Florida Catholic | Vision 2000

Knights kick-off youth sports programs

DEBRA TOMASELLI | FLORIDA CATHOIC CORRESPONDENT

The Knights of Columbus 2007 youth activities kicked off with soccer challenges at the council level in late September, finishing with state finals in November. Spelling bee contests begin in October and basketball free-throw challenges follow in January 2008. For more information, click HERE.
JASON COLLINS | FC

READ RELATED STORY HERE

Youngsters from Key West to Pensacola are kicking soccer balls into goals, practicing basketball free throws and studying word lists for a new season of youth activities sponsored by the Florida Knights of Columbus.

But the Knights are out to teach kids about more than sports and spelling bees.

"Our overall goal is to teach young people responsibility," said Mark Gervia, Knights of Columbus youth activities director for the state of Florida and father of six grown children. "If you work with kids, you know they’ll turn out good."

Schools, organizations and individuals are invited to sign up for the soccer challenges, free-throw competitions and spelling bees conducted by Knights councils to promote youth leadership skills and family unity. There are also district, regional and state level competitions.

"We care about kids and we are willing to spend time and resources on them," said Jaimie Kintz, Knights Region 1 membership coordinator and a parishioner at Nativity of Our Lord in Pensacola. "The competitions are a small part of what we can do to show we have faith in them as future leaders."

Gervia said that many kids like to compete, but need guidance to learn the right lessons from competition.

"This is what they’re going to get throughout life. We teach kids how to handle competition — win or lose," he said. "I’ve seen kids cry because they didn’t win. But I tell them they are a winner — just showing up makes them a winner."

Kintz said the boys and girls compete as individuals, not on teams.

"Our challenges give kids a chance to show what they can do by themselves. It’s not a team atmosphere," he said. "It’s a really good setup. It’s the child competing against himself. Some kids aren’t comfortable with team sports. This gives them a chance to see what they can do one-on-one."

Indeed, participants in the basketball competition simply shoot hoops, trying to score the most successful free throws. Similarly, soccer players kick balls into a goal that is divided into sections for scoring purposes. The winner accumulates the highest points.

"We call them competitions, but we don’t harass anybody," Kintz added. "The kids are great. They clap when somebody does a good job. They commiserate when somebody spells a word wrong. They are a lot more mature and more caring than people give them credit for."

Knights and their wives handle registration forms, record accomplishments, provide refreshments, and operate as judges and scorekeepers. The activities are intended to enhance family bonding, increase confidence in kids and help shape character.

Marisa Chanin, 12, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in St. Cloud, participated in a regional spelling bee last spring.

"I studied a long list of words with my dad every day," said Marisa. When her opponent misspelled a word, Marisa stood there quietly, knowing she would have to spell that same word correctly to win. "I was pretty sure I knew how to spell it because I remembered going over it on the list," she said. When judges announced that she won, a bashful Marisa beamed.

Elena Daughterty, 15, of St. Rose of Lima parish in Milton, participated in the spelling bees four consecutive years, alternately winning regional and state titles. The experience taught her lifelong lessons. "I learned not to be so hard on myself," Elena said. "I learned that if I don’t win one year, I can always win another."

Her sister, Sharon, 13, who competed successfully, grasped the value of hard work. “You have to study really hard to win,” she said.

But what most impressed Sharon was the welcome extended to participants.

"I was nervous," she said. "But before and after the spelling bee, the people who were hosting it came up and talked to us and made us feel comfortable."

State-level competitions draw families from as far south as Key West, and as far north as the Panhandle, said Gervia.

"Grandparents and parents cheer on their child. They have fun," he said. "We take a group picture and everybody is laughing and talking."

Madeline Ford, a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, placed second in last year’s state Soccer Challenge. She took home valuable lessons.

"Even though I didn’t get first place, I thought it was fun," Madeline said. "I was happy, so I learned it doesn’t really matter (if you win)."

In Navarre, Ron Day, who attends Midway Baptist Church, saw posters about last year’s upcoming Knights of Columbus basketball competition. “I thought it might be a good idea,” said Day, who brought the idea home to his children. “It looked like something new to do.”

Ryan and Sarah Day, both 12, enjoyed the experience.

"I like basketball," said Ryan. "I had a good time because they didn’t pressure us. We could just go out there and have fun." His favorite memory is sinking 13 free throws out of 15 attempts.

Sara, too, likes the sport. She admitted to being anxious at the competition because she wanted to shoot well. “Everybody was
really nice,” she said. “They would tell us ‘good job’ after we missed it and make you feel not so nervous.”

The family hopes to participate in the Knight’s activities again this year.

"If we don’t do these youth activities today and let young people know we care about them, we won’t have a Knights of Columbus tomorrow," said Grand Knight John Hardin, former youth director of Council 6624 and a member of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Cloud. "Hopefully, they’ll remember and think, 'Here’s a Catholic organization I want to belong to.'"

Return to Florida Catholic Online Edition Front Page