I am again quoting the Spectator sports columnist Cecilia Carter-Smith. She writes, "Sportsmanship has been defined as the qualities and behaviors of athletes who treat the opponents and teammates with respect and fairness, and who can lose without complaint and can win without gloating."

Doesn't that have a familiar ring to all of us in Scouting? It sounds like something Baden-Powell would write. Sounds a bit like the Spirit of Scouting, doesn't it? Fair play comes from this definition and what does fair play mean? To me, fair play suggests co-operation in competition, and the more the co-operation the fairer things get. If we in Scouting find ourselves turning from that basic Scouting principle, of "Co-operative Competition", we will find our games and activities becoming less fair to someone.

And this is where the Good Turn comes in. It's for Leaders. Discuss this definition of Sportsmanship with your youth, together with the Scouting Spirit or co-operative competition, and listen to what they have to say. Then repeat this Good Turn several times throughout 2001. Their responses should reflect our program's purpose as they see them, and that's worth knowing, isn't it?

Try it, after all, we are the GOOD TURN PEOPLE, aren't we?