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Jump-starting a Team

Jump-Starting a Varsity Scout Organization

Here is a strategy that has been used successfully to get a Varsity Team up and organized and ready to go in a very short time:

1. From the ranks of the Varsity Scouts, identify the Captain and assign the five Program Managers.  If there are unassigned young men, divide them between the programs as assistant Program Managers.  (See Forming a Varsity Team from an LDS Teachers Quorum Organization.)

2. Identify and call/recruit five Program Advisors. Ideally, most of these will be fathers of Program Managers.

3. Schedule a Jump-start meeting, with all the Varsity Scouts and the Program Advisors to be present.

    a. In advance of the meeting, print copies of the job description materials that follow. (Print all of the Jumpstart materials--PDF format)

    b. At the Jump-start meeting, the Coach should review the materials called "Varsity Scouting Program Development" with the entire group (5-10 minutes)

    c. Then divide the group into 6 subgroups, handing out materials that pertain to each individual's responsibility on the Team:

      1. Captain (and Co-captains, squad leaders, if these young men are not also Program Managers), with coaches

      2. Advancement Program Manager, Assistants and Advisor

      3. High Adventure/Sports Program Manager, Assistants and Advisor

      4. Personal Development Program Manager, Assistants and Advisor

      5. Service Program Manager, Assistants and Advisor

      6. Special Programs and Events Program Manager, Assistants and Advisor

    d. Adult leaders (coaches, program advisors) lead a discussion in the seven groups about the Team-related jobs and responsibilities of the group members based on the handout materials (20-30 minutes)

    e. Reconvene to general session, where the captain and the individual boy program Managers report to the entire group on their roles in the Team organization (10-15 minutes).

4. Schedule a Planning Clinic to create an annual calendar, to allow the Team officers to being to function in their roles.  Schedule a night for the Advancement Manager to start IAP development.

 

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**These materials are partially adapted and updated from the Great Salt Lake Council's Disappearing Varsity Scout Workbook.  (See at http://gslc-bsa.org/docs/var_disappear-varsity-workbook.pdf.)