7 July 2008
Soccer and Scouting
Posted by admin under: Program Updates .
In Alabama, the Birmingham News reported that the local council has created 7 new Cub Scout packs based on the Soccer and Scouting program and just held a tournament on June 28. I hadn’t heard about this program in a while so I dug around on the internet to find out how it is going.
Soccer and Scouting is a program to try to get Hispanic families involved in the Cub Scout program. It’s only aimed at first through fifth graders. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, too, do not have the vibrant growth they had back in the 50’s and 60’s and the national organizations have been trying to figure out how to fix that. Boy Scouts of America noticed that the large number of Hispanic immigrants weren’t embracing the traditional Boy Scout program although, in my opinion, it largely mirrors the cultural values of loyalty, leadership, and self-reliance. Since soccer is favored by many Hispanic families, the Boy Scouts of America created the Soccer and Scouting program to try to bring them into the Boy Scout program.
After looking over the program at the national website, http://www.soccerandscouting.org/, I don’t see how it will ultimately be successful. The Soccer and Scouting program is only 12 weeks long. That’s to make it seem like a traditional sports program, I think. For $30 the boys get a soccer uniform and enrollment in Cub Scouts. The Pack still needs a charter and leaders to function. The boys have weekly meetings and soccer games, but are also given traditional Cub Scout activities to accomplish in order to earn their rank badges which are sewn on the sleeve of their soccer jerseys.
For a family that joined a soccer team, doing a bunch of non-soccer stuff doesn’t seem like it would be logical or appreciated. However, Boy Scouts of America seems to think this is a good idea as evidenced by an article in the Scouting magazine four years ago. Although the background information seems to imply that the Soccer Cub Scouts will get tickets and graduation ceremonies at Major League Soccer stadiums, I couldn’t find any references to that nor is Soccer and Scouting found anywhere in the MLS website, not even in the section describing their community outreach efforts. However, Soccer and Scouting lists the MLS as a partner in their program. I don’t know if the partnership ended or if MLS just stopped calling one day and hoped BSA would get the message.
The Boy Scouts of America seems to be continuing the program. Books are available in the Scout shop. Councils still have people in charge of the program. I just haven’t heard any news besides this Birmingham article. To be honest, I’m not wild about the program because it seems like it’s just a sneaky way to get the Cub Scout program into the Hispanic community. Also, there’s a major emphasis on Spanish-language activities as opposed to generic soccer stuff. Cultural programs are fine, our troop does an occasional Cinco de Mayo cook-off, but mainly we’re focused on the activities and the program of leadership and advancement. I’m just not sold on advertising soccer and sneaking in Cub Scouts as a good strategy.
- Intimations of Boy Scouts Changes
- Don’t Fear the Scouter
- Latino Boy Scout Recruiting a Hard Sell
- Another Clue on Hispanic Scout Recruitment
- Popcorn, Cookies, and Soccer Uniforms
2 Comments so far...
» What? Me Worry? Says:
26 September 2008 at 2:38 pm.
[...] at the Pittsburgh Tribute-Review hasn’t at all scared me. I’m mean it’s not as if Soccer and Scouting is some kind of indication that the whole organization will be changing. That would be [...]
» Intimations of Boy Scouts Changes Says:
30 December 2008 at 4:09 pm.
[...] commented on what I think is the wrong direction of the Soccer and Scouting program. I don’t think it will result in a strengthened BSA although it may spawn a more [...]
