WEBELOS

Sportsman
Heart of America Council

Sports are high on the list of favorites of Webelos-age boys. Most members of your den will show real interest in the Sportsman badge. Chances are the boys spend much of their leisure time in organized sports and loosely organized neighborhood games. Some of them probably already know enough about rules, scoring, and techniques of play for several sports and can pass those requirements immediately.

But that's not really enough. One of the prime purposes of the Scouting program is encouraging good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong mind and body. If the boys learn all the skills and rules involved in every sport this month, but don't get an inkling of what good sportsmanship means, then everyone has wasted their time, including the den leader.

Agree on the importance of learning sportsmanship. What does it mean in practice? It means the least skilled gets just as much instruction and encouragement as the best athlete. It means the better athletes lean not just to tolerate the awkward boy, but to help him. It means all boys can win and lose with grace and good sportsmanship.

The leaders example will help to achieve these goals. Put stress on the fun of the game, not on winning. During competition in the den, choose the teams so that ability is equally divided. If boys choose teammates, there is a good chance that most of the best players will wind up on one team. Encourage the less skillful players. Discourage others from belittling them. Sports in a Webelos den should be fun for all!

Field Trips

• Go roller skating or ice skating
• Visit an archery range and receive instructions on safety and procedures.
• Have a den outing to a sports event.
• Hike around a golf course. Explain rules of etiquette and play to boys first so as not to disturb players.

Den Activities

• Invite a referee or official to your den meeting to teach signals and talk about teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship.
• Hold a parent/son sports tournament, such as bowling, tennis, volleyball, archery, etc.
• Have a den board game marathon. Provide treats and boys bring their favorite board games to play. Allow time for rotation to different games.
• Teach a card game to the boys and set up a couple of stations for playing.
• Make it easy on yourself and use the ready-made Cub Scout Sports Program. The guides explain the rules, principles, and equipment for each sport, and the boys learn earning the belt loops and sports pin.
• Have Webelos figure out a football play or a basketball play and diagram it. Local high school or little league coaches are sources of assistance.
• Give Webelos a list of famous sports figures and have them name the sport involved.

Sportsmanship

A real sportsman follows these rules in each game, but also in his life. Good sportsmanship is part of good citizenship. For example, to lose a class election gracefully. The following is the code of sportsmanship of the Sportsmanship Brotherhood.

The "Spirit of Good Sportsmanship" means being modest in victory as well as accepting defeat gracefully after trying your best.

Keep the rules.
Keep faith with your comrade.
Keep your temper.
Keep yourself physically fit.
Keep a stout heart in defeat.
Keep your pride under control in victory.
Keep a sound soul, a clean mind and a healthy body.
Play the game.

Brain Teaser
Match Up

Match each sport with the appropriate term:

Sportsman
Bay Area Council

What?!? You don't like Sports? You're not athletic you say? No matter! You don't have to be a superstar athlete to have fun. Try these activities and you are sure to have a good time.

Activity:

Micro Hockey-use to cardboard boxes as the goals. Supply chopsticks and a checker for the puck. Have fun!

Micro-Soccer-use the same boxes as you did for micro hockey. Players use their fingers to "kick" the ball (a ping pong ball) across the "field" (a table)

Micro Basketball-take two milk cartons and cut off the tops. Then, cut a hole in two six-inch long pieces of cardboard that are the same width as the milk carton. The hole in each should be just large enough to catch the rim of a paper cup. Bend the cardboard at 90 degrees, remove the bottom of the paper cup, and drop the cup into the hole. Staple the cardboard to the milk carton. Fill the milk cartons with sand or rocks, place at each end of your "court", provide a ping pong ball and have a game.

Cubmaster's Minute
R Schelleng

What is the purpose of Webelos? It is the transition between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. While working on the Athlete and Sportsman activity pins, think about this.

"On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty, to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to keep myself physically fit and morally straight." The Boy Scout Oath as it was written more than 88 years ago. The Boy Scout Law, " A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent."

Almost 90 years ago someone said that you have to be good, strong and caring as a boy growing up in this country. They knew that sports and sportsmanship go hand in hand.

John Wayne said it best at a dinner just before he past away. (He was a Boy Scout when he was a boy.) He was talking about Boy Scouts and knowing the Oath and Law, what it means and how he explains it to his family as they grow up. BRAVE: "You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning going out to do a good day's work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds." You must be physically fit both inside and outside. You must use the Scout Law every time you begin a sport, because it takes all twelve points to do it right.

Sm Rich, Troop 50, Evergreen Boy Scout Roundtable, Oregon Trail Council, Eugene, OR.