Requirements for SPL

[VenturingL]

I looked on National Website, but didn't find an answer. Are there specific requirements for a scout to run for SPL? My son's troop requires a scout to be Life rank or higher + completed Oak Leaf training. At the last troop committee meeting they discussed requiring NYLT, but decided against it because of the cost of the training. I think they did state NYLT as a requirement before the last SPL election because only 2 boys were even eligible to run, but I could be wrong on that. Does the troop set the requirements or is this another case of a troop making up its own rules?

[wagionvigil]

NOPE!
Responsibilities
Runs all troop meetings, events, activities, and the annual program planning conference.
Runs the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC) meetings.
Appoints other troop junior leaders with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster.
Assigns duties and responsibilities to junior leaders.
Assists the Scoutmaster with junior leader training.
Sets a good example.
Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform (all four parts).
Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
Shows Scout spirit.

[FrankJ]

National doesn't have any requirements other than registered & hopefully elected by the scouts. They do not prohibit the troop adding requirements.

Personally I do have an issue with consistent reasonable requirements. If the troop committee is adding unreasonable requirement, I would take that as a sign to find another troop because there are going to be other issues as well.

[wagionvigil]

Where does it say a troop can add requirements?

[FrankJ]

It is part of defining the program. The program is developed in partnership with the charter org. Where does it say that they cannot? Where does say how long the SPL serves or how often elections are?

This is not an advancement thing where you follow the rules as written.

[wagionvigil]

Requirements are a tad different than the other otems you mentioned.

I bet that if you called national and asked they would give you the same answer they give you on Merit Badges. That there are no restrictions on who can take a MB or hold a position. I am not saying there should or should not be restrictions just that there are none! If a troop can restrict positions I can restrict who takes A certain Merit Badge.

[FrankJ]

I will add that it really should be the scouts deciding what requirements the SPL should have & not the troop committee, but that is really a personal opinion in keeping with spirit of a boy run troop & not a written rule.

[wagionvigil]

The adults have no say in anything.

[FrankJ]

Actually in the advancement policies handbook it says specifically there is no age requirement for merit badges. There is no corresponding statement I know of for SPL. (There is one for JASM BTW)

Merit badge councilors can and do decide, based on age or other factors, rather are not to accept a scout. Summer camps do it all the time.

Really a different subject than deciding how the SPL is selected.

[wagionvigil]

But I bet if you ask You ask you will get the same answer The requirements are those that I posted earlier.

[Mrw]

We have over 50 boys on the roster and so the SPL does need to be capable of being in charge. We require First Class or above for running for SPL. I do not remember if this was boy set or committee set as it has been this way for so long.

Regardless, it works. And we have never had a boy question it or want to run for SPL before he has earned First Class.

[scoutaholic]

You could always try something like this:

"There are no official 'requirements' to be elegible for SPL. However, you may want to think about what you will get when the boy you choose is in charge of the troop.

If you vote for a boy who goofs-off every chance he gets, you will have meetings and activities where nothing gets done and you just goof-off. Or there will be no meetings/activities planned at all.

If you vote for a boy who has spent some time in scouting, has earned rank advancements and merit badges, and has attended some leadership training classes, you will likely get well-planned meetings and activities that accomplish some advancement purpose or prepare for upcoming events. The meetings and activities are likely to be well-led and organized and accomplish the purpose for which they were planned.

If I were choosing a leader for my troop, I would look for a boy who had been in the troop for at-least a year, has earned First Class rank, has gone to NYLT training, and is reasonably easy to get-along with and work with.

This is a boy-led troop, and you can choose how it is lead by choosing a SPL who is likely to lead the troop in the way you want the troop to run.

Now, with that in mind, are we ready to open nominations for SPL? or are we ready to vote?"

[FrankJ]

The Scout Master Handbook has a bit of guidance on this in chapter 11 the boy led troop. Since quotes can really be taken out of context, I suggest that you read it & make your own decision on what it says.