Elks Hoop Shoot bounces back on Jan. 8 in Freeport

Kids who remember the excitement of the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest should waste no time getting to the Freeport Recreation Center on Jan. 8 to participate once again.

The event, which is for children ages 8-13, has the potential to take winning free-throw shooters as far as Chicago for the national competition in April. The exhilaration of the contest is intensified not only because this is its 50th anniversary year, but because its last occurrence was two years ago.

“We’re calling it ‘Bouncing Back’ 2021-2022,” said John Nuzzi Sr., “because we didn’t have it last year.” The 2020-2021 Hoop Shoot was canceled by Covid-19.

Nuzzi is the Elks Lodge #1 Hoop Shoot director. Elks Lodge #1 serves the South Shore district of Long Island, so children of eligible age from Valley Stream to the western edge of Merrick can sign up. They don’t have to worry about being chosen for a team, because they compete as individuals representing Lodge #1.

Each child in each of the three age categories has a chance to throw a total of 25 free shots. The winning girl and boy from each age category will go on to the district level on Jan. 22, with the potential to continue to the regional level on Feb. 12, the state level on March 5, and the national contest on April 30.

“There’s no cost for the children to register,” Nuzzi said. “If they advance to the state level, they’ll get reimbursement for mileage and a paid hotel room from the New York State Elks Association.” The state-level contest will take place in Glens Falls, New York.

To reward the youngsters who come on Jan. 8, Nuzzi has prepared participant certificates for all of them, and also certificates with medals for children who win first, second, and third place in their age categories. Boys and girls compete separately, and the age categories are 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13.

Preparation for the contest has been in process for several months. “I have a full committee of 13 members and nonmembers that'll be working to keep this going,” said Nuzzi. “The Elks that are participants that are part of my committee will all have referee shirts on Jan. 8. They’ll all have badges and logos on the shirts.”

Those who may be nervous about the recent surge in Covid cases can be reassured that the Hoop Shoot adapts readily to Covid limitations. The children practice on their own time. Once they come to the Freeport Recreation Center on Jan. 8, every family cluster accompanying a contestant will be seated at least six feet away from every other cluster, and masks will be mandatory. Maintaining social distance between contestants is easy because, again, each contestant competes individually, taking turns at the free throw line.

“The three age classes come at separate times,” Nuzzi said, “to reduce the amount of people in the gym. Girls will be at one end of the gym, boys will be at the other end.”

In the midst of preparations, the January 8 event nearly got deep-sixed because the schools that might normally have hosted it closed down.

“My first thing, right off the bat, is to thank all those that participate,” said Nuzzi, “and to thank the village, the mayor, and the Rec Center administration for the venue, because a lot of the schools shut us out until spring.”

Freeport Recreation Center Director Victor Dinielli said she was glad the center could accommodate the Hoop Shoot, especially given Nuzzi’s decades of serving the village through his business on Atlantic Avenue, Royal Laundry Machinery Services, and through membership in the Chamber of Commerce as well as many other organizations.

“We were able to help him out and serve the young people of our community,” Dinielli said, “and that’s what the Freeport Recreation Center takes pride in doing, serving the community.”

Parents interested in joining the contest must have with them their child’s birth certificate, plus a copy of the certificate, when they come to the Rec Center on Jan. 8 to sign up.

Ages 8-9 compete at 9 a.m., ages 10-11 at 10 a.m., and ages 12-13 at 11 a.m. Contestants should arrive early to register. For further information, contact John Nuzzi at 516-805-3701 or email bigpapanuz@aol.com.