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I am looking to see if anyone has ever used Varsity Scouting as an older boy adjunct program to their Soccer and Scouting Cub Scout program.

We run an internal league here at our Council (Meck. County Council in Charlotte, NC) with about 300 participants. We charge 30 dollars for a 12 week league, and to date are seeing the program produce about a 55% advancement rate, extraordinary when compare to the YMCA league we played in last year (less than 5% advancement).

Our problem is that National produces some excellent Program Helps materials for Cubs, but little to nothing for Soccer and Scouting for older youth. It's pretty much just a Cub program. But our families, primarily Latino, are looking for activities and organizations in which EVERYONE can participate. So we try to be flexible. We even have a LFL group for the younger sisters!

Anyway, it seems that Varsity Scouting/Sports is a near PERFECT fit to our program, which we renamed SCOUTING THROUGH SOCCER, to re-emphasis the Scouting aspects. We wouldn't even have to do much program creation or adaptation, as Varsity is so flexible to begin with.

My question is, can anyone see a down side to this? Other than the obvious ones of money and unit leaders. Speaking just from a program stand point, do you think it would work? Any suggestions? Has anyone done this before. IE Started a Varsity Team primarily for Latino youth playing soccer? How did it go?

Thanks,

Karl Strohminger, Ph.D.
SDE - Special Initiatives
Charlotte, NC
27
Remove the audio from the Soccer and Scouting website (http://soccerandscouting.org/), or at least add a Pause or Stop button to the video.
Moderator Comments
10/7/2009

From: Maria, Oscar & Aaron, Hispanic Initiatives Team

Thank you for your suggestion for improving our Soccer and Scouting web support resources. For the past few months, members of the Hispanic Initiatives team, along with Brand Marketing, have engaged in the renovation of the Soccer and Scouting program. During this time, we determined that a more comprehensive evaluation of the program was required. In 2010, a new National Soccer and Scouting Task Force, comprising of BSA professionals and volunteers, will form to evaluate all aspects of the sports program. Part of this program evaluation will consist of updating existing program resources such as the video components, along with print and web support material.

We are always striving to better serve today’s youth and families and always welcome and appreciate your recommendations.