Throughout most of Scattergood's history, the sport of soccer has been integral to the learning process. Besides giving students a physical outlet for their various energies, frustrations, and kinesthetic talents, soccer gives students the experience of working together with a diverse group of people towards a common goal. A student begins to see, hopefully, that what a team is trying to achieve sometimes outweighs the personal goals and desires of the individual. Though games against other teams would be played, the focus has always been on team building and maintaining as non-competitive an atmosphere as possible. However, this standard began to change during the late 1990's as some students who were more advanced technically in the sport of soccer asked for a more rigorous and focused program. Therefore, in the fall of 2001, Scattergood Friends School joined the Iowa High School Athletic Association and began playing more games and organized more stringent practices. The next fall, Scattergood became a member of the Central Iowa Soccer Conference along with Cono Christian of Walker, Iowa; Grandview Park Baptist of Des Moines, Iowa; Pella Christian of Pella, Iowa; and Walnut Ridge Baptist Academy of Waterloo, Iowa. These two steps have not only increased the number of playing opportunities for those students seriously interested in the sport (from 2 games per year to 14), but it has given those students a chance to learn the game of soccer at a more advanced level. Think of it as an honors course for soccer. This has been a time of great change for the Scattergood Soccer Program. Though the games have become more intense and the practices much more challenging and time-consuming, the goal of the athletic program here has not changed: to give students a chance to see what it is like to dedicate oneself to a bigger group and to fall in love with the challenge, not the competition, of soccer.

Scattergood Soccer in the Press

The soccer team at Scattergood Friends School has recently renewed a once cherished rivalry with our sister school in Barnesville, OH. After several years without a lot of direct contact between the two schools, Olney Friends School and Scattergood are once more playing a yearly soccer match, alternating each year between the two schools. So far, not only have the games been highly competitive and entertaining, it has given students and staff from both schools a chance to see how the 'other half' lives. During these visits, it is quite common to happen upon conversations between Olneyites and Scattergoodians comparing life at the two schools, learning and sharing their unique, and yet, very similar school lives. With many more years of games expected in the future, it seems the relationship between the two schools is quite solid. As the years pass, perhaps there will be time to include other activities in our travels back and forth. (Field hockey anyone?) Until then, both schools can look forward to a lot more excitement from the games and the social interaction this trip always generates.

2007 Fall Soccer Game Schedule

*Home games in bold

SEPTEMBER

6th (Thursday): vs. Cono Christian: 4:30

11th (Tuesday): @ Walnut Ridge: 4:30

18th (Tuesday): vs. Holy Trinity: 4:30

20th (Thurday): vs. Maharishi: 4:30

25th (Tuesday): vs. Walnut Ridge: 4:30

28th/29th (Weekend): Mid-Season Tournament @ Holy Trinity (West Point)

OCTOBER

2nd (Tuesday): vs. Quad Cities Christian: 4:30

4th (Thursday): @ Maharishi: 4:30

9th (Tuesday): @ Holy Trinity: 5:30

12th (Friday): @ Cono: 4:30

16th, 19th, 20th: Tournament @ Holy Trinity (TBA)