Cub Scout Belt Loop Information


Concepts
Why Cub Scout Sports?
Young Athletes Bill of Rights
Why Cub Scout Academics?
Parents




Concepts

The Cub Scouts Sports and Academics program is a supplemental enrichment program that complements the existing Cub Scout program. The activities in Sports and Academics allow boys to learn new techniques, develop sportsmanship, increase scholarship skills, and have fun. Participating in the program allows boys to be recognized for enjoying teamwork, physical fitness, and talent-building activities. Sports and Academics encourages a boy to do his best.

Here are the main concepts on which the Cub Scout Sports and Academics program is based:

The Cub Scout Sports and Academics program is used to supplement the existing advancement and recognition program for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts, but does not replace it. The program is one part of Cub Scouting, as are den and pack meetings, day camp, and other activities.

All registered Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts have an opportunity to participate in the Sports and Academics program.

Participation may take place at home, in a den or pack, or in the community.

Adult participation - by a parent or adult relative, if possible - is strongly recommended.

Emphasis is placed on introducing a boy to a sport or academic subject, allowing him to participate in it, and encouraging him to do his best. The Sports and Academics program does not emphasize winning.

The primary focus of the program is on sportsmanship and scholarship.

Each Cub Scout and Webelos Scout will be presented the appropriate recognition item for participating as an individual Scout, with his den or pack, or in his community.

The Sports portion of the program includes summer and winter sports, indoor and outdoor sports, active and less active sports, and team and individual sports.

The Academics portion of the program covers a variety of areas, including art, citizenship, communicating, geography, heritages, mathematics, music, and science.

Cub Scouts who have disabilities may select their own activities and design their own exercise program with the help of a physician.

As you can see, the Cub Scout Sports and Academics program relates directly to the nine purposes of Cub Scouting:

Influencing a boy's character development and spiritual growth

Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship

Encouraging good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.

Improving understanding in the family.

Strengthening the ability to get along with other boys and to respect other people.

Fostering a sense of personal achievement by developing new skills and interests.

Showing how to be helpful and to do one's best.

Providing fun and exciting new things to do.

Preparing a boy to become a Boy Scout.

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Why Cub Scout Sports?

The Cub Scout Sports program provides every Cub Scout with the opportunity to become acquainted with and participate in all kinds of sports. When implemented properly, the program is an active physical fitness for Cub Scouts.

A Cub Scout may participate in Sports activities in his unit, in his community, or by himself. Cub Scout Sports emphasizes participation of the family by involving an adult partner. This is rcognition both for participation and for performance by the Cub Scout and his adult partner. Throughout, the Cub Scout is encouraged to learn and practice good sportsmanship, and to "do his best."

Are Organized Sports a Good Idea?

Sometimes, organized sports seem to have an unfavorable effect on children - an effect that some never manage to overcome. Does this suggest that organized sports are inherently bad for youth? Not at all, say many experts. It's not the sports that can cause harm, but the overreaction of adults - mainly parents and coaches - on the sidelines.

Parents can have an especially positive effect on a boy's sports outlook, if they emphasize keeping in shape through a physical fitness program - and set the example themselves.


When Should Sports Start?

How old should a boy be to become involved in organized sports? What sports are best for boys of Cub Scout age?

Most sports authorities feel there is no one right answer to these questions. The biological clock does not tick the same way for everybody, and boys mature on different schedules. For instance, and 8-year-old boy who is physically ready to play soccer with 10-year-olds may not be psychologically ready. Pushing him into a heavily action-filled game just because he's big could bring on an emotional disaster.

When a boy feels he's ready to try a given sport, he might say so. He might hint that he would like a baseball mitt or tennis racket for his birthday. Or, he might give some other sign. Respect his wish, even if it's not to play.

Here are some general guidelines from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education:

Organized sports for children under 6 years old are of questionable value.

Children between 6 and 8 years old should be restricted to non-contace sports, such as swimming, tennis, and track-and-field events.

