The Nature of the Game

“At its most elementary level then we can define game as an exercise of voluntary control systems in which there is an opposition between forces, confined by a procedure and rules in order to produce a disequilibrial outcome.”

Avedon and Smith Play and games are valued as vital contributors to our development as humans.

Children at play are not simply whiling away the hours until they can find some more useful way to occupy their time. Play is serious work that helps us all learn how the society is organized and our role within it.

Scouting has been called ‘a game with a purpose’.

Scouting is not an entertainment or an amusement but a theoretical exercise of ‘voluntary control systems’ that produces a ‘disequilibrial outcome’. Once stripped of nine dollar college words the quote above bears some practical information for Scoutmasters.

First, though, Scouting is not intended to provide entertainment or amusement. Both are passive and usually non-participatory activities.

Beware of activities that simply entertain or amuse.

Scouting, like all games, is voluntary. Boys volunteer to participate and come and go at will. Key to their participation is the adoption of a system of control or a set of rules, a paradigm that defines the scope of the program. ‘Opposition of forces’ in Scouting is much more complex than simpler games. Who does a javelin thrower or shot putter compete against?

While they are competing with others but all the players are competing against physics and distance; a much more ambiguous opponent.

Scouts don’t compete against each other so much as they compete against a set of challenges represented by rank requirements, leadership positions and merit badges.

Scouting has procedures and rules to focus our efforts on relevant pursuits towards producing a disequilibrial outcome. Most games are decided when one player or team scores higher than the other creating disequilibrium.

Scouts create disequilibrium by meeting the challenges set before them.

Scouting’s unique contribution to the theoretical world of games is individual evaluation of performance.

Sport has a few related equalizers such as the weight classes of wrestlers and boxers.

Scouting goes further than weight classes by basing evaluation on effort measured by ability.

Scouting is a game with a purpose. One that every Scout can challenge and win.

Socutmasters are coaches, referees, scorekeepers and fans all rolled into one. Our goal in the game is the success of our Scouts in meeting the voluntary challenges they set for themselves.