The team system is not intended as a way for adult leaders to pass down their orders for the young people to execute. It is not intended, either, as a way for young people to simply express their wishes and expect their adult leader to prepare everything for them.

It is intended as a partnership between the young people and their adult leader, based on dialogue and cooperation. The adult leader (and his or her adult assistants) are part of the Scout unit but they are not members of the teams. The adults are part of the Scout unit in order to fulfil a specific role, i.e. to help the young people to exercise and develop their capacity for autonomy, solidarity, responsibility and commitment, while guiding each young person towards his or her educational objectives.