Contact sports, such as basketball and soccer, are recommended for children older than age 8.


Sports Safety

Parents have a right to be sure that their boys are playing in a safe and healthy environments. That means checking the condition of the playing fields, facilities, and equipment. It also means checking the coaces.

Take the facilities: Is the playing field reasonably level, well marke, free of obstacles, holes, and broken glass? Are goal posts, flags, nets, and other pieces of equipment safely placed? If there is a separate field for practice, is it also safe?

How about the equipment? Is it in good condition - no cracked bats, split arrows, stringy balls, or stringless rackets? Do you have the necessary protective equipment - face masks, shin guards, and son on? Does the equipment fit the players? Is it in good condition? Is there a first aid kit on hand?

What About Your Coach?

If you have to choose between good equipment and a good coach, choose a good coach. Your coach should know the skills and strategy of the game and should know boys thoroughly. He or she should know how to teach enjoyment of the sport and keep temper and ego under control. He or she must be able to spot problems and correct them, and should know when not to let a boy who is sick or hurt play. He or she must keep open comuunications with players and their parents.

The coach's guiding principle should be, "Help me to remember that most boys would rather play and lose than sit on the bench and win."

Maybe you won't be able to find a coach that good, but try. Your boys deserve such a coach.
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Young Athletes' Bill of Rights

Physical education experts have prepared a bill of rights for young athletes - ten rights that should be built into every sports activity for Cub Scouts.

1. The right to participate in sports
Ask a boy what he would rather do - play and lose, or watch and win? It's a tough choice, but most boys would choose the chance to play - win or lose. When a boy is denied a chance to play because he's not a good player, the program is in trouble. Measure the program in terms of the boys' goals and participation.

2. The right to participate at his own ability level
Wherever poossible, a boy should be placed with players of his own ability level. But dividing boys according to ability can be a humiliating ordeal for the less able. Leaders and coaches must exercise extreme discretion and sensitivity. Proceed with care.

3. The right to qualified adult leadership
Boys 7 to 9 are especially impressionable. They will be influenced by adult leadership, whether that leadership is good or bad. We must make certain it's the very best.

4. The right to a safe and healthy environment
No boy should be asked to play under conditions that may be hazardous to his health or personal safety.

5. The right to share in leadership and decision making
The Cub Scouts Sports program aims not only to help a boy find fitness and fun but also to help stimulate his growth toward maturity and active citizenship. If adults make all the decision and do all the talking, a magnificent opportunity for growing up will be missed.

6. The right to play as a child, not as an adult
However much a boy may love a flashy uniform and being treated like an adult professional, he is neither adult nor professional. He is still a child, so handle him with care. Do not rush. Let him enjoy his childhood.

7. The right to proper preparation
Does a big-league team get good physical and mental conditiong before they take the field? You bet they do. Boys should receive the same treatment.

8. The right to an equal opportunity to strive for success
The sharp focus here is on the word success. Does it always have to mean winning? Or might it also mean playing, learning, growing, building fitness, and enjoying? Each boy should be secure in the knowledge that he has done his best and that his best is OK.

9. The right to be treated with dignity
No boy should be scolded or ridiculed because of appearance, background, or performace, especially in public.

The right to have fun
If the other nine rights are in place, this one will follow as day follows night.
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Why Cub Scout Academics?

Follorwing the introduction of the original Cub Scout Sports program, Cub Scouting received many requests for a similar academics program. As a result of these requests, the Cub Scout Arts and Academics program was added to the Cub Scout progrram in 1991 as a way to supplement the learning of young people. Due to similarities in recognition requirements and awards, the Arts and Academics program was merged with Cub Scout Sports to form the current Cub Scout Sports and Academics program.

Through the eight different subjects currently offered in the Academics portion of the program, a boy can stretch his mind by exploring the wonders of science, learning better appreciation of the arts, improving his sense of responsibility, and better understanding and valuing his heritage and the heritages of his friends.

