Soccer Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA

BSA has created updated versions of the Troop Program features for Scouts BSA. The Soccer program feature is available in digital format on the BSA website or can be purchased as a publication from you local Scout Shop.

The Soccer program feature helps Scouts learn how to enjoy the world’s most popular sport. While doing this, they learn about fitness, teamwork, and fun. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings:

• The rules of soccer
• Player positions
• Soccer techniques

Suggested troop meeting ideas are grouped by essential, challenging, or advanced. Here are a few you can see in the guide.

• Introduce the rules of soccer (essential)
• Learn about passing and receiving (challenging)
• Become familiar with the equipment (challenging)
• Learn about the requirements for the field (advanced)
• Learn about throw-ins (advanced)
• Practice passing and receiving(essential)
• Practice throw-ins also (challenging)
• Learn to receive a ball in flight (advanced)
• Practice basic goalkeeping skills (essential)
• Practice kicking a ball in (advanced)
• Learn how to dive and save safely (advanced)
• Learn about goal kicks and corner kicks (advanced)

There are also several games suggested to keep things interesting at your troop meetings.

• Dribble the Ball Relay
• Team Captain
• Throw-In for Accuracy

The plan even provides Scoutmaster’s minutes and ceremonies for meetings.

Then there is the “Main Event”. Once again, there are suggestions for essential, challenging, or advanced. Details and planning aids can be found in the online guide.

• Play small sided games to practice and improve skills (essential)
• Participate in a soccer tournament (challenging)
• Put on a soccer festival (advanced)

Find some related helps and achievements for the Soccer Troop Program Feature below.

Soccer Terminology

One suggestion I have when working with Cub Scouts is to draw up a large soccer field on poster board and use some Lego figures or something similar to be players. Then you can give a visual demonstration of these terms. Or make a game of it by showing them something and asking if anyone knows the term. For very young Scouts, simplify this list of terms even more.

Soccer (or Other Sport) Zipper Pulls

If you want a craft with a soccer theme, try making soccer themed zipper pulls. I've outlined a basic idea below, but you can get creative and change it up however you want. They can use the colored beads at the bottom to represent their school colors or the colors for their favorite team.

Soccer Marbles

If you are having a soccer or sports themed meeting, a soccer drill can be a fun way to burn of some energy. Soccer marbles is a three person soccer drill. It is simple enough for young Scouts.

Follow the Dribbler Soccer Drill

When working with young Scouts, simpler is usually better. Every den has at least one or two boys who really find it unbearable to sit through lengthy instructions. Follow the Dribbler is a really simple soccer drill.

Soccer Cake

A few years back, one of our son's coaches had an end-of-season party for the soccer team. My husband likes to decorate cakes, so he made a soccer cake for the party. Since I am showcasing a soccer theme this month, I thought I'd share the idea with you.

Soccer Word Search Puzzle

This soccer word search puzzle can be used as an introduction to any soccer or sports themed meeting or event. The word search has 30 soccer vocabulary words. (See below). A key is also provided.

Powdered Sports Drink Recipe

Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.

What is Good Sportsmanship?

Scouting and sports go together. Many recognitions require that the Scout discuss sportsmanship. So what does good sportsmanship mean?

Soccer Tennis

When my den meetings were immediately after school, I often did a physical activity during the gathering time. The Scouts needed to run around and burn off a little energy before they were ready to concentrate on the den activities.