Sports

Sports
BSA Supply No. 35007

Millions of people participate in sports every year. For some the appeal is the close friendships that come with being part of a team. Some revel in the joy of victory and lessons of defeat. For some, the personal fitness is so important that exercise becomes a daily need. And still others desire the feeling of achievement, that feeling of measurable improvement that comes with dedication to a sport.

Requirements

Note: The activities used to fulfill the requirements for the Sports merit badge may not be used to help fulfill requirements for other merit badges.

Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while playing sports, including sprains, strains, contusions, abrasions, fractures, blisters, muscle cramps, dehydration, heat and cold reactions, injured teeth, nausea, and suspected injuries to the head, neck, and back.
Explain the importance of the following:
1. The physical exam
2. Maintaining good health habits, especially during training
3. Maintaining a healthy diet
Discuss the following:
1. The importance of warming up and cooling down
2. The importance of weight training
3. What an amateur athlete is and the differences between an amateur and a professional athlete
4. The attributes (qualities) of a good sport, the importance of sportsmanship, and the traits of a good team leader and player who exhibits Scout spirit on and off the playing field
Take part for one season (or four months) as a competitive individual or as a member of an organized team in TWO of the following sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross-country, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo. Your counselor may approve in advance other recognized sports, but not any sport that is restricted and not authorized by the Boy Scouts of America. Then with your chosen sports do the following:
1. Give the rules and etiquette for the two sports you picked.
2. List the equipment needed for the two sports you chose. Describe the protective equipment and appropriate clothing (if any) and explain why it is needed.
3. Draw diagrams of the playing areas for your two sports.
With guidance from your counselor, establish a personal training program suited to the activities you chose for requirement 4. Then do the following:
1. Organize a chart to track your training, practice, and development in these sports for one season (or four months).
2. Demonstrate proper technique for your two chosen sports.
3. At the end of the season, share your completed chart with your counselor and discuss how your participation in the sports you chose has affected you mentally and physically.

Resources

Scouting Literature

Boy Scout Handbook, Archery, Athletics, Canoeing, Climbing, Cycling, First Aid, Golf, Horsemanship, Personal Fitness, Rowing, Safety, Skating, Small-Boat Sailing, Snow Sports, Swimming, and Waterskiing merit badge pamphlets

Books

Bauer, Gerhard. New Soccer Techniques, Tactics & Teamwork. Sterling Publishing, 2002.
Briand, Kevin. The Baseball Book: A Young Player's Guide to Baseball. Firefly Books, 2003.
Brown, Newell and Van Stenlund. Hockey Drills for Scoring. Human Kinetics, 1997.
Buckley, James Jr. Football. D. K. Publishing, 1999.
Chamness, Danford. Coaching Kids Flag Football. Writers Club Press, 2002.
Dearing, Joel. Volleyball Fundamentals. Human Kinetics, 2003.
Dintiman, George Blough. Speed Improvement for Young Athletes: How to Sprint Faster in Your Sport in 30 Workouts. National Association of Speed and Explosion, 2002.
Faigenbaum, Avery D., and Wayne L. Westcott. Strength & Power for Young Athletes. Human Kinetics, 2000.
--------. Youth Fitness. American Council on Exercise, 2001.
Fischer, David. The 50 Coolest Jobs in Sports. Macmillan Reference, 1997.
Fortin, Francois. Sports: The Complete Visual Reference. Firefly Books, 2000.
Hammond, Tim. Sports. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books, 2000.
Micheli, Lyle, and Mark Jenkins. The Sports Medicine Bible for Young Athletes. Source Books Inc., 2001.
Parselle, Matt. Basketball. Two-Can Publishing, 2000.
Werner, Doug. Bowler's Start-up: A Beginner's Guide to Bowling. Tracks Publishing, 1995.

Organizations and Web Sites

American Council on Exercise
P.O. Box 910449
San Diego, CA 92191-0449
Toll-free telephone: 800-825-3636
Web site: http://www.acefitness.org

American Sport Education Program
Telephone: 217-351-5076
Web site: http://www.asep.com

Institute for International Sport
Web site: http://www.internationalsport.com/nsd/nsd.cfm

National Youth Sports Safety Foundation
One Beacon St., Suite 3333
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: 617-277-1171
Web site: http://www.nyssf.org

Sportsmanship
Web site: http://www.teenink.com/Past/9899/October/Sports/Sportsmanship.html