Cub Scout Academics is a great way to meet the aims of Scouting - building character, developing citizenship, and encouraging mental and physical fitness.

Selecting an Academics Area

The first task in implementing Cub Scout Academics is selecting one of the eight subjects. Here is a brief description of the eight subjects and their related activities.

Art
Encourages high-order thinking and expressing "felt" values. Activities include viewing artwork; making collages; working with recycled paper; monoprints, silk screen; making "blind" drawings; and using lettering skills.

Citizenship
Promotes good citizenship in all aspects of life. Activities are focused on home and family citizenship, personal character development, and societal issues.

Communicating
Stimulates reading and writing. Activities include creating displays of books, playing games using words, and writing letters and stories.

Geography
Encourages understanding of how knowledge of geography is used in many parts of life. Activities include displaying travel posters and atlases, predicting weather, getting to know specific areas, and making maps.

Heritages
Develops a better understanding of personal family history and appreciation of the heritages of others. Activities include research into family history, family-appreciation events, sharing heritage information with other den members, and a pack heritage celebration.

Math
Encourages the development of problem-solving skills and basic reasoning, and helps boys see the connection of mathematics to everyday events. Activities include using the math skills of geometry, statistics, probability, and measuring to solve specific problems.

Music
Promotes the understanding and enjoyment of different types of music. Activities may include singing, playing a musical instrument, and writing and listening to music.

Science
Helps boys develop a basic understanding of the scientific method of problem solving. Activities include conducting experiments in the natural and physical sciences.
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Helping Youth Understand


Three points of sportsmanship are stressed continually in the program of the Boy Scouts of America. This will provide many opportunities for discussions between Cub Scouts and adults.
Honesty is a key to success. It is the foundation for everything we do. Without it our society could not exist. The freedom that we all cherish is based on having honest relationships. Our day-to-day activity is based on the promises of people to other people.
Just as important to young people is their trust in parents. Honesty between them helps build that trust. It also contributes to our children's well-being and self-confidence as they meet new people and face life's problems.

Fair play is involved in belonging to more than just a family. It relates to the Cub Scout den, neighborhood, and even the country. Everyone has a share in whatever is at stake.

Respect for others should happen regardless of age or position. Maintaining respect for a person is important, even if we dislike that person's actions. Respect for others starts in the home and works its way outward. Courteous behavior opens doors to opportunities that otherwise might remain closed.
It must be remembered, however, that discussions you have with youth may be meaningless is your own example of behavior is inconsistent with what you say. Remember - your actions speak louder than your words.

The Role of Parents

If the role of parents could be reduced to one word, the word would probably be "support": Support of the program, the leaders, and the coaches - but most of all, support of the boys, and especially one's own son. Here are some dos and don'ts:

DO
Be a voice of encouragement and moderation. Show boys you approve of them no matter how well they play.

Go to the games and watch the boys play.

Help the boys have fun.
DON'T
Shout advice or criticism to boys or anyone else during the game.

Interfere with the coach or other officials.

Criticize players, coaches, or officials.

Enter the playing area.

Keep anyone from having fun.

Push your son into a sport he isn't qualified to play or doesn't like.

Scholarship

Cub Scouting is fun. Although the word "scholarship" sounds stuffy, not fun, through the Cub Scout Academics program, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts learn that scholarship is just another way of having adventures. Learning how to read, expressing themselves through writing, and learning how our world connects together are all adventures.

Television gives examples of what adventure is. The characters on television meet challenges and face the unknown. Just when all seems to be lost, the hero saves the day and all is well. How did the hero know what to do? Was he or she stronger, braver, or smarter? It ws probably a combinations of all three, but the most important was being smarter. The hero knew how to solve the problems.

The more they learn now, the smarter our youth will be. Not only will they be able to solve problems and challenges, but they will enjoy life more - because they will know more about it.
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Reprinted from the 1997 Cub Scout Sports and Academics Leader Guide, written by the BSA.



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