The Singing Scoutmaster: Sportsmanship

Scouts, raise your hand if you like to win. Of course you do - everyone does. There's nothing wrong with wanting to win. Competing hard, giving your best effort, and striving to come out on top are all good things. But here's the question that really matters: what kind of competitor are you when things don't go your way?

Sportsmanship doesn't mean you don't care about winning. It means you care about something even more: playing with honor. A Scout with good sportsmanship follows the rules even when no one is watching. They cheer for their teammates and respect their opponents. They shake hands after the game whether they won or lost.

Think about the best athletes you've ever watched. The ones you really admire aren't just talented - they're respectful. They help an opponent up after a fall. They congratulate the other team. They play hard but fair. That's because they understand something important: trophies collect dust, but your reputation lasts forever.

In Scouting, we compete all the time - campfire contests, relay races, cooking competitions, you name it. Every one of those is a chance to show what kind of person you are. And the Scouts who are remembered and respected aren't always the ones who won. They're the ones who competed with heart, treated everyone fairly, and made the game better for everyone involved.

The real scoreboard isn't the one on the wall. It's the one in your character. Play hard, play fair, and always be the kind of competitor you'd want to go up against.