Soccer Challenge

Overview

The Soccer Challenge is a great way for councils to engage in their communities with an athletic event for youth that encourages the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition. Children demonstrate the most important skill in soccer - shooting accuracy on the penalty kick. Youth compete within their own gender and age to progress from the local level to district, regional and state/province competitions. For Soccer Challenge resources, visit www.kofc.org/soccer.

Action Steps

Identify a program chairman to oversee all action steps and delegate tasks, as needed.
Train volunteers in the Safe Environment protocols (www.kofc.org/safe). Ensure that the event is properly staffed and safely run. A minimum of two volunteers must be Safe Trained.
Contact your grand knight, financial secretary, or program director to order the Soccer Challenge Kit (#SC-KIT), promotional items, and awards through Supplies Online via Officers Online. District deputies may also log on to Supplies Online to order medallions for district competitions.
Set a date, location and time for the Soccer Challenge. If required by venue, acquire insurance.
Contact schools and youth centers to explain and promote the program. Suggest that the schools or youth centers consider using this activity as part of their physical education classes.
Prior to the Soccer Challenge, use the sample News Release (#10648) as a model to create and distribute a tailored release to local media.
Build public interest for the event! Promote the Soccer Challenge in your parish and larger community through a variety of efforts:

Prominently display promotional posters (found in the Soccer Challenge Kit (#SC-KIT))
Bulletin announcements
Pulpit announcements
Posting on your council and parish website / social media pages

Coordinate with the district and state/province leadership regarding date, time, and location of the next level of competition. On the day of the event, provide this information to the council-level winners.
Preregistration is recommended before the event. Proof of age is NOT required.
Hold the Soccer Challenge! Review the Soccer Challenge Playbook (#4576) for guidelines, volunteer requirements, and other information.
On the day of the event, wear Knights of Columbus-branded apparel and have the council membership director set up a table with brochures and membership documents (including Prospect Cards #921A). Do not forget that this event is a recruiting opportunity!
Enlist a fellow Knight or community member to photograph the event.
Following the Soccer Challenge, update the community on the success of your program by amending the Soccer Challenge Champion Announcement (#10649) and distributing it to local media, along with energizing photographs from the event.
Send winning Soccer Challenge Entry forms/Score sheets (#4578) to the next level of competition.
To gain credit for your program, complete the associated reporting forms.

Immediately after your event is finished, complete the Fraternal Programs Report Form (#10784)
At the end of the fraternal year, complete the Columbian Award Application (#SP-7)

Resources

#SC-KIT- Soccer Challenge Kit (quantities of resources contained in SC-KIT are in parentheses below)

#4576- Playbook (1 per kit)

#4578- Entry form/Score sheet (75 per kit)

#4571- Vertical Poster (5 per kit)

#4572- Horizontal Poster (5 per kit)

#4573- Participation Certificate (75 per kit)

#4575- Winner Certificate (5 per kit)

#10648- News Release

#10649- Champion Announcement

Program resources can be ordered by your grand knight, financial secretary and/or program director on Supplies Online via Officers Online.

Overview

Action Steps

Resources

Related Links