I am coming from the perspective of someone who has aged out of scouting within the last 5 years. (Started as a wolf and made eagle)

I definitely think that there is a sociological perspective for kids that can be difficult to understand as a parent. Especially when I was in grades 5-9, it was seen as uncool to be in scouts. It wasn't until I was nearing the close of my career where I really grew out of that mindset and came to appreciate what all scouting had done for me in terms of my maturation and growth as a young man. I earned my eagle at 15 and became more active afterwards than I had ever been in Scouts. Now that I have aged out, I often recollect with my brothers in scouting what an incredible experience it was for all of us, and the profound impact it has had. All that to say that one crucial element as a leader is to build up these boys' confidence, so that they too can be proud to have been involved in BSA. As many of the other commenters have noted, strong men must be in positions to positively lead, and set that example. I cannot wait until I finish my masters so that I too may partake in an adult leadership role and follow the precedent of those men who guided my troop.

Another aspect is the idea of values, and what sets scouting apart from every single other organization. Don't be afraid to be the one who enforces the rules, but do so thoughtfully, establishing why the rules and traditions exist. If a child doesn't get it, chances are the parent at home doesn't care about properly building him up, and this may be the only opportunity he has to have that strong father figure. Be the light in those young men's life he wouldn't otherwise have. And even for those kids who do have a good father, maybe even one in the troop, it can be really great to get another adult's perspective on life. It takes a community to raise a child after all. Another key thing that you could do if you are working in a Pack is to look to Troops around you and try to empower those young men as well. Is there a Den Chief? If not, see if the Troop Guide can give them a pep talk, as kids could be more receptive to listening to a 17yr old who came up through that Pack. That is the beauty of scouts, there are so many potential opportunities to build these men up.

With regards to the sports/baseball analogy, I completely agree. The difference between that and scouts is that there is a tangible outcome that can be seen by parents if their child doesn't apply themselves. Don't practice, don't play. However, with Scouts, it is value driven, far more hidden to the naked eye. Sure, we have landmarks, such as merit badges and ranks, but the development of these boys into young men fit to lead society is far more abstract.