks not entering the goal will be scored as zero. Judges, scorers, and ball catchers will be selected by the Soccer Challenge chairman. Multiple scorers may be assigned to each goal for scoring accuracy and comparison. All scores will be verified before the next contestant is allowed to shoot. The use of video tape or other recording will not be used to resolve scoring questions. Judges have final authority in verifying all scores and kicking violations, and the Soccer Challenge chairman will have final authority in all other respects. Participants' relatives may assist as volunteers in age/gender groups where their related participant is not competing.

Conduct & Safety
This competition is a friendly, positive event to benefit family and community. No behavior violating that principle will be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, unsportsmanlike or unsafe conduct on the part of participants, parents, volunteers, or spectators. Anyone behaving in a manner deemed unacceptable by the Soccer Challenge chairman will be asked to leave the event immediately. Participants asked to leave will be disqualified from the contest. Participants will also be disqualified if any of their family members are asked to leave. There is no recourse or appeal to the decision of the Soccer Challenge chairman. Anyone concerned about conditions of safety, ethics, or propriety at the event is asked to notify the chairman immediately--such conditions will not be considered in the outcome of the contest unless the chairman was notified prior to any potentially affected portion of the competition. As the event takes place in a public park, the Knights of Columbus cannot completely control the persons or conditions present at the competition and therefore will bear no liability for the safety and well- being of anyone attending the event. The Knights of Columbus will make a good faith effort to run the event in the safest manner practical and may cancel it, without recourse to participants, at any time safe operation is deemed impractical by the Soccer Challenge chairman.

These rules are for informational purposes. Instructions and regulations provided by the Soccer Challenge chairman at the event will supersede any previous information or expectation.